Principal Program Manager, Executive Talent

Join us in shaping the future of leadership at Playground Global portfolio companies. In this role, you’ll be the ultimate talent matchmaker—connecting world-class executives with visionary founders and high-growth companies that are making the improbable possible.

You are a Principal Program Manager, Executive Talent excited to build and scale executive talent pools for our portfolio companies. In this role, you will serve as a trusted talent partner to founders and leadership teams, helping them identify and recruit world-class executives to join their teams or their Boards. You’ll also develop and maintain a high-caliber talent network across industries relevant to our investments, ensuring that our portfolio companies have access to the best leadership possible.

Responsibilities

• Talent Pool Development: Cultivate and curate a world-class executive talent network, ensuring our portfolio companies always have access to the best leaders in their industries.
• Executive Search: Build powerhouse leadership teams by guiding high-impact executive searches across C-suite, VP, and senior leadership roles that fuel company success.
• Founder & Leadership Advisory: Be the go-to talent strategist for founders, delivering sharp insights on executive hiring, compensation trends, and market dynamics. This is all about getting ahead of the need and being a strategic thought partner.
• Pipeline & Succession Planning: Look beyond today’s hires—build deep relationships with future executives, board members, and advisors to keep our portfolio companies ahead of the curve as they scale.
• Expand Leadership Perspectives: Champion diverse leadership by helping founders expand their networks, drive inclusive hiring practices, and identify unique talent for key roles.
• Talent Strategy & Education: Serve as an educator regarding all things recruiting, helping portfolio companies build strong processes, programs, and systems to drive their internal recruiting efforts.
• Confidante to People & Talent Leaders: Build trusted relationships with People and Talent executives across our portfolio, acting as a sounding board and partner as they navigate the complexities of executive hiring and team scaling.
  
  
  

Qualifications

• Proven expertise in executive search and talent strategy, with 7 years in executive recruiting, talent advisory, or in-house leadership hiring—ideally within venture capital, private equity, or high-growth technology companies.
• A powerful executive network across industries relevant to Playground’s portfolio, with the ability to tap into top-tier talent quickly and effectively.
• Exceptional sourcing ability, leveraging deep market research, strategic outreach, and creative engagement tactics to uncover and attract world-class executive talent.
• A strategic partner to founders and leadership teams, assessing talent needs with precision and guiding them through high-stakes hiring decisions.
• Deep knowledge of executive compensation, leadership assessment, and market trends, ensuring portfolio companies attract and retain the best leaders.
• The ability to thrive in complexity, juggling multiple executive searches and talent initiatives across a diverse and fast-moving portfolio.
• Exceptional communication, executive presence, and discretion, engaging confidently with founders, board members, and top-tier executive candidates.
• Committed to operational excellence, ensuring every stage of the search process is well-documented, structured, and easily accessible.
  
  
  

The annual base salary range is $240,000 to $275,000. The base salary will depend on numerous factors such as experience, knowledge, and skills. We offer a competitive benefits package and prioritize in-person collaboration. Our team works from our Palo Alto office at least three days a week, and each month, we come together for a full week of focused work at our inspiring Studio office.

We believe great ideas come from diverse perspectives, and we’re committed to building a team that reflects the world we live in. If you’re passionate about our work, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences and encourage individuals of all identities to apply.