Head of Human Systems

Who We’re Looking For
You’ve built people systems, processes, and ideally a whole function from scratch before — not just run one you inherited. But your instincts don’t stop at HR: you think in systems generally, and you’ve done real systems and process work across a business, not just within a people team. You’d rather write a script or prototype a tool than manage another spreadsheet. You bring genuinely unconventional thinking about people and systems: you’re not here to replay a playbook from somewhere else, and you’re comfortable questioning whether the standard approach is even right for a company like Photon.

You start as an individual contributor, hands-on in the work itself, and you’re motivated by the prospect of building the function — and eventually leading a team — rather than being handed one. You play long-term games: this function will look very different at 150 people than it does today, and you’re as comfortable holding that longer-term vision as you are executing whatever the current stage actually requires.

Every person at Photon is responsible for the culture and vibe we’ve built here — but you’re the one enabling it through systems. Photon should feel as good to work at 80 people as it does at 20, and that doesn’t happen by accident at scale; it happens because someone designed for it. And in a moment when plenty of companies are focused on standing up and managing AI agents, your job is the opposite bet and just as important: making sure the humans at Photon are set up to do their best work, with the right systems, tools, and support around them.

Core Responsibilities
Partner with the executive team on company-wide planning and priorities, bringing a people-and-systems lens to decisions beyond HR
Build and own the full system for how Photon finds, evaluates, and closes talent — shaping how the company is perceived and experienced by candidates from first touch through offer
Own the company’s internal tool stack and AI operating system — what tools exist, what’s enforced, what gets built, bought, or retired
Own budgeting and forecasting for people programs, internal tooling, and team activities
Own the rituals and cadence that bring the team together as it grows — from regular team moments to how the company comes together for bigger milestones
Own onboarding and offboarding, and the overall day-to-day experience of working at Photon
Design and evolve Photon’s approach to feedback and performance as the company grows — rather than importing a traditional review cycle by default
Own comp and benefits administration, including plan selection, and leveling execution in partnership with the COO
Own HR compliance across the states Photon operates in

Required Qualifications
5+ years building or running a people function, including experience building one substantially from scratch
Demonstrated ownership of full-cycle recruiting, not just process administration
Real, hands-on IT/systems fluency: tool selection and consolidation, access provisioning, internal automation
Experience operating without established process, and building it as you go, ideally at a company under ~100 people
A track record or clear point of view on developing people so they grow and stay, not just onboard and get managed
Able to work in-office in NYC at least 3 days a week

Preferred Qualifications
Experience building internal tools yourself, whether through scripting, automation, or no-code/AI-assisted platforms
Background in healthcare or health-tech
Prior experience partnering closely with a CEO/COO on company-wide planning or rhythm of business
Experience building teams and systems and doing hard operational work outside of a straight HR career path or a traditional startup environment — evidence you can build under real constraints, not just in a familiar playbook