People and Talent Recruitment for San Francisco Technology Companies
Founded in 2016, Hawkwood is a specialist HR and People 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 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
“Summaya placed me as Oxford Ionics' first talent hire and helped us build the world-class team that carried us through rapid scaling to acquisition - she's now supporting our next stage of growth globally.
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 for CHRO and Chief People Officer roles?
Yes. We recruit across the People function, from People Partner and People Operations roles through to Head of People, VP People, Chief People Officer and Chief HR Officer, on a permanent, interim or fractional basis. See our Chief People Officer and Head of People search.
How long does a People search take?
The role’s scope, location, candidate availability and interview process all affect the timeline. We’ll discuss timing against your brief. Agreeing the decision-makers and interview stages before the search begins helps keep it moving.
Can you help with interim or fractional People hires?
Yes. Interim hires can cover a vacancy or defined project; fractional professionals provide expertise on a part-time basis. A fractional Head of People can also be a first step before a permanent hire, helping to define the role and assess candidates. 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.