Director, Talent Science

Director, Talent Science

Canonical is a leading provider of open source software and operating systems to the global enterprise and technology markets. Our platform, Ubuntu, is widely used in public cloud, data science, AI, engineering innovation, and Io
T. With over 1200 colleagues in 75+ countries, we champion global distributed collaboration.

About the Talent Science team

The Talent Science team ensures that our hiring processes are objective, scientifically rigorous, and efficient. We lead an effective hiring ecosystem, leverage data for evidence‑based decisions, and weave behavioral science into our selection process.

Location

Remote, EMEA region.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver the strategic Talent Science project roadmap, managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Design and implement solutions to complex problems that improve talent selection and hiring outcomes.
• Ensure all talent selection initiatives align with high performance outcomes and career frameworks.
• Develop and maintain professional processes and frameworks for efficient delivery.
• Coaching and mentoring team members to grow analytical and thought leadership skills, creating training materials and documentation.
• Represent the team in the absence of the Head, acting as a credible advisor and inspiring leader.
• Collaborate closely with company leaders to understand and communicate our vision for talent at Canonical.

Qualifications

• Exceptional academic track record; undergraduate degree in psychology or a people‑based subject.
• Team leadership experience in technology or consulting, with strong project management skills.
• Proven ability to coach and mentor teams to achieve outstanding results.
• Deep understanding of selection, career frameworks, and internal product development to align talent criteria with outcomes.
• Advanced analytical skills, proficient in SQL, Python, and/or statistical analysis.
• Exceptional written and spoken English; strong presentation skills for senior audiences.
• Willingness to travel internationally up to 4 times a year for company events.

Nice‑to‑have skills

• Advanced psychometric assessment expertise.
• Deep understanding of human behavior and intrinsic motivation.
• Experience with Superset and advanced dashboarding.

Benefits

• Distributed work environment with twice‑yearly in‑person sprints.
• Personal learning and development budget of USD 2, 000 per year.
• Annual compensation review.
• Recognition rewards.
• Annual holiday leave.
• Maternity and paternity leave.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Opportunity to travel to new locations.
• Priority Pass and travel upgrades for long‑haul company events.

About Canonical

Canonical is a pioneering tech firm leading the global open source movement. As the publisher of Ubuntu, one of the most important open source projects and foundations for AI, Io
T, and cloud, we are changing the world of software. We recruit globally and set high standards for excellence. Most colleagues work from home.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Canonical is an equal opportunity employer. We foster a workplace free from discrimination and hold diversity of experience, perspectives, and background as a core value.