Principal Executive Recruiter, Babylist
$181.8-219k
Online universal baby registry
Be an early applicant
Online universal baby registry
1001+ employees
Be an early applicant
$181.8-219k
1001+ employees
Company mission
To help expecting parents get exactly what they need for the arrival of their new baby.
Role
Who you are
- 15+ years of recruiting experience, with Director through C-suite searches as the sustained focus of your work, including 8+ years leading end-to-end retained searches at a dedicated executive search firm; preferably trained at True Search, Daversa Partners, Heidrick & Struggles, Spencer Stuart, or a peer firm of similar caliber
- Deep experience placing executive leaders at growth-stage or pre-IPO companies, ideally during periods of expansion into new business lines or verticals
- Proven track record on zero-to-one searches: first-of-their-kind roles, newly formed functions, or revenue line leaders where scope and leveling were undefined when you started
- Experienced running highly confidential searches, including sensitive replacement hires, with the judgment and discretion those situations demand
- Skilled at shaping executive role narratives from scratch; you know how to partner with executives to surface what they truly need, not just what's on paper
- Comfortable operating independently; you can build market maps, competitive landscapes, and candidate theses on your own without a research team behind you
- Fluent in the tools of the trade: you use LinkedIn Recruiter for complex search strategy and deep sourcing, Greenhouse for ATS management and pipeline reporting, and Gem for outreach sequencing and campaign management; these aren't things you're learning, they're how you already work
- Expert in executive total rewards; you independently structure, benchmark, and negotiate full compensation packages including base, short- and long-term incentives, equity grants, and pre-IPO value modeling, and you can communicate that value to candidates in a way that actually lands
- Strong executive presence; you run calibration sessions with confidence, push back respectfully when market reality differs from internal expectations, and advise senior leaders without losing their trust
- Experienced managing external search firm partnerships; you know when to bring one in, how to hold them accountable, and how to course-correct when they aren't delivering
- Thrives in growth-stage environments where roles are fluid, comp benchmarks may not exist, and ambiguity is part of the work, not a problem to escalate
- High editorial bar and AI fluency; you use AI for market mapping, competitive intelligence, and to accelerate your work, but your candidate briefs, outreach, and executive-facing materials are always sharp, human, and unmistakably yours
What the job involves
- As our Principal Executive Recruiter, you'll own the most consequential searches at Babylist
- Director through C-suite roles across Product, Marketing, Operations, and new business lines we're standing up from scratch
- You'll work directly with our executive team, not as a support function but as a true thought partner, helping them think clearly about what they actually need, shaping role narratives before they go to market, and closing leaders who will define our next chapter
- This is not a role for someone who executes against a clean spec
- Many of the searches you'll run will start with ambiguity: undefined scope, no comp benchmark, shifting organizational context
- You'll be the one who brings clarity
- You'll write the spec, build the market map, lead the intake, and manage the process end-to-end with the kind of executive presence that makes senior leaders trust you completely
- If you've spent your career doing exactly this kind of work and you're ready to do it inside a company you actually believe in, this role was built for you
- Own the searches that matter most. You'll run Director through C-suite searches across Babylist's most critical and complex hiring needs, including confidential, first-of-their-kind, and new vertical roles, from intake to close
- Bring clarity before the process begins. You'll lead intake sessions that lock in role scope, leveling, scorecard criteria, and compensation parameters so that when the right candidate surfaces, the team can move
- Serve as the executive team's thought partner. You'll push back on scope when the market doesn't support it, advise on org design when relevant, and bring independent market expertise that shapes how we hire at the top
- Close with sophistication. You'll lead executive compensation negotiations across the full total rewards package, structuring offers that reflect market reality, Babylist's comp philosophy, and what it takes to get a great person across the finish line
- Elevate every touchpoint. From first outreach through offer close, candidates will walk away with a strong impression of Babylist regardless of outcome
- Build something lasting. You'll manage external search firm partnerships with accountability while steadily building the internal executive search capability that reduces our reliance on agencies over time
Our take
Since its 2011 launch, Babylist has grown into one of the most highly rated baby registries in the US. The difference it offers is that it allows users to include products from any store in their registries. On top of this, the company’s model also focuses heavily on creating informational content, which allows it to generate ad revenue while building customer loyalty.
Originally scaled with fairly low venture funding, Babylist claims half of new parents in the US now use its services. This, given that the baby products industry is worth close to $90 billion, shows the company's immense growth and speaks to the impact it has made in the space.
Babylist has seen strong funding in the past, which has fuelled projects such as the launch of virtual showrooms and further expanded the company's presence. The company acquired Expectful, a health and wellness tool, in 2023 with the long-term vision of combining the two companies into a larger health and wellness media property that can help people navigate all aspects of parenthood from fertility to diapers.
Steph
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
67% employee growth in 12 months
Company
Funding (1 round)
Nov 2021
$40m
SERIES C
Total funding: $40m
Company benefits
- HAPPIER WEEKENDS – We work to live, not live to work. That means we generally don’t work nights or weekends, and we offer 10 paid holidays throughout the year, in addition to your paid time off.
- PAID TIME OFF THAT WORKS FOR YOU – Life is unpredictable. Use your time off for what you need, whether that’s a vacation, family event or a day to unplug.
- PARENTAL LEAVE – We offer a flexible, 12-week paid parental leave policy.
- FLEXIBLE BENEFITS – Choose from benefits that support your working style, whether that's remote, in the office or something in between.
- HEALTH & WELLNESS – Wellness benefits include 100% paid coverage for medical, vision and dental for full-time employees.
- BABYLIST STORE DISCOUNT – All full-time employees receive a generous Babylist Store discount.
Company HQ
Emeryville, CA
Leadership
Natalie Gordon
(Founder & CEO)Former Software Engineer at Amazon. Initially founded Babylist as a side project and has since taken the company to a market leading status.
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