Head of People and Operations

Head of People & Operations

Taipei | DRIVE & DRIVE Catalyst

We are looking for an experienced Head of People & Operations to help build the next stage of DRIVE and DRIVE Catalyst.

This is not a traditional HR administration role.

We are looking for a senior operator who combines strong people judgment with an organizational builder mentality: someone who can attract exceptional talent, develop managers, strengthen how the organization operates, and build practical systems that improve clarity, accountability and execution.

You will join a lean, highly specialized organization and have significant ownership from the beginning.

What You Will Own

Organizational Design & Operating Effectiveness

• Assess how the organization operates and identify opportunities to improve structure, workflows and accountability.
• Help design and implement an effective operating model across the organization.
• Clarify roles, responsibilities, interfaces and decision-making processes.
• Develop and continuously improve practical SOPs, workflows and operating standards.
• Strengthen documentation, knowledge sharing, handovers and organizational continuity.
• Improve management cadence, accountability and cross-functional follow-through.
• Lead implementation of organizational changes and ensure new ways of working are adopted effectively.
• Continuously simplify processes, reduce duplication and improve organizational effectiveness.

Recruiting & Talent

• Lead recruiting for senior, specialist and high-impact roles.
• Source and assess candidates directly while managing external search partners where appropriate.
• Build disciplined hiring processes and strong talent pipelines.
• Strengthen onboarding, succession planning and talent development.
• Ensure organizational structure and hiring priorities remain aligned with business needs.

People & Leadership Development

• Partner with leaders and managers on performance, feedback, development, workload and retention.
• Build practical performance-management and employee-development processes.
• Identify organizational and people issues early and bring thoughtful recommendations to leadership.
• Strengthen management capability, including delegation, communication, accountability and people development.
• Support leadership in addressing capability gaps, team effectiveness and organizational needs.

Operations & Cross-Functional Execution

• Strengthen ownership, coordination and follow-through across important cross-functional priorities.
• Lead selected operational projects from planning through implementation.
• Establish appropriate tracking, accountability and reporting mechanisms.
• Coordinate effectively with internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Identify and resolve operational bottlenecks before they become larger organizational issues.
• Help create a more disciplined, responsive and scalable operating environment.

AI, Systems & Process Improvement

• Identify opportunities to use AI, automation, technology and analytics across recruiting, people management and operations.
• Build or implement practical workflows that reduce manual work and improve visibility.
• Introduce tools and management information that support stronger decision-making and accountability.
• Apply technology thoughtfully while recognizing where human judgment remains essential.
• Continuously improve systems and processes without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.

Who We Are Looking For

We are looking for someone with:

• Approximately 10+ years of relevant experience across People Operations, HR, organizational development, business operations or related functions.
• Meaningful experience in a technology, high-growth, multinational or sophisticated international organization.
• Demonstrated experience improving organizational structures, operating models, processes or systems.
• Experience building or implementing SOPs, workflows and cross-functional operating processes.
• Strong hands-on recruiting capability, including senior and specialist talent.
• Experience partnering directly with senior leaders and managers.
• Strong judgment around organizational effectiveness, performance, development and retention.
• A track record of building and improving systems rather than simply administering established ones.
• Comfort using AI, automation, analytics and digital tools to improve how work gets done.
• Excellent project-management, change-management and execution skills.
• Fluent Mandarin and strong professional English.
• The confidence to identify issues, bring considered recommendations and challenge constructively.
• A practical, low-ego and hands-on approach.
• International education or substantial international work experience is strongly preferred.

The Right Person for This Role

You may be a strong fit if you have worked inside a sophisticated technology or multinational organization and now want broader ownership, greater autonomy and closer proximity to decision-making.

You should enjoy both strategy and execution.

You may be evaluating organizational structure one day, recruiting a senior leader the next, redesigning an operating process, building an SOP or using AI to eliminate unnecessary manual work.

You should be comfortable entering an environment where there is an opportunity to build, improve and professionalize, rather than simply maintain established systems.

We are looking for someone who naturally asks:

How should this work Who should own it How can we make it simpler, clearer and more effective

And then has the ability to make the answer real.

We are looking for someone who wants to build with us, not simply inherit an existing function.

Working Style

This role works closely with senior leadership and functional leaders across DRIVE and DRIVE Catalyst and carries significant responsibility for organizational effectiveness and execution.

Success will require discretion, sound judgment, strong communication and the ability to operate independently while building trust across the organization.

Location

Taipei, Taiwan

This is an in-person leadership role requiring close collaboration with the broader team.