Head of People & Operations

Company Overview:

We are building Protege to solve the biggest unmet need in AI — getting access to the right training data. The process today is time intensive, incredibly expensive, and often ends in failure. The Protege platform facilitates the secure, efficient, and privacy-centric exchange of AI training data.

Solving AI’s data problem is a generational opportunity. We’re backed by world-class investors and already powering partnerships with some of the most ambitious teams in AI. The company that succeeds will be one of the largest in AI — and in tech.

We’re a lean, fast-moving, high-trust team of builders who are obsessed with velocity and impact. Our culture is built for people who thrive on ambiguity, own outcomes, and want to shape the future of data and AI.

The Role

We’re hiring a Head of People and Operations to help scale Protege efficiently and thoughtfully. This is a critical role for someone excited about building operational frameworks from scratch, thriving in environments that move fast and prioritize excellence.

You’ll strategically lead our operational execution, translating Protege’s ambitious vision into measurable outcomes. Your role spans overseeing critical functions such as People and Talent Acquisition as well as strategic finance, cross-functional alignment, vendor management, and scaling operational processes. You will set the operational cadence, remove bottlenecks, and ensure our teams have the clarity and support they need to accelerate growth.

What You’ll Do

Operational Excellence

• Partner with the CEO and leadership team to define and execute strategic operational plans.

• Identify, prioritize, and eliminate operational bottlenecks that impact growth and velocity.

• Establish KPIs and reporting systems to track, measure, and continuously improve organizational performance.

Finance & Strategic Planning

• Lead financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and strategic resource allocation.

• Manage vendor relationships, internal contracts, and operational readiness for future funding rounds.

• Lead operational support for potential mergers, acquisitions, and strategic initiatives.

People and Organizational Development

• Directly oversee People Operations, including talent acquisition, employee engagement, performance management, and culture building.

• Build and scale high-performing, engaged teams aligned with Protege’s values and strategic vision.

• Support and advise on organizational design, onboarding, employee development, and retention strategies.

Ideal Candidate:

• Operational Leader: Proven experience leading people or business operations functions at high-growth startups, ideally SaaS or services.

  • Expert in scaling operations and executing.

  • Proven ability to build and manage operational functions in a high growth environment.

• Startup Navigator: Excels at balancing strategic vision with tactical execution; calm under pressure and comfortable in ambiguity.

• Cross-Functional Collaborator: Exceptional ability to align commercial strategy with product development and customer needs.

• Organized & Data-Driven: Highly organized, proactive, analytical, and skilled at using data to refine strategies.

• Passionate about innovation in AI and operational excellence