Playground Global is a leading early-stage venture capital firm based in Palo Alto, with $1.2B+ under management. We specialize in investing in revolutionary companies whose cutting-edge products are poised to drive the next wave of economic and human development. Areas of active investment include: next-gen compute, engineered biology, decarbonization (energy, materials science, agriculture), robotics, and related frontier technologies.

We’re hiring a People Partner & Programs Lead to own internal people operations at Playground Global and help our portfolio companies build strong, scalable organizations from the earliest stages. This hybrid role is both internally focused (leading Playground Global’s own people programs and systems) and externally focused (supporting founders and PortCos).

The right person will have the strategic mindset of a People Leader, the builder instincts of an operator, and the collaborative heart of a trusted partner. You’ll report to the Operating Partner, People & Talent and work closely with internal functions (Ops, IT, Finance, EA team), as well as the Recruiting and Exec Search lead supporting our PortCos.

What You’ll Do

Internal — Playground Global’s People Function

• Design and run core people programs: on/off boarding, goal-setting, performance reviews, feedback frameworks, engagement surveys, and values-based recognition.
• Partner with firm leadership to align on org design, role clarity, compensation philosophy, and leveling frameworks.
• Lead the operational backbone of our people function—including benefits administration, compliance, and people systems—ensuring everything runs smoothly.
• Serve as the go-to resource for people-related questions and conversations—balancing thought partnership with hands-on execution.
• Own internal communications, including all hands meetings, org updates, and key people announcements—supporting managers as they communicate with consistency and care.
• Be the catch-all for people-related projects—if you’re adaptable, pragmatic, and not above any task, you’re in the right place.
  
  
  

External — Support and Enable Portfolio Companies

• Collaborate with the Operating Partner, People & Talent to co-design people programs suited to stage, size, and need—from first hires through scale.
• Build programmatic tools, templates, and systems PortCos can adopt and customize—across performance management, compensation, engagement, onboarding, and more.
• Participate in the development of workshops on org design, leadership development, values alignment, and company culture.
• Contribute to the assessment and prioritization of PortCo support needs, ensuring Playground Global’s resources are deployed where they’ll have the most impact.
• Partner with others on the Platform team to deliver high-leverage support across our diverse and dynamic portfolio.
  
  
  

Education & Competencies that will drive your success

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in Organizational Development, HR, Psychology, or Business is a plus.
• 6+ years of experience in People Operations, HR Business Partnership, or Organizational Development, preferably within VC backed companies - deep-tech experience or VC experience is a major plus!
• Demonstrated experience designing and scaling people programs—ideally across multiple functions or industries.
• Equally adept at running detailed operations processes for People programs and being a business partner and counselor to all levels of an organization.
• Experience advising or partnering directly with senior leadership, including CEOs and founders.
• Experience across HR and Talent tech stacks—including Lattice, Gusto, ADP, Ethena, Notion, ATSs and OKR platforms—with a practical understanding of when and how to implement them.
• You’re a builder—you love creating clarity from ambiguity and turning strategy into tools others can use.
• You operate with care, curiosity, and calm—people trust you because you listen deeply and act with integrity.
  
  
  

The annual base salary range is $150k to $180k. The base salary will depend on numerous factors such as experience, knowledge, and skills. We offer a competitive benefits package and prioritize in-person collaboration. Our team works from our Palo Alto office at least three days a week, and each month, we come together for a full week of focused work at our inspiring Studio office.

We believe great ideas come from diverse perspectives, and we’re committed to building a team that reflects the world we live in. If you’re passionate about our work, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds and experiences and encourage individuals of all identities to apply.