Head of TA

Second Front Systems

4d•$200,000 - $225,000

About The Position

Second Front Systems (2F) is seeking an experienced and strategic Head of Talent Acquisition to lead and scale our hiring function during a critical phase of company growth. We are a mission-driven defense-technology company operating at the intersection of cutting-edge software and national security, committed to delivering transformative solutions that empower the nation’s most critical teams. At 2F, we combine the agility of a startup with the rigor required to support government and highly regulated environments. In this role, you will own and evolve our end-to-end talent acquisition function—ensuring we attract, assess, and hire exceptional talent capable of operating in the defense-tech ecosystem. You will serve as a trusted partner to senior leadership, translating business priorities into thoughtful, scalable hiring plans while building durable systems and processes that support long-term growth. This role is ideal for a hands-on talent leader who understands the defense-tech landscape, has experience hiring for cleared and clearance-eligible roles, and can balance strategic leadership with day-to-day operational excellence and action. Note: This role requires U.S. citizenship due to government contract requirements. Candidates must reside in one of our approved hiring hubs: DC / Maryland / Virginia Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill, NC Denver / Colorado Springs, CO Dallas / Fort Worth, TX

Requirements

Ability to translate business strategy into a clear, executable hiring roadmap
Strong judgment navigating tradeoffs between speed, quality, and compliance
Bias toward action, ownership, and measurable outcomes
Exceptional stakeholder management skills with senior leaders and executives
Ability and desire to get the job done well
Comfort operating in ambiguity while building structure and repeatability

Nice To Haves

8+ years of progressive talent acquisition experience, including leadership roles
Proven experience hiring for cleared or clearance-eligible roles within defense, aerospace, gov-tech, or adjacent regulated industries
Experience owning and scaling recruiting systems and infrastructure (ATS, tooling, analytics)
Track record of partnering closely with executive leadership and functional heads
Experience managing vendors, agencies, or RPO partners
Startup or high-growth company experience strongly preferred

Responsibilities

Own and execute the company-wide talent acquisition strategy aligned to business priorities, growth plans, and budget
Serve as a strategic advisor to the executive team and functional leaders on workforce planning, headcount prioritization, and hiring tradeoffs
Lead hiring across technical, go-to-market, and G&A roles, with expertise in cleared and clearance-eligible hiring
Build and scale recruiting processes, including compliance-driven hiring considerations
Own and optimize all TA systems and tooling (ATS, interview workflows, reporting, vendor partnerships)
Ensure consistent, high-quality candidate experience from first touch through offer and close
Partner closely with the Executive team, hiring managers, and hiring teams to ensure outstanding results
Establish clear recruiting metrics and dashboards (time-to-hire, pipeline health, offer acceptance, quality of hire) and use data to drive continuous improvement
Develop hiring manager capability through structured interview training, calibration, and ongoing partnership
Manage external recruiting partners (RPO, retained search, agencies) as needed, ensuring cost-effective and high-quality outcomes
Build hiring strategies specific to our approved job hubs, balancing local market dynamics with remote and hybrid needs