Talent Acquisition Director Jobs for OPT Students
Talent Acquisition Director roles on OPT require employers willing to sponsor future H-1B status, since most require 3 to 5 years of recruiting leadership experience. Your STEM OPT extension does not apply here. Cap-gap protection matters if your H-1B is selected while your OPT is still active.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
At Instructure, we believe in the power of people to grow and succeed throughout their lives. Our goal is to amplify that power by creating intuitive products that simplify learning and personal development, facilitate meaningful relationships, and inspire people to go further in their education and careers. We do this by giving smart, creative, passionate people opportunities to create awesome. And that's where you come in: Instructure is on a mission to elevate student success, and that starts with elevating our own team. We are seeking a Director of Talent Acquisition who is a builder at heart. This isn't just about "filling seats"—it’s about architecting a global talent engine. You will lead a high-performing international team, acting as a strategic consultant to our executive leadership while modernizing our tech stack and processes. If you thrive in the space between high-level strategy and hands-on execution, and you believe that AI and data are the future of recruitment, we want to talk to you.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Global Leadership: Lead, mentor, and scale a distributed TA team across North America, EMEA, and APAC. Foster a culture of accountability, empathy, and excellence.
- Strategic Partnership: Serve as a trusted advisor to the C-suite and VPs, aligning talent headcount with long-term business goals and financial forecasts.
- Data-Driven Excellence: Transform raw recruiting data into actionable insights. You’ll be responsible for tracking and optimizing KPIs like Quality of Hire, Cost-per-Hire, and Diversity sourcing efficacy.
- AI & Process Innovation: Be the internal champion for recruiting technology. You will identify and implement AI-driven tools to automate top-of-funnel sourcing, enhance candidate screening, and remove administrative friction.
- The "Builder" Mindset: Standardize global interview training, employer branding initiatives, and onboarding handoffs to ensure a world-class candidate experience.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- The Experience: 10+ years in Talent Acquisition, with at least 5 years leading global teams in a high-growth SaaS environment.
- The Tech Stack: Deep familiarity with modern recruiting ecosystems. Bonus points if you have migrated to or managed Ashby and understand its powerful reporting capabilities.
- AI Fluency: You have a proven track record of integrating AI tools (generative AI for job descriptions, automated scheduling, or predictive sourcing) to gain a competitive edge.
- Operational Rigor: You love a good spreadsheet and a clean workflow. You build processes that are scalable, not just "good enough" for today.
- Communication: Ability to tell a story with data that convinces stakeholders to invest in the right talent initiatives.
WHY INSTRUCTURE?
We are the power behind Canvas, the world’s leading LMS. We value innovation, openness, and—above all—the people who make education better. You’ll have the autonomy to build your vision of what modern TA looks like, backed by a company that truly understands the value of human capital.
Get in on all the awesome at Instructure! We offer competitive, meaningful benefits in every country where we operate. While they vary by location, here's a general idea of what you can expect:
- Competitive compensation, plus all full-time employees participate in our ownership program - because everyone should have a stake in our success.
- Flexible work culture. Our remote, hybrid and in-office collaboration spaces vary by role, team and location.
- Generous time off, including local holidays and our annual “Dim the Lights” period in late December, when teams are encouraged to step back and recharge based on departmental needs.
- Comprehensive wellness programs and mental health support
- Annual learning and development stipends to support your growth
- The technology and tools you need to do your best work
- Motivosity employee recognition program
- A culture rooted in inclusivity, support, and meaningful connection
We believe in hiring great people and treating them right. The more diverse we are, the better our ideas and outcomes. Instructure is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We comply with applicable employment and anti-discrimination laws in every country where we operate. All employees must pass a background check as part of the hiring process. To help protect our teams and systems, we’ve implemented identity verification measures. Candidates may be asked to verify their legal name, current physical location, and provide a valid contact number and residential address, in accordance with local data privacy laws. Any attempt to misrepresent personal or professional information will result in disqualification.
COMPENSATION RANGE
- Compensation Range: $150K - $180K
INTRODUCTION
At Instructure, we believe in the power of people to grow and succeed throughout their lives. Our goal is to amplify that power by creating intuitive products that simplify learning and personal development, facilitate meaningful relationships, and inspire people to go further in their education and careers. We do this by giving smart, creative, passionate people opportunities to create awesome. And that's where you come in: Instructure is on a mission to elevate student success, and that starts with elevating our own team. We are seeking a Director of Talent Acquisition who is a builder at heart. This isn't just about "filling seats"—it’s about architecting a global talent engine. You will lead a high-performing international team, acting as a strategic consultant to our executive leadership while modernizing our tech stack and processes. If you thrive in the space between high-level strategy and hands-on execution, and you believe that AI and data are the future of recruitment, we want to talk to you.
ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Global Leadership: Lead, mentor, and scale a distributed TA team across North America, EMEA, and APAC. Foster a culture of accountability, empathy, and excellence.
- Strategic Partnership: Serve as a trusted advisor to the C-suite and VPs, aligning talent headcount with long-term business goals and financial forecasts.
- Data-Driven Excellence: Transform raw recruiting data into actionable insights. You’ll be responsible for tracking and optimizing KPIs like Quality of Hire, Cost-per-Hire, and Diversity sourcing efficacy.
- AI & Process Innovation: Be the internal champion for recruiting technology. You will identify and implement AI-driven tools to automate top-of-funnel sourcing, enhance candidate screening, and remove administrative friction.
