About JFF 

Jobs for the Future (JFF) drives transformation of the U.S. education and workforce systems to achieve equitable economic advancement for all. Seeing that millions of people are unfairly shut out of quality jobs and the chance for a better life, our goal is to align education, workforce, and employment changemakers toward a shared North Star: By 2033, 75 million people facing systemic barriers to advancement will work in quality jobs.  

To achieve that goal, we design solutions, scale best practices, influence policy and action, and invest in innovation. With a staff of more than 300 people across the country working remotely and in offices in Boston (headquarters), Washington, DC, and Oakland, California, we operate at the national, state, and local levels, forging deep partnerships with employers, investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and education and workforce development providers to break down barriers and reimagine what’s possible.   

We’re on a path of ongoing growth and expanding impact. We have an operating budget of $105 million, and we’re funded by dozens of leading government agencies, foundations, and corporations. Learn more about JFF and join us as we build a future that works—for everyone.  

 

DEIBW at JFF  

Diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and well-being (DEIBW) are core to JFF’s North Star and mission. We employ and build diverse teams across race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity and expression, age, and lived experiences and are constantly working toward ensuring these differences are celebrated and included. We aim to cultivate a culture that centers the overall care, well-being, and success of the employee through flexible work hours, balanced workloads, professional development, and equitable career advancement opportunities. Learn more about what DEIBW looks like in practice at JFF. 

We seek to invest in and learn from those who represent the communities we serve, particularly individuals from populations who have been explicitly or implicitly excluded from the workforce. Knowing its importance to the success of our work and the engagement of our staff members, we aspire to attract and retain a diverse team and welcome people of all backgrounds to apply to our open roles. JFF is a fair chance employer and in alignment to our North Star, we strongly encourage individuals whose highest level of education attained is less than a 4-year degree; People of Color; and people with records to apply. 

 

About the Position 

Reporting to the lead of JFF’s Talent Acquisition Team, the Director, Talent Acquisition is a new role serving on a six-member Talent Acquisition team that leads JFF’s recruiting and hiring efforts. The Director will lead a portfolio of searches and execute all efforts to hire a diverse staff of top talent to achieve JFF’s organizational priorities and mission. As JFF strives to build an innovative, high-performing and equity-focused culture, the Director will also have the opportunity to lead projects to continuously improve our systems and strategies for conducting inclusive and equitable hiring processes. In addition, the Director will have the chance to work across JFF’s People & Culture Department, to inform and support initiatives that impact the full employee lifecycle.

It’s an exciting time to join JFF. The Talent Acquisition team is collaborative, equity-driven and results-oriented. This is a compelling opportunity for a skilled and consultative, experienced search manager who enjoys aligning talent acquisition with organizational strategy and who cares deeply about DEIBW and its application in search management. This Director’s challenging and fulfilling work will play a critical role in supporting JFF’s growth and bold vision towards its North Star.  

 

What You’ll Do 

Serve as the lead search manager for a portfolio of high-impact searches  

• Manage a portfolio of 5-7 searches simultaneously, typically those that are the most senior and/or most complex across JFF and JFFLabs, in alignment with the team’s best practices and ambitious KPIs 

• Oversee all stages of the search process from role design to offer stage, either independently or in partnership with other search managers on the team 

• Serve as the face of JFF with candidates, ensuring timely and warm communication to support an engaging and inclusive experience for them with the organization 

• Use role requirements and JFF’s core competency model to design all interview materials and to effectively assess candidates through behavioral-based interviewing  

• Analyze talent acquisition data and metrics to inform decisions about search strategy 

Provide DEIBW-centered consultation to hiring teams 

• Communicate effectively with hiring teams including calibrating on candidate profiles as aligned to role requirements, ensuring that each stage of the search process is equity-centered 

• Identify, disrupt and address potential unconscious bias at all stages of the search process with professional judgement, nuance and generosity of spirit 

• Facilitate search-related meetings, engaging a diverse set of internal stakeholders and driving them toward specific outcomes    

Lead and support key talent acquisition initiatives 

• Support the Talent Acquisition Team Lead in developing and tracking KPIs that align with JFF’s staffing priorities and DEIBW efforts 

• Partner closely with the Talent Acquisition Team Lead and other team members to translate department and team priorities into search strategies and project scopes 

