Chief People Officer (CPO)

Company: Data Science & Engineering Experts, LLC (DSE)
Location: Remote
Job Type: Full-Time
Reports To: Chief People & Transformation Officer (CPTO)

This is a founding-stage role with deferred salary until seed funding, paired with significant equity ownership.

Compensation: $120,000 - $150,000 annually (equity-first, deferred until seed funding)

About DSE

Data Science & Engineering Experts (DSE) is a pre-seed AI and data systems company building secure, enterprise-grade solutions for complex technical challenges. As a remote-first team, we're establishing the operational foundation that will scale alongside our technical innovation.

Our Mission: To transform enterprises through secure, compliant, and measurable AI solutions—bridging data strategy, infrastructure, and applied intelligence to power responsible innovation. We believe in transparency, accountability, and human-centered AI adoption.

The Opportunity

We're seeking a Chief People Officer (CPO) to build DSE's people systems from the ground up as part of an integrated People and Project Management Office. This is not a traditional HR role—it's a foundational leadership position where you'll architect the complete employee lifecycle, shape organizational culture, and ensure workforce readiness directly supports our AI/ML project delivery excellence.

You'll work alongside the Chief People & Transformation Officer (CPTO) and PMO Director to create a unified operating system where people capability and project performance evolve together. This role offers the rare opportunity to build enterprise-grade people operations at a startup, with the systems thinking and strategic influence typically reserved for much larger organizations.

This role is ideal for someone who:

· Wants to build, not inherit

· Thrives in ambiguity and creates structure from scratch

· Sees HR as a strategic driver of business outcomes, not just administrative function

· Understands how to scale people operations in tech/data science environments

· Is already comfortable leveraging AI/ML tools (large language models, automation, analytics) and sees them as force multipliers, not threats—we need adopters, not skeptics

· Is energized by the challenge of pre-seed equity compensation in exchange for significant upside

What You'll DoBuild the Foundation (Months 1-6)

· Design and implement complete employee lifecycle systems: attraction, hiring, onboarding, development, retention, and offboarding

· Establish HRIS infrastructure (BambooHR or Rippling) and people analytics dashboards

· Create compliant HR policies, handbooks, and documentation for a remote-first, multi-state workforce

· Develop compensation philosophy and equity frameworks aligned with startup stage and funding trajectory

· Launch employee engagement and culture programs that support a high-performance, data-driven environment

Drive Strategic Integration (Months 6-12)

· Partner with PMO Director to align workforce planning with project pipeline and resource needs

· Ensure AI/ML capability development directly supports project delivery requirements

· Build talent acquisition systems and pipelines for technical roles (data scientists, ML engineers, project managers)

· Create performance management frameworks that link individual growth to project outcomes

· Lead DEI initiatives and build an inclusive, values-aligned culture

Scale the Organization (Months 12+)

· Prepare people operations for Phase 2 expansion (25+ employees, 5+ active projects)

· Build succession planning and leadership development programs

· Establish workforce readiness metrics that predict and prevent project delivery risks

· Manage HR Operations team expansion as organization scales

What We're Looking ForRequired:

· 10+ years of HR leadership experience in technology, consulting, or data science organizations

· Proven track record building HR functions from early stage (ideally pre-seed through Series A)

· Strong grasp of compliant, equitable people practices including multi-state employment law, benefits administration, and compensation structures

· Experience with HRIS implementation and people analytics

· Excellent communication and change leadership skills

· Startup mindset: comfortable with ambiguity, resourceful, hands-on, willing to do the work before delegating it

Strongly Preferred:

· Experience in remote-first or distributed organizations

· Exposure to AI/ML or data science talent markets and technical recruiting

· Understanding of project-based workforce planning and resource allocation

· Familiarity with agile delivery environments and how HR supports rapid iteration

· SHRM-CP/SCP or PHR/SPHR certification

· Experience designing HR infrastructure in early-stage, equity-based startups

· Familiarity with compliance frameworks (SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA) in people operations contexts

Nice to Have:

· Experience working in integrated People + Operations or People + PMO structures

· Background in organizational design and effectiveness

· Startup equity compensation and cap table management experience

Compensation & BenefitsEquity-First, Deferred Compensation Structure

· Base Salary: $120,000 - $150,000 annually (deferred until seed funding is secured)

· Equity Package: Significant equity stake aligned with founding team contribution

· Benefits Upon Funding Activation:

o Health insurance (medical, dental, vision)

o 401(k) with matching

o Flexible schedule and unlimited PTO

o Professional development budget (SHRM membership, certifications, conferences)

o Home office stipend

What "Deferred Compensation" Means: As a pre-seed company, we're asking founding team members to invest in DSE's success through deferred cash compensation in exchange for meaningful equity ownership. Seed funding is targeted within 12–18 months based on current investor and client pipeline progress. Your salary activates upon seed funding, and your equity position reflects the value you're creating at this foundational stage.

Why Join DSE Now?

✅ Build from scratch - Design people systems your way, not retrofit legacy processes
✅ Strategic influence - Report to CPTO with direct executive leadership access
✅ Integrated model - Work in a CPO-PMO structure that few organizations have achieved
✅ Equity upside - Founding team-level ownership for early-stage contribution
✅ Remote flexibility - Work from anywhere with a mission-driven, distributed team
✅ Technical growth - Expand your expertise in AI/ML talent markets and data science organizations

How to Apply

Send your resume and a brief cover letter to hiring@thedataexperts.us with subject line: "CPO Application - [Your Name]"

In your cover letter, please address:

1. Why you're interested in a pre-seed, equity-first opportunity

2. An example of HR systems you've built from scratch

3. How you think about integrating people strategy with project delivery

Our Commitment to Diversity

DSE is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.

Questions about this role? Email hiring@thedataexperts.us

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $120,000.00 - $150,000.00 per year

Work Location: Remote