Head of Operations

Head of Operations

• Location: Woodside, CA
• Work Model: Onsite 4 days per week at HQ
• Company: Curio
• Employment Type: Full-time
• Visa Sponsorship: Available

About Curio

Curio is built from the ground up with privacy and security at its core, a place where toys and interactive experiences come to life through safe, imaginative play. Our mission is to increase imagination through products that enrich, educate, and entertain kids. We are a small, high-performing team, and every hire has a major impact on the product.

Role Overview

We are looking for a Head of Operations to partner closely with our two cofounders in creating and implementing SOPs, managing all org-wide workstreams, and curating best team practices. A self-starter who can design and run the systems that support our org. We are currently less than 10 FTE and work with over 25+ consultants on project basis.

You will work closely with the founders to shape how Curio hires, operates, and grows. You’ll own the full employee lifecycle and ensure the team is set up to do their best work. This includes cross functional projects from recruiting x internal operations x marketing x product.

This role requires an expert operations leader who comes with experience growing operations within a startup. Operational rigor, and a deep understanding of how to build healthy, high-performing teams in early-stage environments is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Own and scale Curio’s recruiting function, from sourcing to closing top-tier candidates
• Design and manage HR systems, including onboarding, performance management, and compliance
• Oversee benefits, payroll, and employee lifecycle operations
• Build and maintain internal processes that support a high-functioning, aligned team
• Partner with leadership on organizational design, headcount planning, and team structure
• Develop and support managers to build strong, healthy teams
• Plan and execute company-wide rituals, including quarterly offsites and team events
• Improve operational efficiency across the company by identifying gaps and implementing solutions
• Serve as a central connector across teams to ensure clarity, alignment, and execution

Qualifications

• 6–12+ years of experience in operations, people operations, or related roles
• Experience building and scaling internal operations at a startup or high-growth company
• Strong experience in recruiting and closing high-quality talent
• Deep understanding of HR fundamentals, including compliance, benefits, and payroll
• Experience designing and implementing organizational processes and systems
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work closely with leadership and individual contributors
• Ability to operate with high ownership and autonomy in an early-stage environment
• Strong judgment and ability to prioritize across competing demands

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Nice to Have

• Experience as a first or early operations hire at a startup
• Experience supporting technical or product-driven teams
• Familiarity with employment law and multi-state or international operations
• Experience building performance management and career development frameworks
• Experience planning and running company offsites or retreats
• Interest in AI, hardware, or consumer product companies
• Experience building tools or workflows that improve internal efficiency

Compensation

• Salary: $225 - $250k + equity
• Benefits:

- 401k matching

- Life insurance

- Health, vision and dental insurance

- Quarterly offsites

- In-office meals and snacks

- F&B stipend

- Phone stipend

- Commuter stipend

• Time Off: Unlimited PTO

Compensation will be determined based on experience.

What We Look For

• Strong operator with excellent judgment and attention to detail
• Ability to build systems from scratch and scale them over time
• High ownership and reliability — someone the team can depend on
• Strong people instincts and a commitment to building a healthy culture
• Ability to balance structure with speed in a fast-moving environment

Why Curio

• Small team with high ownership
• Opportunity to shape the future of AI-powered interactive toys
• Work at the intersection of AI, hardware, and storytelling