Head of Talent

About Drive Capital

Drive Capital is a venture capital fund focused on building the next generation of great technology companies in North America. Founded in 2013, we’ve invested in more than 100+ startups across the US and Canada, including Duolingo, Root Insurance, ApplyBoard, VAST Data, and Thoughtful AI. The investment platform totals $2.2B+ AUM.

We are a diverse team of founders, operators, and investors; many of us moving lives and careers from Silicon Valley to pursue the opportunity of a lifetime in Columbus. 

About Drive Talent 

People are at the core of our investment strategy. Drive Talent is Drive Capital’s in-house recruiting platform, purpose-built to help our portfolio companies build and scale world-class teams across North America—especially in emerging tech markets beyond Silicon Valley. We offer a full-cycle, turnkey recruitment solution that aligns closely with each company’s mission, values, and growth goals. 

Since its inception, the Drive Talent team has made ~100 successful placements across the portfolio, ranging from mid-senior individual contributors to director and VP-level roles across engineering, product, G&A, and GTM functions. We move quickly and strategically by deeply understanding the unique needs of the companies we support and by building high-trust relationships with founders and hiring managers. 

As the Head of Talent, Your Core Responsibilities Will Include:

• Portfolio Engagement & Business Development: Build and maintain trusted relationships with founders and executive teams across the portfolio to understand their evolving talent priorities and pain points. Proactively source and close new opportunities where Drive Talent can lead high-impact, mission-critical hiring efforts that directly enable company growth and execution. 

• Strategic Talent Advisory: Provide consultation to founders and leadership teams on organizational design, compensation structures, performance incentives, equity frameworks, and other key people initiatives—particularly at critical inflection points such as early/founding team formation, scaling, and executive team buildouts. 

• Investor Team Partnership: Build strong, collaborative relationships with Drive Capital’s investment team to ensure talent is a fully integrated part of the firm’s strategy. Position Drive Talent as a clear, strategic advantage that can be leveraged to win competitive deals, support portfolio growth, and accelerate outcomes. 

• Team Leadership & Search Execution: Lead and mentor a high-performing talent team, setting strategy and ensuring effective execution across technical and business hiring. 

• Function Building & Scaling: Expand and evolve Drive Talent’s capabilities to meet the growing needs of Drive’s portfolio. Innovate on offerings, tools, and processes to ensure we remain a high-value, scalable partner across stages and sectors.

• Network Activation: Cultivate and leverage a broad network of operators, advisors, and industry leaders. Act as a connector to help portfolio companies access proven leaders and strategic hires. 

• Market Insights & Brand Development: Represent Drive Capital in the broader talent ecosystem. Leverage data, insights, and relationships to strengthen our reputation as a top-tier venture firm supporting exceptional founders and teams. 

About You:

• You have 10+ years of experience in talent acquisition, executive search, or people/talent strategy—ideally with time spent in a VC/PE talent function, top-tier executive search/recruiting agency, or a fast-paced, high-growth in-house recruiting environment. 

• You have deep expertise advising on and executing hiring across a range of functions (engineering, product, G&A, GTM) and levels, including executive and board roles. 

• You’re a trusted partner to founders and executive teams, with a strong track record of shaping hiring strategies, building teams, and advising on org design, compensation, and other people-related initiatives. 

• You understand how to work closely with investors and internal stakeholders to prioritize, communicate, and deliver on talent needs—serving as an operator and strategic advisor. 

• You’re energized by the opportunity to lead and develop a high-performing team and scale a high-impact function that is core to the success of Drive Capital and its portfolio. 

• You bring professional resilience and an attitude of radical acceptance—able to navigate ambiguity, embrace challenges, and remain grounded in service of founders, teammates, and the broader mission. 

• You’re aligned with Drive Capital’s mission to build the next generation of great technology companies in the Midwest and beyond—and you’re excited to help founders do the hard work of building exceptional teams. 

• You are either currently based in Columbus, Ohio, or willing to relocate there, and you are excited to work in person as part of Drive Capital’s headquarters team. 

What We Offer:

• Competitive salary, 401k, healthcare coverage at no cost to you, paid parental leave

• Take time off whenever you need it. In addition, we're off for major holidays and for two weeks at the end of each year

• A cell phone on our company plan

• Catered lunches, snacks, and drinks

• A parking pass and the view above at our Short North office in Columbus, OH, one of the fastest-growing cities in the US

• A fun, high-impact environment to grow your talent and venture capital career