Fast Facts

SchooLinks is seeking a Director of Talent & Performance to lead innovative college and career readiness solutions, focusing on talent acquisition and performance management while driving accountability and high standards within the team.

Responsibilities: Develop and implement people strategies for talent acquisition and performance management, while overseeing HR compliance and day-to-day operations with one direct report.

Skills: Strong understanding of performance management, ability to coach leaders, negotiation skills, and experience in high-growth environments are essential.

Qualifications: 5+ years experience in leading people organizations in enterprise software or SaaS, with a strong understanding of top grading philosophies.

Location: Austin, Texas, United States

Compensation: $145000 - $165000 / Annually

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, not a family. That means high expectations, direct feedback, 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 grit) across the organization

The Director will also support and own these two functions

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

Required 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
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.

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Director of Talent & Performance