Director of Talent Acquisition

Stronghold is a fintech infrastructure company reimagining how money moves—securely, transparently, and with next-gen compliance at its core. We provide developer-friendly APIs that power fast, secure pay-by-bank and embedded payments. Our SHx token brings a new layer of utility to our ecosystem, supporting merchant rewards, governance, and decentralized financing.

We're also an AI-forward company. At Stronghold, AI isn't a buzzword—it's foundational. We integrate AI tools and workflows into every department, from product development and engineering, to finance, marketing, compliance, and operations. AI accelerates our decision-making, enhances our customer experience, and enables every team member to operate at a higher level of efficiency and creativity.

Headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area with deep roots in New Zealand, we operate with a global mindset and local grit. We’re a diverse team of technologists, operators, and industry experts driven by curiosity and impact. At Stronghold, we value speed over red tape, substance over flash, and innovation without ego.

Our core values: Be Self-Aware, Have Good Judgment, Be Curious, Seek Innovation, Communicate Clearly, Make a High Impact, Be Bold, Be Selfless, Be Accountable, Be Honest, and Show Grit.

About the Role

We're looking for a strategic and hands-on Director of Talent Acquisition Partner to own and execute our entire recruiting function. You will be the architect of our talent strategy and the primary driver of our hiring success across all departments, from product to operations and leadership.

As our talent acquisition leader, you'll have the unique opportunity to build and refine our recruiting processes, working directly with executives and hiring managers across the organization. You'll be instrumental in scaling our team as we continue to grow our crypto and fintech payment solutions, ensuring we attract top talent who can thrive in our fast-paced, innovative environment.

This role is perfect for someone who loves wearing multiple hats, thrives on variety, and wants to make a direct impact on company growth. You'll need to be equally comfortable sourcing candidates for hard-to-fill technical roles and attending on-the-ground conferences, meet-ups, and events.

What You'll Do

• Own the full-cycle recruiting process from requisition intake through offer acceptance and onboarding across all departments, including Engineering, Product, Operations, Finance, Sales, and Executive roles

• Partner with hiring managers and leadership to understand business needs, define hiring criteria, and develop tailored sourcing strategies that align with company goals

• Build and maintain robust talent pipelines through creative sourcing methods, including direct outreach, networking, referrals, and crypto/fintech communities - keeping passive candidates engaged and warm until they're ready to make a move

• Act as Stronghold's talent brand ambassador by confidently articulating our mission, products, and blockchain technology's impact on financial infrastructure to candidates at all levels

• Plan, host, and moderate recruiting events including tech talks, panels, happy hours, and networking sessions - managing all logistics and creating engaging experiences that showcase Stronghold's culture and opportunities

• Travel regularly (25-30% of time) to crypto conferences, blockchain meetups, hackathons, and top-tier universities to source talent, build relationships, and establish Stronghold's presence in the crypto/fintech ecosystem

• Lead employer branding efforts, including social media presence, job postings, and representing Stronghold at industry events

• Conduct market research and competitive intelligence to advise leadership on compensation benchmarking, talent market trends, and hiring strategies

• Manage the end-to-end candidate experience by coordinating interviews, facilitating debrief sessions, negotiating offers, and guiding hiring teams through structured decision-making

• Track and analyze recruiting metrics (time-to-fill, source of hire, candidate experience, event ROI) and continuously optimize processes based on data

• Leverage AI tools and external recruiting partners, agencies, and communities when needed to maximize efficiency and impact

What We're Looking For

• 7+ years of proven full-cycle recruiting experience, with at least 2 years recruiting for cryptocurrency, blockchain, or fintech companies (crypto experience is required)

• In-office attendance is required on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9 AM to 5 PM weekly in San Francisco. Candidates within a 25-mile radius are strongly preferred.

• Demonstrated success hiring across technical roles (software engineers, blockchain developers), business roles (product managers, operations), and leadership positions

• Strong sourcing skills with a proven track record of turning passive candidates into hires through creative channels, including LinkedIn, GitHub, crypto communities, and industry networks

• Experience planning, hosting, and moderating recruiting events - comfortable being on stage, facilitating discussions, and creating engaging candidate experiences

• Deep understanding of the crypto/Web3 talent landscape with the ability to speak credibly about blockchain technology, DeFi, and payments infrastructure

• Excellent stakeholder management and consulting skills with the ability to influence hiring managers at all levels while managing 10-15+ open requisitions simultaneously

• Data-driven mindset with proficiency in modern recruiting tools (ATS systems like Greenhouse or Lever, LinkedIn Recruiter, AI recruiting tools)

• Exceptional communication and presentation skills with the ability to sell candidates on Stronghold's mission and create compelling narratives

• Self-starter mentality with high ownership, accountability, and natural relationship-building abilities

• Comfortable with regular travel and flexible schedule to attend evening/weekend events, conferences, and campus recruiting trips

Nice to Have:

• Experience building and scaling recruiting functions from scratch or supervising a recruiting team

• Technical recruiting expertise with the ability to evaluate engineering talent

• Background in employer branding, recruiting marketing, or campus recruiting programs

• Strong network within the crypto/fintech recruiting community

• Previous experience speaking at or hosting recruiting events, panels, or workshops

Benefits & Perks

• Flexible Work Schedule: Getting the job done isn't always 9 AM to 5 PM. Determine your working hours so you get things done when it works for you and your family.

• Health Care: We offer options that keep you and your family covered.

• Hybrid Work Environment: We embrace the hybrid in-office and work-from-home culture. In-office attendance is required on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9 AM to 5 PM. However, this is subject to change.

• Learning Credits: Curiosity and lifelong learning are core values at Stronghold. We want to provide you with the resources you need to continue expanding and growing as an individual.

• Flexible Vacation: We offer flexible vacation so you can get the time off you need that works for you

The compensation for this position is $200,000-$240,000, based on relevant experience, skills, and qualifications for the role, as well as the San Francisco location. Stronghold currently offers health benefits for eligible employees.

As an equal opportunity employer, Stronghold does not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, military or veteran status, genetic information or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

Authorized to work in the United States (required)

No visa sponsorship available at this time