Director, Talent Acquisition

About Us

Social Finance is a national nonprofit and registered investment adviser (SF Advisors, LLC). We work with the public, private, and social sectors to create partnerships and investments that measurably improve lives. Since our founding in 2011, we have mobilized over $500 million in new investments designed to help people and communities realize improved outcomes in workforce and economic mobility, health, and housing.   

We are driven by the belief that social and economic systems should enable all people to thrive, and the conviction that we can create the most meaningful and measurable change in our communities when governments and markets work together. Our organization is built upon five core values: people, performance, integrity, collaboration, and inclusion.   

Our work spans four areas: Impact-first Investing, Workforce and Education Investments, Advisory & Public Sector Practice, and the Social Finance Institute. Our Impact-first Investment team designs, launches, and manages investments that provide solutions for effectively deploying impact capital across a range of social outcomes. Our Workforce and Education Investments team designs, launches and manages financial solutions focused on addressing workforce challenges, including skills acquisition and training access. Our Advisory team partners with government and philanthropy leaders to implement data-driven programs for advancing social impact. And through the Social Finance Institute, we aim to build the field and change systems through actionable research, communities of practice, and educational outreach.  

The Opportunity 

We are seeking an experienced Director of Talent Acquisition to join our five-person Talent team, report to the Head of Talent, and own full-cycle recruiting for all roles — entry-level to C-suite — across every function of the organization. This role serves on our management team and is a strong fit for a kind, dynamic, and data-driven talent leader who leads with a people-first mindset. The Director brings genuine care for candidates and colleagues alike, thrives in a fast-paced environment, and earns the trust of hiring managers and executives through responsiveness, sound judgment, and an unwavering commitment to quality. The ideal candidate is as comfortable designing a rigorous structured interview process as they are navigating an executive search — and brings the curiosity and initiative to continuously improve how Social Finance attracts, assesses, and brings on exceptional talent. 

Key Responsibilities 

Full-Cycle Recruiting & Search Management 

• 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 

Candidate Experience & Communication 

• 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 

Interview Process Design & Administration 

• 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 

Sourcing & Pipeline Development 

• 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 

Onboarding & Cross-Functional Coordination 

• 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 

People Management 

• 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 

Systems, Compliance & Operational Excellence 

• 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 

Culture & Collaboration 

• 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 

Qualifications 

We are looking for a dynamic, high-energy and people-first talent leader who has the flexibility and aptitude to take on additional duties as organizational priorities evolve. Candidate must have: 

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

Benefits 

At Social Finance, we strive to deliver a benefits program that will enhance our overall value proposition to employees. Our current benefit offerings include: 

• 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. This position is based in our Boston office.
• Paid vacation and paid holidays (with 12/24-1/1 off every year)
• Paid parental leave
• A truly stellar team of high performing, values-driven and fun (!) professionals 

Salary 

This role utilizes a level-based lockstep entry band compensation model for purposes of equity and transparency - we strive for everyone coming in at a given level to be paid equitably. For this position, the starting base salary is $147,000. At this level, employees typically receive a $5,000 salary increase annually and are eligible to participate in our firmwide annual bonus program. Bonuses are typically between 5-10%, though bonuses are not guaranteed and are dependent on both organizational and individual performance.   

Review of applications will begin immediately. No phone calls, please. 

Applicants must be permanently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. 

Please note that, at this time, 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.

Social Finance, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will be afforded equal employment opportunities without discrimination because of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, creed, disability, marital status, citizenship, ancestry, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, military status, status as a protected veteran, genetic information or any other legally protected status.

Social Finance is committed to providing an accessible and supportive work environment to ensure individuals are able to contribute at their best. We will discuss and provide reasonable accommodations to those in the recruiting process who need them.

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

When submitting your resume below, please submit as a PDF. Thank you!