Senior Director of People

About the Company

Aescape is a New York-based physical AI and robotics company redefining human recovery through intelligent, precision bodywork, elevating it into a consistent, outcomes-driven practice. Powered by real-time body mapping, advanced robotics, and proprietary software, Aescape delivers deeply personalized bodywork that continuously adapts to the individual. This creates a superior way for members to move with greater ease, recover more efficiently, and optimize how they feel every single day. Aescape is building a defining brand for recovery, shifting behavior from a sporadic experience into a progressive, measurable routine, unlocking compounding benefits that build lasting resilience and laying the groundwork for an entirely new category of proactive human health and performance.

Aescape powers recovery across leading fitness, hospitality, and wellness environments, including Equinox, Life Time, Marriott, Hilton, Four Seasons, Pause Studios, and Remedy Place, and is backed by Valor Equity Partners, BroadLight Capital, and Mecha Ventures.

About the Role

This is a hybrid role reporting directly to the CEO, requiring significant on-site presence at our NYC office with flexibility for some remote work. As the People leader, you will oversee all people operations, ensure compliance, own recruiting and headcount planning, and build the programs that scale our collaborative, innovative culture. The ideal candidate is a strategic, hands-on builder who is open-minded, tech-enthused, and aligned with our focus on wellness and longevity.

Responsibilities

• People Strategy: Own and evolve the overall People strategy, translating company goals into clear people priorities across the employee lifecycle. Build the foundational policies, procedures, and programs the function needs to scale, refining what exists and creating what does not. Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and leadership team on organizational design and the decisions that shape how the company grows.
• HR Operations and Systems Management: Lead day-to-day HR functions, including payroll, benefits, onboarding/offboarding, and performance management, utilizing Rippling for HRIS and payroll, and Ashby for applicant tracking and recruiting. Ensure seamless integration with our core tools: Google Workspace (Gmail, Calendar, Drive), Slack for communication, and Notion for documentation and collaboration.
• Compliance and Legal Oversight: Manage US visa processes, immigration support, and adherence to federal/state labor laws. Oversee international employee relations through established Employer of Record (EOR) partnerships in Japan, Mexico, UK, and manage employment compliance for our Canada-based team members, ensuring global compliance while minimizing risks.
• Talent and Employee Relations: Act as a trusted advisor to leadership and employees on HR matters, including conflict resolution, employee engagement, and development initiatives. Support a distributed team of ~60 across NYC and remote US, Canada, Mexico, UK, and Japan, fostering inclusivity and high performance.
• Culture and Organizational Development: Champion our company culture by promoting open-minded collaboration, tech innovation, and wellness-focused programs. Serve as the primary point of contact for people-related queries, driving initiatives that enhance team morale and alignment with our health/longevity mission.
• Talent Acquisition and Headcount Planning: Own recruiting strategy and execution in partnership with hiring managers, including headcount planning, hiring processes, and employer branding to attract top talent.
• Compensation and Leveling: Develop and maintain our compensation philosophy, salary bands, and leveling framework, ensuring pay is competitive, equitable, and compliant with pay transparency requirements.
• Manager and Leadership Development: Build manager capability through coaching, training, and performance management programs that develop leaders as we scale.
• Reporting and Analytics: Generate HR metrics and insights using our tools to inform decisions on retention, diversity, and operational efficiency.

Requirements

• Experience: 10+ years in HR leadership, with proven experience at the Senior Director level or equivalent (e.g., Head of People, VP/Director of People Ops). A proven track record building and scaling People functions in fast-paced tech or wellness startups strongly preferred.
• Technical Proficiency: Experience with modern HRIS and ATS platforms (we use Rippling and Ashby). Strong familiarity with Google Workspace, Slack, and Notion is essential.
• Legal Expertise: In-depth understanding of US labor laws, visa/immigration processes (e.g., H-1B, TN visas), and international HR practices (including Canadian employment law). Experience with EOR models for global teams required.
• Location and Commitment: Hybrid model with primary onsite presence at our NYC office (expectation of 3-4 days/week onsite, with flexibility); full availability during core business hours.
• Soft Skills and Culture Fit: A proactive, go-to leader who is open-minded, adaptable, and enthusiastic about technology. Interest in health, wellness, and longevity is a strong plus, aligning with Aescape's mission to enhance well-being through innovation.
• Education: Bachelor's degree in HR, Business, or related field; HR certifications (e.g., SHRM-SCP, PHR) preferred.

Benefits

• 100% employer-paid healthcare coverage for employees with generous coverage for eligible dependents
• Flexible time off
• Quarterly Wellness Days - everyone fully unplugs
• Generous parental leave
• Complimentary OneMedical membership
• 401(k) with employer matching
• Home office budget
• Annual stipend for professional development
• Working late? Dinner is on us
• Complimentary Aescape recovery sessions for yourself, friends & family

Pay

Base salary range of $235,000 - $250,000 annually, plus performance bonus, plus equity grant commensurate with the role and company stage.