Managing Director of Talent

Who we are:

Alpha Public Schools is a public charter school network of four schools educating approximately 1,900 scholars in east San Jose. Guided by the belief that our students belong in college, we ensure safe, inclusive, and student-centered learning environments to help our students thrive. What sets us apart is the very thing that makes us who we are – our community. Alpha was founded by a group of mothers on the eastside of San Jose who sought better educational opportunities for their students. We maintain a strong connection to our community and engage families in a collaborative approach to offer a holistic education to our students.

A successful Managing Director of Talent

Alpha seeks a thoughtful, innovative, and results-oriented Managing Director of Talent. The Managing Director of Talent (MDT) will enter Alpha at a time when big ideas, consistent best practices, and long-term strategic vision setting and execution are top priorities. They will have a robust understanding and a demonstrated history of implementing effective recruitment and selection practices, capacity building, talent development, workforce planning, and delivering human-centered approaches to talent retention and culture. The MDT will oversee the Talent team and work closely with the Human Resources department. They will be skilled in supporting organizational goal setting, change management, implementing systems of accountability, and bringing underrepresented voices to the table when large-scale talent decisions are being considered.

Reporting to the Chief Strategy Officer, the Managing Director of Talent will serve as a strategic advisor across the organization, guiding human capital planning, team structure design, and performance management. This leader will partner with the executive team to ensure programs are rigorously assessed and evaluated from rollout through implementation. Modeling the leadership and management practices expected of all Alpha team members, the MDT will effectively lead the Talent team while coaching and advising managers across the organization. With a student- and people-centered approach, this role will drive the development of professional growth and training programs that promote continuous learning and skill development at every level.

What you’ll do

Talent Strategy and Implementation

• Develop and lead the execution of a talent vision and strategy that builds and sustains a people-first culture at Alpha, including the goals, talent policies, priorities, and strategic initiatives related to recruiting, selecting, developing, engaging, recognizing, and retaining top talent
• Oversee all recruiting, hiring, performance management, and development to meet Alpha’s diverse human capital needs, ensuring Alpha implements effective recruiting strategies and develops a pipeline of outcomes-oriented, high-caliber talent
• Create a long-term vision to ensure Alpha has best-in-class talent practices, sustainable org design, onboarding, market competitiveness, and is aligned to the mission and future state of the organization
• Lead and drive a compelling compensation strategy and employer value proposition that increases the talent and teacher pipeline using a variety of levers, including the execution of an excellent candidate experience throughout the recruitment and selection process

People and Team Leadership

• Energize and inspire the Talent team and support them to develop performance targets and development goals; evaluate and measure success for each direct report that leads to their continued growth and success at Alpha
• Partner with members of the Executive Team, Network, and School Leaders to build and sustain a thriving culture of consistency, equity, and belonging throughout the network and schools
• In partnership with the Chief Schools Officer, implement strong oversight and accountability metrics to facilitate a network of schools that is grounded in excellence, and high expectations that meet both school and state academic standards, effectively communicating results, progress on goals, and growth targets
• Create and assess Alpha’s onboarding, ongoing support, and succession planning to ensure clear career pathways and development

Talent Development and Capacity Building

• Drive an inclusive and equity-centered culture that exemplifies Alpha’s core principles through vision setting, design, and implementation
• Spearhead initiatives to design and deliver professional growth and training programs that enhance employee skills, support leadership development, and align workforce capabilities with organizational goals
• Partner with our Schools team to outline the vision, strategy, scope, and sequence of professional learning and development for our instructional staff
• Support leadership in addressing employee performance issues and ensuring that appropriate interventions, coaching, and support are in place
• Lead for transformational change by diagnosing root causes to make recommendations about the timing, change management needed, and sequence of change

Organizational Culture and Engagement

• Collaborate with the Chief Strategy Officer and Executive team to develop performance indicators and to assess organizational culture, values, and effectiveness of organizational initiatives
• Champion and implement big ideas, monitor workforce trends, and school-based needs to identify gaps in culture and/or talent, and create proactive strategies to address them
• Work closely with the Chief Financial Officer, guiding on compensation issues, including salary benchmarking, pay equity, and adjustments to maintain a strong workforce and work culture
• Lead initiatives to promote positive organizational culture, including team-building activities, employee recognition, and internal communication efforts

You possess

• 7 years of successful recruiting, talent management, and talent development with at least 4 years managing a high-performing team, preferably in a fast-paced charter network, nonprofit, and/or entrepreneurial environment, with a preference for candidates with experience working with multi-site organizations
• Systems leadership with deep knowledge and expertise in talent acquisition, supporting school-based teams and credentialing. Some familiarity with labor laws and regulatory requirements is a plus
• An ability to bring others along at an appropriate pace, fostering an environment that shares ideas, generates conversations and innovation, leading change with a proven ability to activate a vision, generate buy-in, and inspire others to achieve shared goals
• A track record of thinking big, the ability to determine high-level strategy, and implement tactics
• Excellent communication, collaboration, written, and listening skills, including the ability to communicate with understanding, balance, and empathy
• The mindset of a natural ambassador for Alpha’s staff, programs, equity work, and culture; able to both embody the values and to excite people about the possibility of joining and thriving at Alpha
• A continuous improvement mindset that is flexible and adaptable; open to feedback, professional growth, and learning
• Strong quantitative and qualitative analytical skills, with expertise in translating data into action and improvements

You stand out by being

• A resourceful, results-oriented, relationship builder and team player with a customer service orientation, who is deeply committed to inclusion and creating a workplace of joy and high standards
• A strategic thinker who thrives by creating systems that effectively implement and monitor the progress of network- and school-wide strategies
• Influential as someone people are excited to follow because you are dynamic, dependable, highly effective, and focused on vital behaviors
• A dedicated team member who sees others at their highest self, participates thoughtfully, communicates well, and approaches problems head-on
• Data-driven in all of your work, operating with the conviction that school and student data is your data

Join our team

We are excited to review your application! To apply, please submit your resume to resumes@leveledtalent.com. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis, so it is in candidates’ best interest to apply as soon as possible.

Please note: Only applicants who submit materials through our search partner Leveled Talent will be considered.

What we offer:

At Alpha, we care deeply about our scholars and staff. To support our team (and hopefully you!), we offer:

• Competitive salary commensurate with experience. The starting salary for this role is $141,586 and goes up based on similar experience
• Health benefits plans for medical, vision, and dental insurance coverage for staff and their families
• Retirement benefits, including a 3% non-elective (Alpha-provided) contribution and 5% matching option
• Paid time off for holidays and breaks (approximately 6 weeks throughout the school year, including school holidays)
• Generous paternity/maternity leave benefits, including 4 weeks of paid parental leave in addition to the state and federal leave allowances
• Employee Assistance Program that provides access to professional services for workplace, life, and well-being support and services
• Relocation assistance for teammates moving from 250 miles away

Alpha Public Schools is a network of four high-performing public charter schools founded by a group of East San José mothers dedicated to helping transform their community. We have a strong growth mindset – as individuals, as an organization, and on behalf of our students and families. We want to be better tomorrow than we are today.

As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability. We are strongly committed to hiring a diverse and multicultural staff and encourage applications from traditionally under-represented backgrounds.