JobForProf
UCSD

Director of Talent Solutions & Operations

The University of California, San Diego

HUMAN RESOURCES DEPTPosted July 8, 2026Job ID: 140433

About this position

Position Overview

Human Resources advances a culture of inclusion and innovation by attracting top talent, building a high-performing workforce, developing skilled leaders, and fostering a vibrant and engaging climate for the people of UC San Diego. We provide campus employees with the full range of personnel services and participate in systemwide policy and decision-making. Human Resources includes CHRO Administration, Business and Fiscal Operations, and five functional domains: Talent Solutions; People Programs and Rewards; HR Strategy and Policy; People Support; and Organization Effectiveness.

Position Description

The Director of Talent Solutions is a high-impact leadership role responsible for the strategic and operational overhaul of UCSD’s recruitment ecosystem. This position serves as both the architect of a modern talent acquisition strategy and a "hands-on" executive recruiter for the university’s most critical roles. The Director will lead the transition from a legacy processing model to a proactive, consultative recruiting function. Key priorities include the successful implementation (including meaningful input on design of and key attributes) of a homegrown Applicant Tracking System (ATS), re-engineering recruitment workflows, manages the behavioral resistance to those new tools and methods, serving as a peer-coach to the team as UC San Diego transitions to a more consultative/partnership approach to Talent Acquisition and serving as a high-touch talent advisor to campus leadership.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training. Demonstrated experience (typically 5-7 years min.) in Talent Acquisition, with significant experience in both operations/leadership and high-level full-cycle recruiting. Must be experienced in and support innovative recruitment and employment practices, workforce planning initiatives, change management, strategic planning and program evaluation. Must know organizational human resources policies and programs and budget / fiscal processes. Maintains a thorough understanding of the goals of the organization and ways in which this position can support those goals. Proven success in leading large-scale organizational change or digital transformation (specifically ATS or HRIS implementations). Demonstrated ability to influence executive-level stakeholders and navigate complex, decentralized organizational structures. Position requires highly effective written and verbal communication skills. Demonstrated competency with and commitment to fostering fairness, respect, and inclusion in alignment with the Principles of Community. Strong ability to manage multiple high-stakes projects (the ATS build, the org change, and executive searches) simultaneously. Experience using data to identify recruitment bottlenecks and tell a compelling story to leadership.