Director of Talent Acquisition

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 guidi ... (truncated, view full listing at source)