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Join HFBAC's Remote Team
We’re building Chemistry First hiring solutions for bootstrapped founders and growing companies. If you’re a skilled remote professional who thrives in early-stage environments and wants to help build better teams, we’d love to hear from you.
Who We Are (And What We're Building)
HFBAC (Hiring For and Building Awesome Companies) helps bootstrapped founders, entrepreneurs and business owners build founding teams that actually work.
After 27 years building teams, from BBC Sports to helping 400+ founders, entrepreneurs and business owners through British Library and Virgin StartUp workshops, I (Helen) noticed a pattern:
Startups don’t fail because founders, entrepreneurs and business owners can’t find talented people.
They fail because they hire the wrong people.
Impressive CVs. Terrible chemistry.
So I built the Chemistry First methodology, a systematic way to hire for fit, not just credentials.
- Done-for-you Hiring Services (helping founders and business owners find co-founders, first hires, and senior leadership)
- Embedded Talent Partnerships (Fractional Talent Partner) (owning whilst partnering with and guiding founders, entrepreneurs and business owners to hire smarter)
- Courses, Workshops and Resources (LinkedIn, newsletter, resources)
We’re early-stage, bootstrapped, profitable, and growing.
Current team: Helen (founder) + Bex + Toby + Leo + Helen D (yes, two Helen’s!)
Next step: Building our bench of brilliant people for future opportunities.
How We Work (Our Operating Principles)
Chemistry First (Always)
We practice what we preach. Skills matter, but chemistry matters more.
We’d rather work with someone who’s 80% skilled and 100% aligned than the other way around.
This means we hire slowly, test compatibility genuinely, and part ways respectfully when the fit isn’t there.
An impressive CV with terrible chemistry? Hard pass.
Extreme Ownership
We take full responsibility for our work, outcomes, and team success.
No excuses, no blame-shifting.
If something needs fixing, we own it and make it better.
If a ball is dropped, we pick it up.
If a client is unhappy, we fix it.
If a process is broken, we redesign it.
We don’t wait for someone else to solve it – we lead with accountability.
Relentless Curiosity
We ask why. We dig deeper. We don’t accept “that’s how it’s always been done.”
Curiosity drives better hiring—for our clients and for ourselves.
When we encounter a problem, we research it.
When we don’t understand something, we learn it.
Remote work requires people who figure things out without hand-holding.
Curiosity makes that happen.
Craftsmanship
We put care and intention into every task.
Not perfectionism – perfectionism is the enemy of done.
However we sweat the details because details compound.
Whether it’s a client proposal, a candidate brief, or an internal doc – we treat it as a reflection of our standards.
We aim for ‘this is genuinely good’ not ‘this’ll do.’
Scrappy Over Perfect
We ship fast, learn faster, and iterate constantly. If you need everything polished before taking action, this isn’t your place.
We build the plane while flying it.
Done is better than perfect.
Progress beats paralysis.
We’re not a corporate machine with endless committees – we’re a small team moving quickly to help founders build awesome companies.
Honest Always
First-Principles Thinking
We're Human
What It's Really Like Working With Us
Fully Remote, Truly Flexible
- You work from wherever you are (home, coworking space, anywhere with reliable internet)
- We care about results, not where or exactly when you work
- Some UK timezone overlap is needed for occasional meetings (1-2 hours per week)
- Mostly asynchronous work - you manage your schedule
We're Building SOPs as We Go
- You won't find a 50-page operations manual
- You WILL help create it
- We document as we build, not before we build
- You'll have input on how we work, not just execute what we say
It's Growing (And Sometimes Chaotic)
- We're scaling from solo founder to small team
- Launch weeks are intense
- Priorities can shift based on client needs
- We work hard when it matters, then we rest
- You need to be comfortable with change
You'll See Real Impact
- Your work directly helps founders build teams
- You'll get thank-you messages from clients
- You're not buried in a big corporation - you'll see the results of your work
- As we grow, your role can grow with us (part-time → full-time)
Join our Talent Community
We’re always looking to meet talented remote professionals. Even when we don’t have immediate openings, we’re building relationships with people who could be brilliant additions to our team as we grow.
Register your interest in one of our talent communities below. When the right opportunity opens up, we’ll reach out to start a conversation. No spam, no pressure – just a way to stay connected.
ROLE 1
Business Development (HFBAC Talent Community)
- Part-time or Full-time (15-40 hrs/week)
- Remote Offshore
You help HFBAC grow by connecting with the right founders and companies.
Through personalised outreach, LinkedIn prospecting, and relationship building, you’ll start meaningful conversations and book discovery calls.
Future roles could include lead generation, partnerships, and sales support.
Ideal For: Someone comfortable on camera, experienced in LinkedIn outreach and lead generation (not mass spamming and cold email or cold calling), and genuinely curious about startups, small businesses and founder challenges.
ROLE 2
Recruiter / People Partner (HFBAC Talent Community)
- Part-time or Full-time (15-40 hrs/week)
- Remote Offshore
You help HFBAC deliver exceptional hiring outcomes for our clients.
Through candidate sourcing, screening conversations, and Chemistry First assessments, you’ll ensure we match the right people with the right companies.
Future roles could include talent sourcing, candidate relationship management, and client delivery support.
Ideal For: Someone with recruitment experience who’s frustrated by CV-first approaches, genuinely curious about what makes teams work, and excited about helping founders build awesome companies.
Not Seeing An Opportunity?
We’re open to meeting talented people who don’t fit neatly into the categories above.
If you think you’d be a great fit for HFBAC, email helen@hfbac.com with what you’d do here, why you’re the right person, and what about our mission resonates with you.
How We Hire (Chemistry First)
When opportunities open up, here’s how it works:
Total timeline from you being notified and confirming interest in a specific vacancy to starting with HFBAC: 2-4 weeks (or later if you have notice period!)
Not Sure If You're Right For This?
- You have strong English communication skills (written and spoken)
- You're self-motivated and don't need constant supervision
- You're comfortable with async work and occasional video calls
- You have reliable internet (minimum 10 Mbps) and a quiet workspace
- You're excited about supporting a growing business
- You're in a timezone that allows some overlap with UK hours (GMT)
- You need constant direction and can't work independently
- You're looking for a large corporate environment with established processes
- You need full-time hours immediately (we start part-time)
- You can't commit to occasional video meetings in UK timezone
- You're not comfortable with change and ambiguity
Email helen@hfbac.com with “Question About [Role Name]” in the subject line.
We’ll give you an honest answer about fit.
Ready To Join Our Talent Community?
If you’ve read this far and you’re excited, we want to hear from you.
Choose the community that fits your skills:
