Director of Talent & Performance

Posted Yesterday
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Austin, TX, USA
In-Office
145K-165K Annually
Senior level
Edtech • Machine Learning • Software • Database
SchooLinks is a modern college and career readiness platform
The Role
Leads talent acquisition and performance management in partnership with the CEO. Implements rigorous hiring and 9-box talent frameworks, coaches leaders through difficult people decisions, manages underperformance, and strengthens manager capability. Also owns HR compliance, risk management, day-to-day people operations, and budget responsibility. Success is measured by increased talent density, clearer performance differentiation, faster underperformance resolution, and a high-accountability culture.
Summary Generated by Built In
Who We Are

SchooLinks is transforming the future of student success through innovative college and career readiness solutions. We operate with PACE at our core:

  • Performance-Driven - We set ambitious goals, measure our progress, and relentlessly pursue excellence to deliver impactful results
  • Above & Beyond - We push boundaries and surpass expectations, ensuring that we deliver exceptional value and transformative experiences
  • Caring Candor - We foster an environment of radical candor and tough love, encouraging critical thinking and personal growth
  • Effort & Ownership - We believe in the power of hard work and taking ownership, driving positive change through dedication and perseverance

We're building a championship team. That means high expectations, radical candor, and a relentless commitment to performance. Forget traditional HR. We're not looking for someone to manage compliance checklists and benefits enrollment. We need a Director of Talent & Performance who thinks like a coach, acts like a strategist, and drives results like a GM.

Responsibilities: 

The Director of Talent & Performance works directly with the CEO to design and implement people strategies in the following priority areas and has 1 direct report (HR Operations Manager). 

  • Talent Acquisition - Rigorous hiring process to recruit A players 
  • Performance Management - Implement top grading framework (9 box talent grid) across the organization 

The Director will also support and own these two functions   

  • HR compliance & HR risk management
  • Day-to-day people operations    

RequirementsRequired Mindset & Traits
  • Operator first, HR second 
  • Coach up /manage out mindset   
  • Strong understanding of KPIs across all departments
  • Have strong negotiation skills while maintaining diplomacy 
  • Comfortable with conflict and direct feedback
  • Bias toward action and clarity
  • Respected for judgment, not just empathy
  • Energized by high standards and accountability
  • Operates with urgency
Experience That Helps
  • Experience implementing 9-box or similar talent frameworks
  • Background in high-growth, high-expectation environments
  • Track record of:
    • Coaching leaders through tough people calls
    • Managing out underperformance effectively
  • Familiarity with Amp It Up or similar performance-driven philosophies
How Success Is Measured
  • Ability to develop trusted relationships across all levels of the organization and is viewed as a credible partner by both employees and leadership
  • Increased talent density across teams
  • Clear differentiation between high, medium, and low performers
  • Faster resolution of under performance
  • Strong manager capability in feedback and coaching
  • A culture where values are lived, not laminated
Bonus Points
  • Experience working with founders or executive teams
  • Has been part of a company that scaled rapidly
  • Has personally made and stood behind difficult people decisions
Requirements:
  • 5+ years experience in leading people organizations, ideally in enterprise software and SaaS
  • Strong understanding of performance management  and top grading philosophy  
  • Strong sense of fiscal responsibility and understand budget management  

Benefits
  • 100% health care coverage for Employee
  • 401K with company matching
  • Dental & Vision
  • Parental Leave
  • Subsidized gym membership
  • Remote work stipend
  • Annual team offsite

A reasonable estimate of the on track earnings range for this position is $145,000 - $165,000 USD. This compensation range is specific to the United States and it incorporates many factors including but not limited to an applicant’s skills and prior relevant experience and training; licensures, degrees, and certifications; specific geographic location; internal equity; internal pay ranges; and market data/range parameters.

SchooLinks is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

Skills Required

  • 5+ years of experience leading people organizations
  • Experience in enterprise software or SaaS environments
  • Strong understanding of performance management and top-grading philosophy
  • Strong understanding of KPIs across departments
  • Strong negotiation skills while maintaining diplomacy
  • Fiscal responsibility and budget management experience
  • Experience implementing 9-box or similar talent frameworks
  • Experience in high-growth, high-expectation environments
  • Track record coaching leaders through difficult people decisions
  • Track record managing out underperformance effectively
  • Experience working with founders or executive teams
  • Experience at a rapidly scaling company
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The Company
HQ: Austin, TX
110 Employees
Year Founded: 2014

What We Do

SchooLinks is a college and career readiness platform with curriculum that engages students throughout the process of self discovery, career education and college planning and application. The student-centric experience is able to create a wealth of behavioral data, and its machine learning algorithms leverage those data to personalize college recommendations and content to further drive student engagement. SchooLinks then serves actionable insights to counselors that help them act in real time to become more effective. On a district level, the sophisticated data models power a full suite of accountability tools to allow administrators to monitor and achieve desired college and career readiness outcomes.

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