Executive Recruiting Lead

About Zoox

Zoox is developing the first ground-up, fully autonomous vehicle fleet and the supporting ecosystem required to bring this technology to market. Sitting at the intersection of robotics, machine learning, and design, Zoox aims to provide the next generation of mobility-as-a-service in urban environments. We're looking for top talent that shares our passion and wants to be part of a fast-moving and highly execution-oriented team.

Role Overview

Zoox is seeking a strategic and experienced Executive Recruiting Lead to build and scale our in-house executive search function. In this critical player-coach role, you will act as a trusted thought partner to the C-suite, shape the executive recruiting strategy and infrastructure, personally lead high-impact Director+ searches, and manage a dedicated team to deliver our most mission-critical hiring needs.

In this role, you will...

• Design and scale a world-class executive search function, including managing/coaching a small team, development of internal executive research capabilities and long-term succession planning.
• Own and drive the entire executive recruitment lifecycle, from initial strategy meeting to candidate offer and closing, ensuring a seamless and high-touch experience for all executive candidates.
• While leading the function and team, remain actively involved in the full-cycle execution of high-priority, mission-critical searches, personally driving candidate generation, engagement, and closing for select senior-level roles.
• Develop sophisticated, data-driven market maps of executive talent in relevant industries (e.g., autonomous technology, automotive, software, hardware engineering, operations, finance).
• Articulate the Zoox mission, vision, and unique culture compellingly to high-profile executive candidates, often involving complex compensation, negotiation, and relocation strategies.
• Handle extremely sensitive and confidential candidate information and internal organizational details with the utmost professionalism and discretion.
• Serve as a trusted advisor and strategic partner to the CEO, Co-Founder, C-suite, and other senior leaders on talent planning, and executive hiring best practices.
• Drive continuous improvement in executive search processes, leveraging tools, metrics, and interview methodologies.
• Develop and execute tailored strategies to attract and successfully engage highly passive, hard-to-reach executive candidates, effectively converting passive interest into active candidacy.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience with executive searches (Director+) and 15+ total recruiting experience.
• Proven experience recruiting executive talent in a highly technical and/or rapidly scaling environment (e.g., hardware, software, AI/ML, autonomous systems, high-growth tech).
• Successful multi-year track record as a player-coach, managing small team/direct reports.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence and present to C-level executives.
• Expert-level negotiation and closing skills, particularly for complex executive compensation packages.
• Executive Sourcing & Talent Mapping: Providing real-time competitive intelligence and talent benchmarking to the executive team, identifying shifts in the talent landscapes that may necessitate pivots.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.

Bonus Qualifications

• Experience at a retained executive search firm focused on technology.
• Interest in the autonomous and electric vehicle industry.

Location

This role will report out of our Foster City, CA office in a hybrid capacity (minimum of 3 days onsite).

Pay

$185,000 - $309,000 a year