VP, People

9amHealth is an AI-enabled virtual specialty care platform focused on managing high-cost chronic conditions at scale. The company partners with employers, health plans, and pharmacy benefit managers to deliver comprehensive, cost-effective medical care for individuals living with obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Members receive access to specialized clinicians, including endocrinologists, obesity medicine specialists, and clinical pharmacists, at-home lab testing, prescription medications, and lifestyle support.

9amHealth was founded in 2021 and is backed by leading healthcare investors like Define Ventures, SemperVirens, 7Wire Ventures, and The Cigna Group Ventures.

9amHealth is entering an exciting stage of growth as we scale our business, expand our client base, and build the organization needed to support what comes next. We’re looking for a VP of People to serve as the executive leader of our People function across Human Resources, Talent Acquisition, and People Operations.

This is a highly strategic and hands-on leadership role for someone who thrives in a fast-moving startup environment and knows how to build while operating. You’ll partner closely with our executive team to connect People strategy to business strategy; from workforce and headcount planning to organizational design, compensation, leadership development, culture, and talent.

We need a compassionate, pragmatic leader who brings strong judgment, earns trust quickly, and can balance the needs of our people with the realities of a rapidly scaling business. You’ll inherit a strong foundation and team, and will have the opportunity to build the systems, structure, and leadership practices that will enable 9amHealth to scale thoughtfully and sustainably.

This role reports to our COO and leads the People team across a blended workforce of 250+ employees and contractors spanning clinical, corporate, and technical functions.

People Strategy & Organizational Leadership

• Set and execute a multi-year People strategy aligned to company goals, growth plans, and business priorities.

• Serve as the executive owner of the People function and represent People strategy at the executive leadership and Board levels.

• Lead organizational design and workforce planning in partnership with Finance and business leaders, ensuring headcount plans evolve with expansion, client growth, and changing business needs.

• Anticipate organizational and workforce risks and proactively address them before they become business challenges.

• Lead and develop the People leadership team across HR, Talent Acquisition, and People Operations.

• Create clarity across the People team by setting clear expectations, defining ownership and decision-making lanes, and establishing realistic roadmaps and priorities.

Talent, Leadership & Culture

• Strengthen leadership capability, succession planning, and bench strength across critical functions and roles.

• Partner with executives on performance, organizational effectiveness, employee engagement, and retention.

• Direct the People leadership team in establishing programs, practices, and culture needed to support a high-performing, connected organization through continued growth.

• Ensure a thoughtful, consistent employee experience across corporate, technical, clinical, and contractor populations.

Compensation & People Operations

• Own the company’s compensation philosophy and strategy, ensuring it supports growth, retention, internal equity, and market competitiveness.

• Establish scalable infrastructure, policies, systems, and processes appropriate for a high-growth company.

• Oversee People Operations, including benefits, payroll, compliance, employee relations, onboarding/offboarding, and multi-state employment requirements.

• Provide sound judgment and leadership on sensitive employee matters, policy exceptions, restructures, reductions in force, and separations in partnership with HR leadership and counsel.

• Ensure our People technology and operating model can scale with the company.

• 10+ years of progressive People/HR leadership experience, including 5+ years leading People functions at the Director, VP, or equivalent executive level.

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Leadership, Organizational Development, or a related field is a plus.

• Proven experience building and scaling People functions in high-growth startup environments, ideally through significant organizational change and growth.

• Experience with scaling a clinical workforce in healthtech, telehealth, or another regulated environment a plus.

• Demonstrated ability to operate as a strategic business partner to founders, executives, and Boards.

• Deep experience with organizational design, workforce planning, compensation, talent strategy, and people operations.

• Experience leading and developing teams across multiple disciplines, including HR, Talent Acquisition, and/or People Operations.

• Strong business and financial acumen, with the ability to connect decisions to company strategy, budget, and business outcomes.

• Exceptional judgment and discretion, particularly when navigating complex employee relations, organizational changes, and other sensitive matters.

• A highly hands-on, builder mentality with comfort setting strategy while also rolling up sleeves to make things happen.

• Proactive communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to build trust across executives, managers, and employees.

• Experience managing a distributed and/or blended workforce across multiple states.

At 9amHealth, you'll join the exciting environment of a startup with the stability of highly experienced founders that have successfully built a business from scratch. We foster a collaborative learning mindset and a passion for improvement. You'll work with a brand-new product alongside a small, flexible team of people eager to shape technology, infrastructure, and culture.

Our team members are spread across the globe, with physical sites in San Diego, California, and Vienna, Austria, but we value your culture regardless of where you work.

Additionally, we provide a professional development budget and support continuing education, empowering our team to grow alongside the company. Team members have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on chronic disease management and patient outcomes while contributing to a collaborative, mission driven culture focused on improving healthcare accessibility and affordability.

Full-Time/W2 Positions Only: We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and vision insurance, along with flexible PTO and work from home options.

Diabetes disproportionately impacts BIPOC (black, indigenous, and people of color) communities. We are committed to creating a workforce that reflects our patients and creating a positive healthcare experience for them. We welcome applications from people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, members of ethnic minorities, and foreign born residents.