Director, Talent Acquisition

Year Up, Inc.; Providence (RI); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

Paid vacation

Exempt salaried role

Job summary

Year Up United is seeking a Director of Talent Acquisition to partner with senior leadership and drive enterprise-wide recruitment and workforce planning. The role focuses on scalable programs, data-driven decisions, and equitable hiring practices while leveraging AI-enabled tools to improve efficiency.

You will lead a team, collaborate with HR, Finance, and Marketing, and ensure an exceptional candidate experience across permanent and contingent hiring.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in talent acquisition with leadership experience across multiple functions.
• Ability to influence senior leaders and executives.
• Strong analytics, workforce planning, and process improvement skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute enterprise-wide talent acquisition strategy and programs.
• Partner with executives to align hiring with budget and priorities.
• Lead recruiting operations, governance, and use of analytics for decisions.
• Drive employer branding and diverse talent attraction initiatives.
• Coach and develop recruiters and talent partners.
• Provide regional and cross-functional support for workforce strategies.

Skills

Leadership

Talent acquisition

Stakeholder management

Data analytics

Workforce planning

Executive presence

Diversity & inclusion

AI in recruitment

Tools

Workday

ATS

AI recruiting tech

Job description

OVERVIEW:

Reporting to the Senior Director, Talent Acquisition, Management & Development, the Director, Talent Acquisition serves as a strategic business partner responsible for developing and executing enterprise-wide talent acquisition and workforce planning strategies that enable Year Up United to attract, engage, and hire exceptional and diverse talent. This leader partners closely with senior executives, functional leaders, HR, Finance, Marketing, and external talent partners to align workforce and talent acquisition strategies with organizational priorities. The role will oversees and enhance talent acquisition solutions, including strategies for full time and contingent hiring, builds scalable recruiting programs, leverages data and market intelligence to inform decision-making, and continuously enhances the candidate and hiring manager experience. As a member of the Talent leadership team, the Director drives innovation and operational excellence across recruiting processes, evaluates emerging technologies and AI-enabled talent acquisition practices, and develops strategies to optimize efficiency, effectiveness, and scalability while maintaining an equitable and human-centered hiring approach. In keeping with Year Up United’s mission and values, this role will provide direct service to students in accordance with the expectations for all staff (e.g. joint coaching, mentoring, tutoring, etc.). This is a hybrid role requiring regular in-person engagement. Applicants must live within a reasonable commutable distance to a Year Up United location.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Talent Acquisition Strategy & Execution

Develop and execute a comprehensive talent acquisition strategy aligned with organizational growthand impactgoals and workforce needs. Serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership on talent market trends, workforce planning, talent availability, organizational design, and hiring strategy. Lead the design and continuous improvement of enterprise recruiting programs, processes, tools, and operating models. Partner with business leaders toanticipatefuture talent needs and develop proactive workforce strategies. Establish andmonitortalent acquisition goals,functional and organizational goals, and performance metrics to drive accountability and results. Lead and develop scalable approaches for both permanent and contingent workforce planning. Championequitablehiring practices and strategies that support diverse and inclusive talent pipelines. Direct the recruitment process for senior leadership positions andhave the ability topersonally manage a requisition portfolio.

Executive Partnership & Workforce Planning

In partnership withEmployeeSuccess Team, consult with senior leaders todetermineoptimalworkforce solutions, including permanent hiring, contingent labor, consultants, project-based resources, and internal mobility opportunities. Partner with Finance, HR, Procurement, and business leaders to align hiring strategiesand processeswith budget, organizational priorities, and workforce plans. Provide recommendations based on labor market intelligence, compensation trends, talent availability, and competitive hiring practices. Supporttalent review discussions related to workforce gaps, succession planning, and strategic hiring initiatives.

Talent Acquisition Operations & Innovation

Establish andoptimizerecruiting operations, processes, governance, and service delivery models.Leverage recruiting data and talent analytics toidentifytrends, improve effectiveness, and inform strategic decision-making.Evaluate, pilot, and implement AI-enabled recruiting technologies and automation solutions that enhance talent sourcing, screening, candidate engagement, and operational efficiency while ensuring ethical andequitableuse.Drive continuous improvement initiatives that simplify workflows, reduce time-to-fill, improve quality of hire, and elevate the candidate experience.Partner withPeople Operations andHRIS and technology teams to maximizeutilizationof Workday, ATS platforms, reporting tools, and emerging talent technologies.

Employer Brand & Talent Attraction

Partner with Marketing and Communications leaders to strengthen Year Up United's employer brand and talent value proposition. Develop innovative sourcing strategies that attract diverse, mission-aligned talent across multiple functions and geographies. Cultivate strategic relationships with external talent communities, search firms, staffing partners, educational institutions, and professional organizations. Ensure consistent messaging and candidate experiences across all recruiting channels.

