People and Talent Recruitment for San Francisco Technology Companies
Founded in 2016, Hawkwood is a specialist People, HR & Talent Acquisition recruitment agency with a San Francisco office on California Street. We recruit People, HR and Talent Acquisition professionals exclusively for technology companies, from their first dedicated People hire through to Chief People Officer and CHRO.
We work with Founders, People leaders and the investors backing them, typically from Series A to Series D, on permanent, interim and fractional hires.
Why Use a Specialist for Your Head of People Search?
The level of experience you hire at is one of the most crucial decisions in a Head of People search: too senior and they may not want the day-to-day operational work, not senior enough and they are unlikely to have the impact you need.
Hawkwood recruits only People and Talent professionals, and only into technology companies. Before the search starts, we can advise on the seniority your company stage needs, the reporting line, the job title and the interview structure.
We have been mapping the same candidate market since 2016, and have often already spoken to most of the candidates we will approach before a search begins. Read how we compare to an executive search firm.
Read our guide to hiring your first Head of PeopleRoles We Recruit
People Leadership
Chief People Officer, CHRO, VP People, People Director and Head of People.
Talent Acquisition
Founding Recruiters, Talent Acquisition Partners and Heads of Talent.
People Operations
HR Generalists, People Operations Managers and Associates.
People Partnering
HR Business Partners and People Business Partners.
These roles can be permanent, interim or fractional, depending on the work and the support your team needs.
How We Run Your Search
The recruiter who takes your brief also finds, approaches, screens and manages the candidates, so the advice you get at offer stage comes from someone who has spoken to each candidate directly.
We agree the role's priorities, what success looks like, and the essential and preferred criteria, then introduce a shortlist with written assessment summaries. Your recruiter supports you through interviews, offer and acceptance.
See our full approachExamples of Our Work
US technology companies: We have made People and Talent hires into companies including Figma, Reflection, Serval and Fundamental, each with a team in San Francisco.
Across the UK and the United States: We have specialised in People and Talent hiring for ten years, across the UK and the United States, with recruiters in London, New York, San Francisco and Miami.
300+ successful People & Talent hires into growth companies including
“We worked with Hawkwood on a search for a people lead at Phoenix Court recently and could not have been more impressed. They have a genuine, deep understanding of the HR market, unparalleled candidate network, and huge empathy with their clients.
Recommended to CEOs by VCs & PEs including
Questions About Hiring People and Talent in San Francisco
When should a startup hire its first Head of People?
Most technology companies make this hire somewhere between 50 and 100 employees. Historically, many investors encouraged founders to hire by around 50; since 2022 we have seen more founders wait until closer to 100, or hire a People Operations Manager first. Headcount alone is too simple a guide: how fast you are growing, your founding team’s people leadership experience, the strength of your wider leadership team, how complex the organisation is becoming and how competitive your talent market is all matter. Read when a tech scale-up should hire its first Head of People.
Do you recruit Talent Acquisition roles?
Yes. We recruit Founding Recruiters, Talent Acquisition Partners and Heads of Talent Acquisition for technology companies, and have placed hundreds of these hires across the UK, Europe and the United States since 2016. Where your hiring volume doesn’t yet justify a permanent recruiter, we can bring one in on a fractional basis. See our Talent Acquisition search.
How long does a People or Talent search typically take?
We usually share two initial candidates within the first 1.5 weeks. Your feedback helps us refine the search early, either confirming we’re on the right track or highlighting where we need to adjust. Interviews typically begin in week two, and the process usually concludes within five weeks when everything runs broadly to plan. The timing depends on the length of your interview process and your team’s availability. This is the search timeline, not a guaranteed start date, which also depends on the successful candidate’s notice period.
Can a fractional Head of People come before a permanent hire?
Yes. A fractional Head of People works with you part-time and can be a first step before a permanent hire, helping to define the role and assess candidates. Interim hires can also cover a vacancy or a defined project, and you can typically interview interim or fractional consultants within two to three days of briefing us. Explore fractional and embedded expertise.
Do you recruit outside San Francisco?
Yes. We recruit across the United States, the UK and Europe, with recruiters based in San Francisco, New York, Miami and London. Our recruiters in each market can also support companies growing internationally.