Director of People

About the Role

The Director of People will build and lead the people function at Vega Health to help create an environment where exceptional individuals can do their best work and be at their best at work. This role reports directly to the CEO and works collaboratively with other functional leaders to develop the talent pipeline, systems, and culture required to scale a high-performing healthcare AI company. From recruiting and onboarding to professional development, compensation, compliance, and the employee experience, this role will be critical for designing the foundations that allow Vega Health to grow thoughtfully while maintaining an exceptional culture.

Relocation to Durham, North Carolina, is not required for this role; however, some travel will be expected to create structured in-person time with the team (e.g., 25% in-person). We also expect new hires to spend up to one week on-site in Durham during the initial onboarding period.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and scale the end-to-end talent lifecycle and playbook, including recruiting, hiring, onboarding, offboarding, and professional development

• Oversee the relationship with the company’s HR Platform and PEO vendor, including the administration of benefits and resolution of other day-to-day employee needs/concerns

• Support the CEO and other teams on workforce planning, organizational design, compensation strategy, and staffing plans that support sustainable company growth

• Serve as a trusted resource for employees, providing guidance on people-related questions, feedback, and employee relations matters while maintaining confidentiality and escalating issues when appropriate

• Develop and maintain HR policies, the employee handbook, and people processes that reflect Vega Health's values and ensure compliance with applicable employment laws

• Partner with external legal counsel to maintain employment compliance, required reporting, and evolving regulatory requirements as the organization scales

• Oversee organization-wide compliance training programs, ensuring timely completion of the required HIPAA, privacy, security, and other mandatory education and training

• Embed our core values into the employee experience, starting with recruiting all the way through everyday day-to-day operations

• Support the CEO and broader team to design and facilitate team-building initiatives, company offsites, and programs that foster connection and organizational alignment

• Lead professional development practices that enable employee growth and set clear expectations regarding performance and accountability

• Proactively identify organizational friction points and partner with the CEO and other teams to improve processes, strengthen collaboration, and enhance the overall employee experience before issues impact engagement or performance

• Support the CEO and functional leaders through employee terminations to ensure that interactions remain professional, compliant, and respectful to support the broader needs of the team and company

• Measure and continuously improve the employee experience through engagement surveys, pulse checks, and other feedback mechanisms, translating insights into meaningful organizational improvements

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Psychology, or a related field required; Master's degree (MBA, MHRM, Organizational Development, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, or related field) preferred

• 5-7+ years of progressive experience in Human Resources, Talent, People Operations, or Organizational Development, including experience building people functions in high-growth and/or early-stage organizations

• Experience supporting scaling organizations, preferably within healthcare, health technology, SaaS, or other regulated environments

• Strong knowledge of employment law, HR compliance, compensation, performance management, and employee relations

• Demonstrated ability to recruit exceptional talent across diverse functional areas

• Experience implementing HR systems, processes, and operational workflows that improve organizational effectiveness

• Strong coaching, communication, and interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate with teams across all levels of the organization

• Excellent organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously

• Passion for building inclusive, high-performing teams and creating exceptional employee experiences

Annual Salary:

$135,000 - 150,000 USD