Director, Startup & VC Placement

Team Overview

In 2024, MLT launched the Startups and Impact initiative to enhance access and opportunities within the startup ecosystem, focusing on high-growth startups (unicorns and soonicorns), founders, and venture capital (VC). This agile, fast-paced team is dedicated to driving innovation through strategic partnerships and dynamic talent pipelines that support a range of professionals in the startup space.

About the Role

The director, Startup and VC Placement will play a key role in this initiative. In this role, you’ll leverage your talent advisory expertise, relationship-building skills, and innovative problem-solving to connect top professionals with the people, organizations, and opportunities that will accelerate their careers in the startup ecosystem. You’ll be responsible for refining placement strategies, expanding networks, and fostering strong connections across the startup landscape, particularly in NYC and the Bay Area. This position requires both strategic thinking and hands-on engagement to drive long-term success for candidates and partners alike.

Work You’ll Do

Strategic Talent Advocacy

• Act as a passionate advocate for talent, championing their potential with startup and VC hiring managers, founders, and investors.
• Drive creative solutions to expand candidate networks and shape new roles or opportunities for our talent network.
• Work closely with partners to redefine how they approach hiring, elevating talent as a competitive advantage in the innovation economy.
• Foster connections between MLT’s network and key players in the startup and VC ecosystem, facilitating introductions that create new opportunities.

Innovative Placement Design

• Develop and execute a forward-thinking placement system tailored to the unique needs of the startup/VC ecosystem, focusing on agility, experimentation, and design thinking.
• Leverage data-driven insights to iterate and improve placement strategies, with a focus on long-term outcomes rather than transactional recruitment.

Trusted Relationship Building and Partner Management

• Cultivate and manage a group of MLT Talent Advocates: individuals in positions of power and influence in the hiring decisions at scalable startups willing to advocate for curated MLT talent.
• Collaborate with select startup and VC partners to deepen relationships, understand their hiring processes, bars, and goals, and be willing to share opportunities with MLT.
• Onboard new high-growth startups and VC firms, establishing trust and confidence in MLT's expertise and the caliber of MLT’s talent.
• Represent MLT at events, fostering connections and raising the profile and quality of MLT’s talent.

Internal Collaboration and Leadership

• Partner with internal MLT stakeholders, including program teams and alumni engagement, to source potential candidates and to gather background profile information about them.
• Manage and mentor one team member, fostering their growth and contributions to the Startups Careers Initiative.

What You Have

• 7+ years of professional experience in Talent Advisory, Talent Acquisition, or a related field; experience in startups and/or venture capital environments is a plus.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a passion for experimentation, iteration, and driving systemic change and understanding the needs of startups to be successful, particularly talent needs.
• Ideally, 5+ years of partner or client management experience, with a track record of building meaningful, results-driven relationships.
• Proven experience networking, connecting top talent, and facilitating introductions that lead to transformational opportunities.
• Experience working with senior-level talent, with the confidence and storytelling skills to advocate for them at the highest levels.
• Quick learner with the ability to adapt to new challenges and thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
• Passion and respect for MLT's mission and our talent network.

What We Offer

Inspiring Work

-Transform lives and contribute to a larger social cause

-Quickly see measurable impact from your work

-Make your mark during a critical growth phase for MLT

-Opportunity to work with the visionary leader, John Rice

Community

-Weekly virtual and in-person happy hours 

-Employee Affinity Groups (EAGs)

Professional Development

-Regular skill-development seminars hosted by our industry-leading partners

-Regularly scheduled lunch-and-learns

Benefits Package

-Health and dental insurance

-Workplace flexibility

-Paid holidays

-Transit benefits

*Benefits package applies to full-time employees only

About Management Leadership For Tomorrow (MLT)

MLT is a national nonprofit committed to expanding economic opportunities and building a more inclusive economy. For over 20 years, MLT has provided enterprising young people with a proven playbook for economic mobility and has partnered with the world’s leading employers to help them recruit the best talent from all backgrounds, develop their next generation of leaders, and create cultures of fairness where all employees can thrive. Learn more at mlt.org.

COVID Statement 

MLT is committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace, and to modeling the highest degree of health standards for our Fellows, our Partners, and the communities we serve. We expect all MLT employees and contractors to be fully vaccinated - including the booster regimen - against the coronavirus (COVID-19), in accordance with ADA accommodations. Visitors to MLT’s office in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia (DMV) locations or remote work sites should also expect to comply with this requirement.

Please apply to a position with MLT ONLY if you are willing and able to prove that you are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, regardless of work location.

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)

We're an equal-opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.