Lead, PhD Outreach and Recruiting

Overview

The application window will be open until at least January 27, 2026. This opportunity will remain online based on business needs which may be before or after the specified date.

In accordance with Washington state law, we are highlighting our comprehensive benefits package, which is available to all eligible US based employees. Benefits for this role include:

• Health, dental, vision, life, disability insurance
• Retirement Benefits: 401(k) with company match
• Paid Time Off: 20 days of vacation per year, accruing at a rate of 6.15 hours per pay period for the first five years of employment
• Sick Time: 40 hours/year (statutory, where applicable); 5 days/event (discretionary)
• Maternity Leave (Short-Term Disability + Baby Bonding): 28-30 weeks
• Baby Bonding Leave: 18 weeks
• Holidays: 13 paid days per year

This role may also be located in our Playa Vista, CA campus.

Applicants in the County of Los Angeles:
Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

Applicants in San Francisco:
Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.

Note:

By applying to this position you will have an opportunity to share your preferred working location from the following:
New York, NY, USA;
Ann Arbor, MI, USA;
Atlanta, GA, USA;
Austin, TX, USA;
Boulder, CO, USA;
Chicago, IL, USA;
Mountain View, CA, USA;
Los Angeles, CA, USA;
Seattle, WA, USA;
San Francisco, CA, USA;
Washington D.C., DC, USA
.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent practical experience.
• 10 years of experience in talent acquisition, human capital consulting, or a related field focused on specialized talent.
• 5 years of experience leading and managing global, distributed teams.

• Experience leading niche recruiting (e.g., PhDs, MBAs, JD) at firms or tech companies with large research functions.
• Deep familiarity with the academic landscape and research trends in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Systems, and Quantum Computing.
• Ability to use data to shape complex talent initiatives and influence stakeholders.
• Adept at acting as a strategic advisor to senior technical and executive leadership.
• Skilled in leading change management and building talent engagement processes from scratch.
• Track record of building strategic, influential partnerships with senior faculty and university administrators.

The Talent Outreach & Intern Programs team identifies, engages, and delivers talent for current and future Google opportunities through meaningful connections and experiences.

At Google, we are seeking an Outreach and Recruiting leader to transform how we identify, engage, cultivate, and secure PhD talent. This role is a strategic imperative to define the future of our company's innovation, moving beyond traditional recruiting to build a sustainable, high-touch ecosystem. You will be empowered to design a new globally-accountable function from first principles, with executive sponsorship and a clear strategic vision.

Great just isn't good enough for our People Operations team (known elsewhere as "Human Resources"). We bring the world's most innovative people to Google and provide the programs that help them thrive. Whether recruiting the next Googler, refining our core programs, developing talent, or simply looking for ways to inject some more fun into the lives of our Googlers, we bring a data-driven approach that is reinventing the human resources field.

The US base salary range for this full-time position is $205,000-$288,000 + bonus + equity + benefits. Our salary ranges are determined by role, level, and location. Within the range, individual pay is determined by work location and additional factors, including job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

Please note that the compensation details listed in US role postings reflect the base salary only, and do not include bonus, equity, or benefits. Learn more about benefits at Google.

• Design and execute a global strategy to build deep, sustained partnerships with key faculty, university research groups, and academic departments, fostering relationships built on mutual respect and shared intellectual curiosity. Lead ecosystem building, PhD outreach and relationship building, and top talent identification.
• Implement a high-touch, "white-glove" engagement model globally. Streamline the applicant journey to treat every PhD like an executive hire.
• Embed deeply with product area and recruiting leads across Google to align the PhD hiring strategy with Google's overarching product and research strategies.
• Build and mentor a specialized team of…