• Identify new opportunities for improving the team’s work and impact, partnering with other Talent Acquisition Team members and/or People & Culture colleagues to lead or contribute to related projects  

• Directly or indirectly manage, mentor, and/or coach other Talent Acquisition team members  

• Design and lead capacity-building efforts for hiring teams through facilitating professional development sessions, 1:1 coaching, resource-sharing, and more 

• Support the Talent Acquisition Team in identifying and disrupting potential biases at all stages of the recruitment and hiring process and within the Talent Acquisition Team’s processes and policies 

• Support the broader People & Culture team with special projects as it relates to team needs and your professional development interests 

 

Who You Are  

The qualifications listed within the job description are intended as a guide and we do not expect candidates to bring all experiences and skills listed. Research supports that self-selecting out of potential professional opportunities is particularly common among individuals with identities that are marginalized in professional spaces. So, if you believe that you can meet the overall expectations of the position, we encourage you to apply so that we have an opportunity to learn more about you and the unique strengths you would bring to the work. 

• You bring a track record of success managing senior level searches and supporting growing talent acquisition functions (New hires at the Director I level at JFF typically bring 10+ years of prior professional experience through a combination of full-time, part-time, internship, and/or freelance positions)  

• You are energized by stewarding JFF’s DEIBW values and practices within your day-to-day work; You have prior experience designing and leading equitable hiring processes that mitigate bias and supporting an inclusive candidate experience 

• You value building positive and collaborative relationships with others, including people whose identities and backgrounds differ from your own, and are adept at being a trusted and consultative thought partner to hiring teams and candidates 

• You are skilled at designing and leading rigorous hiring processes, including using your strong writing skills to craft interview questions, rubrics, and other materials  

• You have a demonstrated ability to implement process improvements and deploy new strategies to increase effectiveness, innovation and quality 

• You are highly organized and bring experience leading multiple searches and projects simultaneously, where you have effectively organized people and workstreams in alignment with your team’s strategic goals and priorities  

• You demonstrate active listening, clear analytical thinking, and concise communication that help you influence both hiring teams and candidates 

• You know how to give respectful and productive feedback to hiring teams and candidates, including addressing potential biases, and view this as essential to your success in search 

• You possess experience using applicant tracking systems or similar HR tools (e.g., ADP, Greenhouse) and have the ability to learn new tools quickly 

• You leverage professional development and other learning opportunities to stay current with advances in your field, deepen your subject matter expertise, and support the learning of your team 

• You are entrepreneurial and data-driven, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth, and ambiguous environment  

• You possess high energy and passion for JFF’s mission and North Star, and the ability to apply JFF’s core values to all areas of your work    

   

What We Offer  

At JFF, we’re fueled by the desire to create a world where everyone has equal opportunity for economic advancement. Our team works hard to push the boundaries of what is possible, and in return, we provide a gratifying work experience, competitive salaries, and a comprehensive benefits program that includes flexibility and choice as core values in order to support people wherever they are in their lives and careers.  

JFF has offices in Boston, Oakland, and Washington, DC; employees are welcome to use JFF office space to work in-person or hybrid, or completely remote. To improve the employee experience and promote productivity while working remotely, JFF offers an annual home office stipend to all regular full-time and part-time employees. In addition, new employees receive office equipment as needed.   

 The hiring range for this role is $100,000 - $125,000 annually, in alignment to JFF’s Director I salary band and our compensation philosophy. Starting salaries for new hires will be determined based on a combination of the new hire’s relevant experience and market demands.  

 

To Apply  

As part of your application, please include your resume and a thoughtful cover letter, addressed to Lindsey Pittas, Director, Talent Acquisition, outlining how your skills and experience meet the qualifications of the position. 

We are accepting applications through Monday, November 25, 2024 at 11:59pm ET. Applications submitted by that date will be reviewed and candidates will receive updates on their candidacy by the end of the week of December 2nd (JFF offices are closed for Thanksgiving Day and the day after) 

At JFF, we’re also committed to accessibility and want to ensure that everyone, including people with disabilities, can fully access and engage with our application and hiring process. If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability and/or have specific access/accommodation needs in order to fully participate in our hiring process, please contact us at [email protected]. 

Positions at JFF are not eligible for employer-visa sponsorship or open to F-1 student visa holders.