Director, Talent Acquisition

Social Finance • Boston, MA

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Social Finance is a national nonprofit and registered investment adviser (SF Advisors, LLC) that collaborates with public, private, and social sectors to create partnerships and investments that measurably improve lives. Since 2011, they have mobilized over $500 million in investments focused on workforce and economic mobility, health, and housing. Their mission is driven by the belief that social and economic systems should enable all people to thrive, and that government and markets working together can create the most meaningful and measurable change. The organization operates across four areas: Impact-first Investing, Workforce and Education Investments, Advisory & Public Sector Practice, and the Social Finance Institute. The Talent Acquisition Director will join a five-person Talent team, report to the Head of Talent, and manage full-cycle recruiting for all roles from entry-level to C-suite across all organizational functions. This management team role is ideal for a kind, dynamic, and data-driven talent leader with a people-first mindset, who genuinely cares for candidates and colleagues, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and builds trust through responsiveness, sound judgment, and a commitment to quality. The ideal candidate is adept at designing rigorous structured interview processes and navigating executive searches, with the curiosity and initiative to continuously improve talent attraction, assessment, and onboarding.

Requirements

• A minimum of 10 years of talent acquisition experience, including at least 2 years leading a talent acquisition function, ideally within an organization that operates across multiple sectors (public, private, and/or social).
• Experience serving as a lead recruiter for roles ranging from entry-level to C-suite, across diverse functional areas
• People management experience preferred; proven ability to develop and support early-career talent professionals
• Deep, hands-on ATS (applicant tracking system) experience required; Greenhouse or similar preferred; must be able to build scorecards, interview guides, and search infrastructure from the ground up
• LinkedIn Recruiter — advanced proficiency in job posting, Boolean search, and passive candidate sourcing
• Willingness to learn and utilize AI tools (e.g., Claude or equivalent) meaningfully across workstreams; Existing experience leveraging AI tools for recruitment workstreams is preferred
• Deep knowledge of structured hiring methodologies and competency-based interview design; a student of the craft who stays current on emerging best practices — including the evolving role of AI in recruiting and assessment — and brings those learnings back to the organization
• Fluency in employment law and recruiting compliance, including EEO requirements, pay equity considerations, and legally permissible interview practices
• Understanding of U.S. work authorization requirements and employer sponsorship obligations; ability to advise candidates and hiring managers on eligibility and process
• Exceptional verbal and written communication — clear, concise, and credible with audiences ranging from entry-level candidates to senior executives
• Excellent project management skills; ability to manage multiple open searches simultaneously without sacrificing quality, responsiveness, or stakeholder communication
• Developed instincts and sound judgment; demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with professionalism and discretion
• Low ego; collaborative within the Talent team and across the firm; intrinsic motivation to create positive outcomes for candidates and the organization alike
• Applicants must be permanently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.
• To be in-person at a Social Finance office, client location or Social Finance-sponsored event, you must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including receiving a booster shot.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience recruiting within or for mission-driven, impact-oriented, or financial services organizations is a strong plus

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end recruiting for all open roles across all functions and levels — from sourcing and screening through offer and pre-onboarding
• Lead deep intake conversations with hiring managers to scope roles, define candidate profiles, align on leveling, and set expectations for process timeline and competitiveness
• Review all inbound applications and determine advancement to phone screen and subsequent stages as appropriate for the search; maintain timely disposition of candidates throughout the pipeline
• Manage candidate pipelines with urgency; proactively surface risks and adjust sourcing strategies as needed
• Partner with retained and contingent search firms when appropriate; manage agency relationships and evaluate candidate submissions
• Serve as the first and primary point of contact for all candidates from initial outreach through offer acceptance; deliver a people-first, responsive, and informative experience at every stage
• Administer offers: deliver offers verbally, communicate core compensation and benefits talking points, and send offer documentation in a timely manner
• Conduct reference checks and background screenings as appropriate; exercise sound judgment in evaluating results
• Maintain confidentiality and discretion throughout all candidate interactions and sensitive search processes
• Build and administer structured interview processes in Greenhouse, including scorecards, interview guides, competency frameworks, evaluation attributes, and candidate-facing materials
• Design role-appropriate assessments — including take-home exercises, case studies, and skills-based evaluations — in collaboration with hiring managers
• Advise hiring managers and interviewers on interview best practices, question design, and legal compliance (e.g., prohibited inquiry topics, bias mitigation)
• Facilitate debrief conversations when group calibration is needed; leverage scorecard data as the primary mechanism for structured hiring decisions
• Thoughtfully adapt assessment approaches in response to the growing use of AI by candidates — designing evaluations that accurately surface genuine skills and judgment while accounting for the realities of how people work today
• Lead direct and passive sourcing through LinkedIn Recruiter, the Social Finance careers page, professional networks, and mission-aligned channels
• Build diverse, high-quality pipelines across Social Finance’s recruiting verticals: impact investing; consulting; government; nonprofit and philanthropic sectors; field building and thought leadership; and operational functions including communications, finance, fundraising, and administration & facilities
• Leverage AI tools (e.g., Claude or equivalent) fluently across the search lifecycle for job descriptions, interview materials, sourcing strategies, and candidate communications
• Facilitate a seamless pre-boarding and onboarding process, coordinating across IT, finance, communications, and the broader Talent team to ensure new hires have a strong start
• Serve as a point of continuity between the offer stage and Day One, keeping all affected teams in the loop on start dates, system access, equipment needs, and onboarding logistics
• Provide day-to-day management of Senior Administrative Assistant responsible for recruitment coordination, overseeing their work in scheduling and interview coordination communications with candidates
• Provide clear direction, regular feedback, and meaningful professional development opportunities; model the communication standards and work ethic expected across the Talent team
• Maintain data integrity across the Greenhouse ATS, including accurate candidate records, pipeline tracking, and search reporting; deliver data-driven recruiting insights and pipeline metrics to the Head of Talent and firm leadership to inform workforce planning and hiring decisions
• Manage key recruitment vendor relationships, including LinkedIn, Greenhouse, and external agency partners; monitor vendor performance, optimize tool usage, and ensure partners are aligned with Social Finance’s hiring standards and candidate experience expectations
• Manage work authorization and sponsorship considerations; advise hiring managers on visa categories, work eligibility, and employer sponsorship obligations as needed
• Ensure recruiting practices comply with applicable employment laws and regulations, including EEO guidelines, pay transparency requirements, and legally permissible interview practices
• Operate as a culture carrier within the Talent team and across the firm; contribute to a collaborative, high-performing, and inclusive team environment
• Support Boston office culture through participation in and coordination of team-building activities, office events, and the company-wide annual offsite
• Partner closely with the Head of Talent and broader HR team on firmwide initiatives, workforce planning, and organizational development priorities

Benefits

• Comprehensive health care coverage: medical, dental and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; access to Blue Cross Blue Shield Wellness Program “AHealthyMe Rewards” and more
• Retirement savings plan with employer contribution
• Short-term, long-term and life insurance policies
• Commuter benefits and cell phone reimbursements
• Hybrid work model (in office a minimum of two days per week and on an ad-hoc basis as needed)
• Dedicated budgets for team building and employee recognition
• Annual budget for external professional development opportunities
• Mentorship and onboarding programs
• Collaborative and energizing workspaces in downtown Boston, MA; San Francisco, CA; Austin, TX; Washington, D.C. and New York, NY.
• Paid vacation and paid holidays (with 12/24-1/1 off every year)
• Paid parental leave

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed