Why This Job is Featured on The SaaS Jobs
This Director of Talent and Performance role stands out in a SaaS context because it treats the people function as an operating system, not an administrative layer. With direct CEO partnership and a mandate spanning hiring rigor and performance calibration, it signals a company that is formalising how talent decisions are made as it builds out its organisation. The emphasis on measurable outcomes and structured frameworks aligns with how SaaS businesses often manage for repeatability across teams.
For SaaS career development, the role offers a vantage point across the full org, connecting talent acquisition, performance management, and day to day operations to business KPIs. That combination builds durable experience in translating strategy into mechanisms, setting standards leaders can execute, and using data to diagnose where capability gaps affect execution. These are portable skills across SaaS environments where scaling requires consistent talent density and manager effectiveness.
The position is best suited to a senior people leader who prefers clear accountability and direct feedback loops, and who is comfortable making and supporting difficult calls. It will appeal to someone who wants to be evaluated on organisational outcomes, enjoys coaching leaders through performance conversations, and can balance pragmatic operations with high-stakes talent decisions.
The section above is editorial commentary from The SaaS Jobs, provided to help SaaS professionals understand the role in a broader industry context.
Job Description
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.
