Talent Acquisition Lead at Passage

TALENT ACQUISITION LEAD Who we are: We build technology that removes barriers blocking talent from opportunity, combining the latest advancements in AI with human judgment. How we expand access: Access isn't real if it's unaffordable. Through our sister company, Passage Funding, we provide financing for international students. What we believe: Access to opportunity should not be determined by geography, gender, or wealth. We reinvest a portion of our profits to support those cut off from education - including our Afghan program. Access is the product: We build AI that turns paperwork into decisions, and decisions into real outcomes. Our mission is bold but simple: by 2030, we aim to dismantle the barriers preventing brilliant minds from accessing the opportunities they deserve. THE ROLE We are looking for a Talent Acquisition Lead who will build the engine that attracts exceptional people to Passage. This is not a traditional recruiting role. Your mandate is to identify, attract, and win the builders who will define Passage’s next decade. You will combine disciplined recruiting operations with creative employer branding initiatives that make Passage a magnet for world-class talent. WHO YOU ARE You are a hunter of potential and a curator of culture. You understand that in a mission-driven startup, talent is not just a list of skills. It is a mindset. You know how to identify people who take ownership, move fast, and care deeply about impact. You are energized by building systems from scratch and by the challenge of finding exceptional individuals who do not respond to traditional recruiting methods. You are also a storyteller. You know how to communicate the Passage mission in a way that attracts ambitious engineers, operators, and builders who want their work to matter. WHAT YOU WILL DO Own the full recruiting lifecycle - Lead the end-to-end hiring process from sourcing to offer acceptance - Recruit across technical, operational, and leadership roles Build the sourcing engine - Develop sourcing strategies that go beyond traditional platforms - Identify unconventional high-performers, builders, and mission-aligned individuals Tell the Passage story - Craft and communicate the narrative of Passage to attract exceptional talent - Ensure candidates clearly understand the mission, impact, and ambition of the company Build the employer brand - Position Passage as a destination for ambitious engineers and builders - Develop employer branding initiatives that showcase our work, culture, and mission Run creative talent attraction projects - Design and execute creative hiring campaigns to attract top engineers and operators - Launch initiatives such as technical storytelling, engineering challenges, founder content, or community events that bring the best talent into our orbit Partner with leadership - Work directly with hiring managers to define roles and hiring criteria - Ensure we hire for where the company is going, not just where it is today Operationalize hiring - Refine hiring SOPs and manage our ATS - Integrate AI-driven screening tools to keep the process fast, fair, and high quality Champion culture - Act as a guardian of the Passage values - Ensure every hire strengthens our high-ownership, high-performance culture QUALIFICATIONS - 3–5+ years of experience in talent acquisition, ideally within a high-growth startup or a fast-paced agency environment. - Proven track record of hiring "builders"—people who take ownership and thrive in ambiguity. - Exceptional communication skills: You can sell the Passage vision to anyone, from a Senior Engineer to a Business Ops Associate. - Tech-savviness: Comfortable using modern ATS platforms and experimenting with AI tools to streamline workflows. - Sharp talent judgment and strong interpersonal awareness: You can read between the lines of a resume to find the drive and character underneath. LOCATION Passage operates with an in-office working model. Candidates must be based in Toronto or open to relocating and working five days per week in our Toronto office. READY TO JOIN US? We’re on a mission to make the world a fairer place, one student at a time. If you’re excited to work hard, innovate fearlessly, and find the people who will help us achieve global impact, we’d love to meet you. Note: Artificial intelligence may be used in the screening or assessment of applicants. If your experience doesn’t perfectly match every requirement but you’re excited about this role and confident you can thrive in it, we encourage you to apply. Compensation C$70K to C$120K + Offers Equity