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Confidential SearchRecruiter-HandledInsuranceVice PresidentHybridFull-time

VP of Human Resources

Confidential Client San Francisco, CA $215K – $320K

Confidential search overview

Confidential Search Overview

A confidential insurance client has retained HireAxis to appoint a VP of Human Resources whose mandate covers owning talent strategy, leadership development, reward and organisational effectiveness across its insurance business. Based in San Francisco, CA on a hybrid basis, the role reports to the senior vice president or the relevant c-suite executive and carries a remit of Functional leadership across several teams and regions. The organisation is 600–1,200 employees and privately identified to shortlisted candidates only. The appointed leader inherits 60–220 people and will be measured on the strategic priorities set out below rather than activity.

This opportunity is being handled as a confidential executive search. Certain client and organisational details are withheld at the client's request and may be shared with qualified candidates during the recruiter-led process.

The leadership mandate

The Leadership Mandate

  • Lead talent acquisition, business partnering, reward and people operations
  • Coach the executive team on organisational design and succession
  • Own the leadership development agenda end to end

First 12 months

Strategic Priorities

Reduce regretted attrition in business-critical leadership roles
Build a credible internal succession bench for every executive seat
Modernise reward so it stays competitive without inflating fixed cost

Day to day

Key Responsibilities

  • Advise the board's compensation committee on people risk and reward
  • Design the workforce plan against the multi-year business strategy
  • Own executive reward, incentive design and compensation governance
  • Lead succession planning and executive development for critical roles
  • Strengthen performance management, engagement and retention

Leadership profile

Leadership Profile

  • Experience advising executives and board committees
  • Senior HR leadership experience at an equivalent scale
  • Depth in reward design, organisational design and succession planning
  • 12+ years, including 4+ leading managers of progressive leadership experience
  • Experience operating in the insurance sector or an adjacent regulated market

Track record

Leadership Experience

  • Proven leadership of 60–220 people, directly and through other leaders
  • Accountability for a budget or P&L consistent with Functional leadership across several teams and regions
  • Experience presenting to executive committees, boards or investment committees

How success is measured

Key Performance Expectations

Regretted attrition in critical roles
Internal succession coverage for executive positions
Time to hire for senior leadership vacancies

Nice to have

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience supporting M&A or large-scale restructuring
  • Formal coaching or organisational psychology credentials

What's offered

Benefits

Paid parental leave for all parents
Relocation support for the right candidate
Board and executive education allowance
Life insurance and long-term disability cover
Company-supported professional memberships
Executive base salary with annual short-term incentive

Client Profile

Our client is 600–1,200 employees in the insurance sector, headquartered in the United States and well established in its market. Further organisational detail — including the company name, ownership structure and leadership team — is shared with qualified candidates during the recruiter-led process.

Additional Information

  • Department: People & Talent
  • Applications close February 19, 1970.
  • DEMO CONTENT — this record was created for the HireAxis platform preview and is not a verified client mandate.
  • Search process: confidential candidate review, advisor conversation, client presentation, client interview panel and final board or CEO meeting.
  • Background, reference and, where relevant, regulatory checks are completed before any offer.

How to apply

Application Instructions

Express confidential interest through HireAxis with your executive profile and a short note on the leadership scope you have owned. A talent advisor reviews every submission and speaks with shortlisted executives before any profile is presented to the client.

Why This Opportunity

This is a rare seat — the incumbent is retiring after a long tenure and the succession has been planned carefully. The culture rewards operators — leaders who can set direction, then stay accountable through execution, budget discipline and honest reporting to the board.

Request Confidential Consideration

Your interest is received by the HireAxis search team only. Nothing is shared with the client organisation without your agreement.

Recruiter-handled

The Confidential Candidate Process

Every stage is managed by a HireAxis talent advisor. Nothing is shared with the client organisation without your agreement.

  1. 01

    Express Interest

    Send your executive profile and a short note on the leadership scope you have owned. Nothing is shared with the client at this stage.

  2. 02

    Confidential Candidate Review

    Our search team reviews your background against the leadership mandate and the client's stated requirements.

  3. 03

    Recruiter Conversation

    A talent advisor discusses the mandate with you in detail, including client context that is not published, and answers your questions.

  4. 04

    Qualified Candidate Presentation

    With your agreement, your profile is presented to the client as part of a shortlist of qualified executives.

  5. 05

    Client Interview Process

    Interviews with the executive committee, board or hiring principals, coordinated and briefed by your advisor.

  6. 06

    Next Steps

    Feedback, references, compensation discussion and offer support — handled through your advisor from start to finish.

Your point of contact

Senior Executive Talent Advisor

HireAxis Confidential Search Practice

Your information will be handled discreetly throughout the initial consideration process.

Demo contact profile — replace with the assigned advisor's details before this search is published.

Candidate Privacy

Information you submit for a confidential search is reviewed by the HireAxis search team and shared only with parties authorised for that search — normally the client organisation and its interview panel — and only after we have discussed the role with you. We ask for your agreement before your profile is presented. Details may also be shared where required by law or by an appointed background-screening provider. No online platform can guarantee absolute confidentiality, so please share sensitive information only when you are comfortable doing so.

Demonstration search content. This brief illustrates how HireAxis presents a confidential mandate and is not a verified live vacancy.