Executive Recruiter - Handshake

Your Impact

At Handshake, we’re on a mission to democratize access to opportunity. As we continue scaling, we’re hiring exceptional executives to lead key functions across the business. We’re looking for an Executive Recruiter to drive our VP- and C-level hiring efforts—someone who can identify and close leaders who will shape the future of Handshake.

In this role, you’ll partner directly with senior leaders to define hiring strategies and execute VP-level searches across functions like Engineering, Product, AI, Marketing, G&A, and more. You’ll play a critical role in ensuring we bring in leaders who align with our mission, values, and ambitions for scale.

Your Role

• Lead full-cycle executive searches for VP and executive roles across Handshake and Handshake AI.

• Partner with executive stakeholders to shape org design and role requirements based on team and company strategy.

• Develop and execute sourcing strategies that engage high-caliber, diverse leaders from top companies.

• Evaluate candidates against executive competencies, company values, and long-term business needs.

• Manage executive interview processes end-to-end, ensuring alignment across stakeholders and a high-touch candidate experience.

• Build and manage pipelines proactively for future executive team needs.

• Partner with Finance, Legal, and People teams on executive compensation strategy and offer approvals.

• Manage relationships with retained search firms when needed, acting as the internal point of contact and quality bar.

Your Experience

• 6+ years of experience in recruiting, including 3+ years focused on executive or VP-level hiring.

• Demonstrated ability to influence executive stakeholders and drive clarity in ambiguous or evolving hiring needs.

• Proven success sourcing, engaging, and closing top-tier executive team talent.

• Experience recruiting across multiple business domains (e.g., technical, product, G&A, GTM).

• High level of discretion, EQ, and judgment.

• Excellent project management skills and ability to drive urgency in a mindful, strategic way.

• In-house experience at a fast-scaling tech company strongly preferred; executive search firm experience is a plus.

Bonus if You Have

• Extensive experience hiring R&D VP+ level talent.

• Knowledge with Ashby, LinkedIn Recruiter, and compensation benchmarking tools like Pave or Option Impact.

Work Location & Schedule

This role is based in our San Francisco office, located a short walk from the Montgomery BART station. It requires in-office presence in alignment with our hybrid work approach. We are not considering remote candidates at this time.