Team Leadership

Lead, coach, and develop Talent Acquisition team members, fostering a high-performance and customer-focused culture. Establish clear goals, performance expectations, and development opportunities for recruiters and talent partners. Create knowledge-sharing practices, hiring manager education programs, and recruiter capability-building initiatives. Serve as a key leader within the broader HR and Talent function.

Regional / National Support

Serve as the organizational subject matter expert on talent acquisition strategy, workforce planning, recruiting operations, and contingent workforce management. Influence cross-functional initiatives that support organizational growth, efficiency, and talent outcomes. Ensure compliance with employment laws, hiring policies, and organizational standards. Establish governance and best practices across all recruiting activities and external vendor partnerships.

Site Team / Learning Community Member

Serve as a coach or mentor for a small number of current studentsParticipate in orfacilitateweekly group sessions with studentsAttend staff meetings and trainings

QUALIFICATIONS:

7+ years of progressive talent acquisition experience,5+years ofleadershipandmanagementresponsibility. Demonstrated success developing and executing talent acquisition strategies across multiple business functions and geographies. Experience leading recruiting teams and influencing senior leaders and executives. Strong workforce planning, talent analytics, and recruiting operations experience. Experience managing both permanent and contingent workforce hiring strategies. Experience building and enhancing employer branding and talent attraction initiatives. Strong business acumen and ability to align talent strategies with organizationalobjectives. Experienceleveragingdata, technology, and automation to improve recruiting outcomes. Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and executive influencing skills. Familiarity with applicant tracking systems required; Workday preferred Experience evaluating, implementing, andoptimizingAI-powered recruiting technologies and talent intelligence platforms preferred Passion for working with young adults and commitment to the mission and values of Year Up United Understanding ofthe Opportunity Divide and its drivers. We define the Opportunity Divide as the gap between companies seeking skilled talent, and young adults who lack access to the skills, experiences, and support to break through barriers and achieve their full potential in their careers.

Salary Range: $120,000 - $140,000#LI-Hybrid

WORKING AT YEAR UP UNITED:

Starting January 5, 2026, employees are expected to work on-site at least two days per week (Monday through Thursday dependent on job requirements). To be eligible for employment, candidates must live and work in a state (or an approved proximate state*) where Year Up United operates. For a list of eligible locations, please visit: *Approved proximate states where Year Up United operates are: Connecticut, Indiana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, South Carolina and Virginia.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

• Comprehensive healthcare options and dental coverage; 401(k) match for eligible participants.
• Earn three weeks paid vacation in first year of employment; four weeks after initial year.
• ** This is an exempt role (paid on a salaried basis).

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION:

Year Up United is a national 501(c)3 workforce development organization committed to ensuring equitable access to economic opportunity, education, and justice for all young adults—no matter their background, income, or zip code. Employers face a growing need for talent while millions of talented young adults lack access to meaningful careers. These inequities only further perpetuate the opportunity gap that exists in our country—a gap that Year Up United is determined and positioned to close through three interconnected strategies: providing targeted skills training and connections to livable-wage employment for students and alumni; empowering others to serve and support young adults, and changing systems that perpetuate the opportunity gap. Year Up United’s intensive training program utilizes a high expectations, high support model where students learn in-demand technical and professional skills and apply them during a corporate internship. Year Up United has directly served more than 40,000 young adults since its founding in 2000. Year Up United's nationwide presence includes Arizona, Austin, Bay Area, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Greater Atlanta, Greater Boston, Greater Philadelphia, Jacksonville, Los Angeles, the National Capital Region, New York City/Jersey City, Pittsburgh, Puget Sound, Rhode Island, South Florida, Tampa Bay, and Wilmington.

Voted one of the Best Nonprofits to Work For in the country by The NonProfit Times, Year Up United is a rewarding and impactful place to work. Our staff is passionate, supportive, mission-driven, and committed to positive change and continuous learning. We set high standards for both ourselves and our students and live by a set of core values that reflect an unshakable belief in the talent and potential of our young people. The work we do is life-changing, and we know that our team is the greatest asset in achieving our mission.

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY:

Year Up United embraces diversity and equal opportunity in a serious way. All aspects of employment, including the decision to hire, promote, discharge, or discipline, are based on meritocracy. We do not permit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristics protected by federal, state, or local laws. Learn more about our commitment to diversity: Year Up United is also committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. Your recruiter can provide details regarding the expected work environment and any physical requirements. Please let our hiring team know if you need an accommodation at any point during the interview process. Information received relating to accommodation will be addressed confidentially.