GTM Recruiting Lead
ABOUT RETELL AI Retell AI is using first principles to reimagine the call center with cutting-edge voice AI. Thousands of companies now utilize Retell's AI voice agents to handle sales, support, and logistics calls that once required large teams of human agents. Backed by Y Combinator, Alt Capital, and other leading investors, we have scaled to $60M ARR with a team of 40 people, up from $5M at the start of 2025. Our vision for 2026 is to build a modern CX platform where entire contact centers are powered by AI. Instead of basic automation that needs constant human tuning, we're creating intelligent AI "workers" that can act as frontline agents, QA analysts, and managers, continuously executing, monitoring, and improving customer interactions. We're growing quickly and looking for ambitious builders who want to tackle hard problems, move fast, and have real impact at one of the fastest-growing voice AI startups. Let's build the future together.We're a top 50 AI app in a16z list: https://tinyurl.com/5853dt2x#4 on Brex's Fast-Growing Software Vendors of 2025: https://www.brex.com/journal/brex-benchmark-december-2025We're also one of the top ranking startups on: https://leanaileaderboard.com/Enterprise tech 30: https://www.wing.vc/et30/overview ABOUT THE ROLE As a GTM Recruiting Lead at Retell, you will build and scale the company's recruiting function while personally owning critical hires across GTM and technical roles. This is a high-impact, execution-heavy role. You will partner directly with founders and hiring managers to define hiring strategy, run full-cycle recruiting, and close top talent in a highly competitive market. You won't just lead, you'll set the bar. This role requires someone who can operate at both a strategic and tactical level: building systems, driving metrics, and personally closing high-priority candidates. If you thrive in fast-paced environments, know how to close top candidates, and want to build a recruiting engine from the ground up, this role is for you. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Recruiting Strategy & ExecutionOwn headcount planning in partnership with founders and hiring managersRun full-cycle recruiting for high-priority roles across GTM and technical teamsBuild and continuously refine sourcing strategies, outreach, and pipeline generationConduct market research on talent trends, compensation, and competitive landscapeDrive recruiting marketing initiatives (events, branding, outbound campaigns)Partner with internal teams to leverage AI and automation to improve recruiting efficiency Closing & Candidate ExperienceOwn candidate closing for critical roles, including offer negotiation and counteroffer handlingMaintain a high offer acceptance rate by effectively positioning Retell's mission and opportunityBuild strong relationships with top candidates, especially passive talent Recruiting Team ManagementHire, onboard, and manage a small team of recruiters, sourcers, and coordinatorsSet performance expectations and coach team on sourcing, interviewing, and closingDevelop playbooks and standardize recruiting processesIdentify gaps in pipeline and execution, and quickly course-correct Hiring Manager PartnershipAct as the primary point of contact for hiring managers and foundersRun structured intake meetings and define clear hiring criteriaLead weekly pipeline and metrics reviews with stakeholdersPush back when needed and drive alignment on hiring priorities Agency ManagementOwn relationships with external recruiting agenciesSet clear expectations, manage performance, and optimize agency usageNegotiate terms and ensure strong ROI on agency partnerships Recruiting Operations & MetricsTrack and analyze funnel metrics (conversion rates, time-to-fill, source effectiveness)Build reporting dashboards and use data to drive weekly decisionsContinuously improve processes to increase speed and quality of hires YOU MIGHT THRIVE IFHave 5+ years of in-house recruiting experience at a tech companyHave experience hiring for GTM roles (Sales, Marketing, PMM, etc.) and exposure to technical roles (Engineering/Product)Have 1-3+ years of team lead/people management experienceHave worked in a startup or high-growth environment and are comfortable with ambiguity and speedHave a strong track record of closing candidates and managing offer processesAre highly metrics-driven and use data to improve recruiting performanceCan operate as a player-coach, balancing individual execution with team leadershipAre comfortable working directly with founders and influencing hiring decisionsHave experience working with or experimenting with AI tools to improve recruiting workflowsTake ownership end-to-end and move with urgencyHave deep experience using Ashby ATS as a core recruiting toolHave built reporting, workflows, and automations within AshbyAre highly detail-oriented when it comes to data hygiene and pipeline accuracy in ATS systems JOB DETAILSCash: $180,000 - $240,000 base salaryEquity: Offers Meaningful EquityLocation: Redwood City, CA, US (Relocation Provided)US Visas: Retell AI is open to sponsoring work authorization for qualified candidates, including H1B/H-1B, TN, L-1, E-3, F-1 (OPT/CPT), and O-1 visas. OTHER BENEFITS100% coverage for medical, dental, and vision insurance$70/day DoorDash credit for unlimited breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks$200/month wellness reimbursement (gym, fitness classes, etc.)$300/month commuter reimbursement (gas, Caltrain, etc.)$75/month phone bill reimbursement$50/month internet reimbursement COMPENSATION PHILOSOPHYBest Offer Upfront: Choose from three cash-equity balance options, no negotiation needed.Top 1% Talent: Above-market pay (top 5 percentile) to attract high performers.High Ownership: Small teams, >$1M revenue/employee, and significant equity.Performance-Based: Offers tied to interview performance, not experience or past salaries. Interview Process15-30 min intro video call to get to know you and walk through a quick scenario-based question45 min video screen focused on how you operate in a fast-paced startup environment and make decisionsFinal onsite (3 hours total) focused on management, strategic recruiting, and full-cycle candidate ownership from intro to offer. Includes 30 min with GTM hiring managers and an additional 30 min with engineering/technical hiring managers. #LI-JC1