Director, Talent Cultivation & Engagement

Director, Science To Venture Talent Strategy

The Director will design and lead a national talent strategy to identify, cultivate, match, and engage talent within the regional ecosystems where NobleReach's Science to Venture (S2V) platform operates. S2V partners with universities and regional innovation hubs to translate federally funded research into startups, and this role is the connective tissue between that ecosystem and the people who can drive it forward. This person will build relationships with entrepreneurs, technical talent, and the ecosystem intermediaries who can surface them, at both a national and local level. The goal is to match that talent with mentoring, advisory, fractional, and leadership opportunities across the portfolio, and keep them engaged over time as the ecosystem evolves. The ideal candidate understanding deep tech and science-centric companies and talent needs, has a knack for spotting talent, building trust quickly, and staying organized across a high volume of relationships in a fast-moving environment.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement the talent cultivation and engagement strategy for S2V ecosystems, setting standards for how NobleReach identifies, matches, and retains talent across regions
• Source and identify talent nationally and within S2V regional ecosystems, including researchers, entrepreneurs, and technical professionals
• Build and maintain relationships with ecosystem influencers (KOLs, regional connectors, community organizers, etc.) who can surface qualified candidates within their networks when opportunities arise
• Partner with Fellows to identify active talent gaps across the venture portfolio, activate the right relationships with targeted asks
• Match identified talent with opportunities across the S2V portfolio, working closely with the Innovation team to understand venture needs and connect the right people at the right time
• Design and manage a structured talent engagement model that defines the lifecycle from first touchpoint through ongoing involvement, ensuring talent stays connected and activated within the ecosystem
• Manage and maintain Salesforce as the system of record for talent relationships, ensuring data integrity and using pipeline data to inform outreach and engagement decisions
• Track talent engagement metrics and pipeline health, providing regular updates to Innovation leadership and surfacing trends that could shape program strategy
• Collaborate with marketing and communications to develop materials that attract talent to S2V opportunities and strengthen NobleReach's presence in regional ecosystems

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, communications, or a related field
• 7–10 years of experience in talent acquisition, talent management, or community-based talent engagement, with a track record of designing and leading relationship-driven talent strategies
• Strong relationship building skills, with experience working in a mixed internal/external stakeholder environment and engaging at a senior leadership level.
• Deep expertise in sourcing strategies and relationship management, including experience working through third-party networks, to surface talent that isn't actively looking for opportunities
• Experience working within or alongside innovation ecosystems, technology commercialization, startup communities, or university research environments is beneficial
• Demonstrated ability to design and implement talent engagement programs or community-building initiatives that drive sustained participation over time
• Experience managing CRM platforms (Salesforce preferred) to track talent relationships and pipeline activity; comfort learning and adapting to new tools quickly
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present to varied audiences and facilitate productive conversations with stakeholders
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic, entrepreneurial environment; ability to exercise flexibility and good judgment in complex situations
• Appetite for curiosity and desire to learn
• Must have an entrepreneurial mindset with a strong desire to have an impact on society

$130,000 - $155,000 a year Salary is commensurate with experience. This position is bonus eligible.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.