- The "Builder" Mindset: Standardize global interview training, employer branding initiatives, and onboarding handoffs to ensure a world-class candidate experience.
BASIC QUALIFICATIONS
- The Experience: 10+ years in Talent Acquisition, with at least 5 years leading global teams in a high-growth SaaS environment.
- The Tech Stack: Deep familiarity with modern recruiting ecosystems. Bonus points if you have migrated to or managed Ashby and understand its powerful reporting capabilities.
- AI Fluency: You have a proven track record of integrating AI tools (generative AI for job descriptions, automated scheduling, or predictive sourcing) to gain a competitive edge.
- Operational Rigor: You love a good spreadsheet and a clean workflow. You build processes that are scalable, not just "good enough" for today.
- Communication: Ability to tell a story with data that convinces stakeholders to invest in the right talent initiatives.
WHY INSTRUCTURE?
We are the power behind Canvas, the world’s leading LMS. We value innovation, openness, and—above all—the people who make education better. You’ll have the autonomy to build your vision of what modern TA looks like, backed by a company that truly understands the value of human capital.
Get in on all the awesome at Instructure! We offer competitive, meaningful benefits in every country where we operate. While they vary by location, here's a general idea of what you can expect:
- Competitive compensation, plus all full-time employees participate in our ownership program - because everyone should have a stake in our success.
- Flexible work culture. Our remote, hybrid and in-office collaboration spaces vary by role, team and location.
- Generous time off, including local holidays and our annual “Dim the Lights” period in late December, when teams are encouraged to step back and recharge based on departmental needs.
- Comprehensive wellness programs and mental health support
- Annual learning and development stipends to support your growth
- The technology and tools you need to do your best work
- Motivosity employee recognition program
- A culture rooted in inclusivity, support, and meaningful connection
We believe in hiring great people and treating them right. The more diverse we are, the better our ideas and outcomes. Instructure is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We comply with applicable employment and anti-discrimination laws in every country where we operate. All employees must pass a background check as part of the hiring process. To help protect our teams and systems, we’ve implemented identity verification measures. Candidates may be asked to verify their legal name, current physical location, and provide a valid contact number and residential address, in accordance with local data privacy laws. Any attempt to misrepresent personal or professional information will result in disqualification.
COMPENSATION RANGE
- Compensation Range: $150K - $180K
How to Get Visa Sponsorship in Talent Acquisition Director
Target companies with H-1B sponsorship history
Focus on employers who have filed H-1B petitions for HR and talent roles in the past. A company that has sponsored recruiters before is far more likely to do it again than one encountering the process for the first time.
Lead with your OPT authorization upfront
Disclose your OPT status early in outreach, not after an offer. Talent leaders understand authorization requirements better than most hiring managers. Framing it clearly signals professionalism and saves everyone time in the process.
Quantify your recruiting impact with hard numbers
Directors are evaluated on pipeline efficiency, time-to-fill, and offer acceptance rates. Citing specific metrics from your recruiting experience, such as reducing time-to-fill by a measurable amount, demonstrates the business value that justifies H-1B sponsorship.
Position yourself as a long-term leadership hire
Sponsorship is a financial and logistical investment. Emphasize career trajectory, retention intent, and strategic fit in interviews. Employers are more likely to sponsor a Director they see staying for years, not someone treating the role as a stepping stone.
Understand the full sponsorship timeline before accepting
H-1B registration opens in March, with an October 1 start date if selected. Confirm the employer understands this timeline before you accept any offer. Misaligned expectations around start dates are a common reason sponsorship commitments fall apart.
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Get Access To All JobsFrequently Asked Questions
Can I work as a Talent Acquisition Director on OPT?
Yes. F-1 OPT authorizes full-time employment in any role directly related to your field of study. Talent Acquisition Director positions typically align with degrees in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Psychology, or related fields. Confirm your role qualifies under your specific degree field before accepting an offer, as USCIS evaluates the connection between your education and the position.
Does a Talent Acquisition Director role qualify for STEM OPT extension?
No. Talent Acquisition Director is not a STEM-designated role. It falls under HR and business management, which are not included on the STEM OPT eligible fields list. You have the standard 12-month OPT period unless your underlying degree is in a STEM field and you are working in a qualifying STEM capacity, which a pure TA Director role would not satisfy.
How do I find Talent Acquisition Director jobs where employers will sponsor OPT and H-1B?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for this search. It filters for employers with active sponsorship history, so you are not wasting applications on companies that have never navigated the H-1B process. Talent Acquisition Director roles are senior enough that sponsorship conversations happen early, and targeting the right employers from the start makes that conversation far easier.
Will my OPT EAD card be enough to start a Talent Acquisition Director role?
Yes. Your EAD card serves as your employment authorization document and is sufficient to begin work. Your employer will verify it during I-9 completion. Keep track of your EAD expiration date carefully. If you are pursuing H-1B sponsorship, the employer needs to file the petition well before your OPT expires to ensure continuity of authorization.
What happens to my authorization if I am laid off while working as a Talent Acquisition Director on OPT?
F-1 OPT includes a 60-day unemployment grace period after your position ends. You must find new authorized employment within that window or your status falls out of compliance. Given the seniority of Director-level roles, the job search can take longer than 60 days, so it is worth beginning your search immediately and notifying your DSO of any employment changes.
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