Director of Talent Recruitment

The Talent team at Ascend serves its schools by ensuring we have the people to provide students with a high-quality education that unlocks a life of boundless choice. We do this by: recruiting top, diverse talent, providing evidence-based talent pathways, inclusive hiring processes, and strategically partnering with schools. The director of talent partners and pipelines leads this mission by envisioning and directing the candidate hiring process and partnerships within our organization. The director will manage a team of recruiters and talent partners that is accountable to implement talent recruitment and retention strategies for an organization of 800+ staff.

Background

Ascend is a network of K-12 public charter schools serving 6,000 students in 16 schools across Brooklyn—New York’s most populous borough. Ascend exists to serve every student — to help them embody their inherent excellence by providing rich, joyful learning experiences that unlock a life of boundless choice. Ascend is deeply committed to advancing educational equity for all students.

Ascend schools honor, nurture, and challenge the whole child. Ascend fosters critical thinking skills and a love of learning through an inquiry-based learning approach, Responsive Classroom model, and anti-racist education.

Students at Ascend benefit from a rich and rigorous liberal arts curriculum that nurtures natural curiosity about the world and guides them to think critically and independently. Ascend schools foster a positive, non-punitive school culture where students feel connected, empowered, and safe to take academic risks. School buildings are designed to reflect the incredible accomplishments that happen within their walls and high aspirations for teaching and learning.

To create this kind of vibrant learning community, Ascend heavily invests in faculty by providing ongoing professional training and support and encouraging educators to collaborate closely and push each other to achieve great outcomes. Leading at Ascend means growing deeply in your career, expressing your voice, and playing a defining role in the future of your students, your school, and the Ascend network.

Visit our website to learn more about the Ascend approach.

Responsibilities

Oversees the management and outcomes of the following pillars:

• Candidate Selection
• Manage the strategy, tools, and people of the recruiting team to coach, manage, and develop them in meeting their potential goals and targets with respective schools and departments
• Direct the high-volume, end-to-end recruitment cycle including screening, interviewing, and extending and employment offers
• Champion a positive end-to-end candidate experience (sourcing, screening, interviewing, selection, and orientation) and ensure it embeds best practices
• Lead continuous improvement efforts on the selection process with tools, interview guides, and interview training that improves overall selection results
• Stay informed of talent and labor market insights

Partnerships

• Build partner vision and implementation across internal departments and schools to drive execution of our Talent Partners strategy
• Respond effectively and promptly to urgent requests from internal stakeholders
• Ensure hiring manager and selection teams preparedness during the interview process that is aligned with competencies

Talent Retention and Pipelines

• Develop and promote systems, structures, and resources that support key Talent Pipelines initiatives
• Track and report program metrics to analyze strengths and opportunities
• Develop a progressive strategy and plan for recruiting with various institutions, associations and community-based organizations
• Continue to build and enhance partnerships to ensure Ascend is positioned to hire the best emerging talent across diverse talent pools
• Own career pathways programs including resources, communication and continuous improvement

Talent Team Leadership

• Manage and develop recruitment managers and associates
• Monitor Talent Team processes and lead process improvement initiatives
• Ensure Talent Team is using data to drive operations and strategy decisions
• Co-lead weekly talent meetings

Staff and Reporting Relationships

The director reports to the Managing Director of Talent. Also reporting to the director is a team of managing and associate recruiters. The director works closely with school leaders and the Human Resources department.

Qualifications

• Masters degree preferred
• Previous recruitment experience
• Previous charter school teaching or school leadership experience preferred
• Management experience preferred

A successful director of talent recruitment will demonstrate

• Ability to lead and take initiative, maintain flexibility, and creatively and collaboratively solve problems
• Strong ability to motivate a team to achieve its objectives
• High energy and a deep excitement to identify top talent
• Superior organizational skills and attention to detail; ability to work in a fast-paced environment and effectively manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Exceptionally high standards for the quality of work and a strong growth mindset to improve continuously
• Ability to develop strong relationships and authentically connect with candidates, prospects, and colleagues
• Alignment with the educational philosophy and core beliefs of Ascend and ability to inspire excellent candidates to join
• Superior written, verbal, and communication skills

Compensation

Initial salary offers for this position range from $105,000 – $120,000. Salaries are determined using an equitable compensation scale that accounts for years of experience and levels of attained education.

Diversity at Ascend

Ascend is committed to building a diverse and inclusive community, both through our hiring practices and our focus on creating a culture and environment where diverse perspectives, ideas, and identities are valued and integrated into our way of working and educating students. Ascend staff represent a wide diversity of racial, socio-economic, gender, religious, and national identities—opening a window to the entire Ascend community on the richness of humanity. We welcome all applicants who share our mission and vision to join us in our deeply consequential work.