Founding Talent Lead

The Role
Runbook builds AI agents that automate the manual coordination work running operations teams in the physical economy. We are scaling from a founding team to a category-defining organization, and we need a Leader-as-a-PM to architect the engine that gets us there.

You aren’t just a recruiter; you are the

Founding Talent Lead . You will own the master plan to 10x our headcount by EOY, build our employer brand from scratch, and optimize every inch of our hiring stack. This is a role for a "Jack of all trades" who is as comfortable writing a technical blog post as they are closing a senior engineer or architecting an Ashby workflow. You will report to the CEO and own the talent roadmap end-to-end.

What you'll do

Architect the Master Plan.

Within your first 30 days, you will build the 90-day blueprint for scaling Runbook. You’ll define the hiring velocity, identify the bottlenecks, and set the strategy for our 10x growth goal.

Own the Brand & Content.

You are the voice of Runbook to the talent market. You will drive our content strategy—blog posts, content, social presence, and events—positioning Runbook as the premier destination for AI talent in the physical economy.

Lead Talent Operations.

You will be the PM for our recruiting stack. You'll optimize our ATS (Ashby), manage external platforms like Paraform and HeyReach, and ensure our data is clean and our processes are high-velocity.

Full-Cycle Execution.

You aren't afraid to get your hands dirty. You will lead discovery calls, interview candidates, and drive the closing process until we are ready to scale the recruiting team under you.

Partner with Leadership.

You will provide real-time feedback to Hiring Managers and the CEO. You aren't just taking orders; you are advising on market signal, compensation, and team structure.

What success looks like at 6 months

The 10x Engine.

We have a predictable, high-velocity hiring machine that is meeting our aggressive EOY growth targets.

Employer Brand Identity.

Runbook is recognized in the Bay Area startup ecosystem through consistent content, high-impact events, and a distinct "Founding Team" voice.

The Playbook.

You’ve documented the Runbook way of hiring—from initial outreach sequences to interview rubrics—ready to be handed to the recruiting team you will eventually build.

What we're looking for

The "First Recruiter" DNA.

You’ve ideally been the first talent hire at a YC or high-growth AI startup. You know how to build something from nothing.

Operational Excellence.

You think like a Product Manager. You are obsessed with process optimization, tool efficiency (Ashby, HeyReach), and "closing the loop."

Scrappy & High Agency.

You don't need a playbook; you write it. You are comfortable wearing multiple hats—part recruiter, part marketer, part ops lead.

Content & Brand Intuition.

You can write clear, jargon-free copy that resonates with technical talent. You know how to run an event that people actually want to attend.

In-Office Velocity.

You thrive in a 5-day onsite environment where collaboration happens in real-time and decisions are made fast.

Nice to have

Technical Fluency.

You understand the nuances of the AI/Ops space and can hold your own in a room with senior engineers.

The Network.

You are plugged into the SF startup ecosystem and can activate a network of "misfit" talent immediately.

How we work
In-office. High velocity. We hire people who would rather ship than deliberate. We are building the future of the physical economy, and we need a talent leader who moves at that same speed.

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