Head of Partnering, North America
ABOUT HALTER
At Halter, we’re on a mission to enable farmers and graziers to run the most productive and sustainable operations. Our customers are using Halter to break free from the time-intensive constraints of conventional practices. Imagine watching 500 cattle stand up and walk calmly towards their next break? No quad bikes, no dogs, no fences. Just a group of cattle walking at their own pace. People say it looks like magic. Our customers are revolutionizing grazing with Halter. It's changing lives and transforming an industry. People join Halter to do meaningful work. By joining us you’ll be solving challenging problems within a talented team and a culture built for high performance. Our team out-think, out-work and out-care. We’re committed to delivering real change in the world - this isn’t easy, and in truth, we love that it’s hard.
We’re backed to deliver on a mission that matters by Tier 1 investors including Founders Fund foundersfund.com , Bessemer Venture Partners bvp.com , BOND, bondcap.com DCVC dcvc.com , Blackbird blackbird.vc , Promus Ventures promusventures.com , Rocket Lab’s Peter Beck and Icehouse ventures icehouseventures.co.nz .
To find out more, visit our LinkedIn linkedin.com & Instagram instagram.com .
WHY HALTER
Halter makes solar-powered smart collars that let farmers and ranchers move, fence and monitor their cattle from their phone, without physical fences. Founded in New Zealand in 2016, Halter is now used across New Zealand, Australia and the United States, and is backed by investors including Bessemer Venture Partners, DCVC, Blackbird and Rocket Lab founder Peter Beck.
North America is our next big chapter. Our Boulder team is growing quickly, and the people decisions we make now, about how we hire, organize and lead, will shape the business for years. This role is a chance to build those foundations at a company with proven technology and a mission that matters: more productive and sustainable farming and ranching.
ROLE PURPOSE
As Head of Partnering - North America, you'll be the most senior People & Performance leader for our North American business. You'll partner with executives to build strong, high-performing teams, and build and lead a team of People Partners across the region. The role is both strategic and hands-on, and needs strong judgement, commercial awareness and the ability to cut through inertia.
Halter is headquartered in New Zealand, so you'll also be the link between North America and our People & Performance team there, making sure North America has a strong voice in company-wide decisions and that our teams here stay connected to Halter's culture. Expect regular work across time zones, including some early morning or evening meetings, and occasional travel to New Zealand as well as other Halter locations. The role is based in our Boulder, Colorado office, and like the rest of Halter, we work office first.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Executive Partnering and Organizational Design
- Partner with executives and senior leaders across North America on people strategy, organisational design, workforce planning and succession.
- Coach leaders on leadership, performance and team effectiveness, using data to inform decisions on structure, engagement and retention.
- Support leaders through scaling and structural change, keeping accountability and decision-making clear.
Building and Leading the Partnering Team
- Build, lead and develop a high-performing team of People Partners across North America, with clear standards for how we partner.
- Prioritise across competing demands and put resources where they add the most value.
Performance, Talent and Culture
- Run performance management, feedback and calibration, and coach managers on developing talent and addressing underperformance.
- Partner with Talent and Programmes to attract, develop and retain talent, including career pathways for technical and specialist roles.
- Help leaders build inclusive, engaged teams, and spot engagement or retention risks early.
- Handle employee relations matters with care, fairness and sound judgement.
Working with our New Zealand Headquarters
- Represent North America in global People & Performance leadership discussions, so regional needs shape company-wide decisions from the start.
- Judge when North America should follow the global approach and when it needs its own, making sure our policies meet local employment law.
- Partner with function leaders in New Zealand whose teams include people based in North America, making sure those employees get consistent leadership and support.
- Make decisions independently when time zones mean headquarters isn't available, and keep the right people informed.
- From time to time, support global initiatives and teams outside North America.
WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE
- Leaders across North America see you as a trusted partner who helps them act quickly and well on people matters.
- Your team is well regarded and gives consistent, practical support.
- Team structures are clear, performance issues are dealt with promptly, and managers are more confident leading their teams.
- We attract and keep key talent, and succession pipelines are clearer.
- North America has a strong voice in global people decisions, and North American employees feel as supported and connected as those at headquarters.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
- 10+ years as a strategic Human Resources Business Partner, People and Performance Partner or equivalent in a high-growth or complex global organisation, including experience leading a team of partners.
- Experience as a senior People leader in a regional business of a company headquartered in another country, ideally where that region was growing quickly or was critical to the company's strategy.
- Skilled at influencing senior leaders you don't report to, across countries and functions.
- Experience partnering across functions such as Sales, Marketing, Customer Success, Operations and field teams, and strong knowledge of North American employment law.
- Hands-on experience with organisational design, performance management and scaling teams through change.
- A confident communicator and trusted advisor who builds credibility quickly in fast-paced environments.
OUR BENEFITS
- Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP): Own a part of Halter and share in our growth and success
- Unlimited PTO: Take time off when you need it—no accrual required, available from day one
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP) & paid wellness leave: Access confidential support through JustWorks plus 3 paid wellness days per year
- Comprehensive health benefits: Medical, dental, and vision coverage starting the first day of the month after you join (with most premiums covered, including 100% of employee-only health premiums on select plans)
- Personal growth fund: $750 USD per year to support learning, development, or personal growth goals
- Parental leave: 16 weeks paid leave for birthing parents and 8 weeks paid leave for non-birthing parents
- 401(k): 100% match on the first 3% contributed, plus 50% match on the next 2% (up to a 4% employer match), with immediate vesting
- Onboarding travel to New Zealand: Fly to NZ for onboarding at Halter HQ in Auckland—meet the team, visit a test farm, and immerse yourself in all things Halter
OUR OFFICE FIRST APPROACH
Humans are wired for connection. Being office first is a core pillar of our culture because in-person connections driv