Head of People & Talent

Acumen has retained a search partner, Bridge Partners, to lead this search. Candidates are advised to follow this link and apply directly to:

Tory Clarke Malissa Brennan

Partner, Bridge Partners Associate Partner, Bridge Partners

tory.clarke@bridgepartnersllc.com malissa.brennan@bridgepartnersllc.com

About Acumen

Acumen is a global force of entrepreneurs, investors, philanthropists, and social innovators working together to build a world based on dignity. We were founded by Jacqueline Novogratz on the radical idea that business, when cultivated with moral imagination, can break the cycle of poverty. We invest in transformational companies, build sustainable markets, and prepare leaders with the tools they need to create a more just and inclusive future. Since 2001, we have scaled companies and shaped markets in some of the hardest-to-reach communities on the planet, impacting over half a billion lives. To learn more, visit acumen.org.

About the Role

Acumen is seeking a Head of People & Talent to strengthen the organization’s approach to care for its people and development of talent, in line with a strong organizational culture, at an important point in its evolution. With approximately 250 people across the Acumen ecosystem, and many in senior roles, the organization is complex in structure and reach, spanning multiple global offices, remote and semi-remote teams, several investment funds with dedicated teams, multiple programs and a range of legal, regulatory, and cultural contexts.

Acumen is advancing a broader “One Acumen” effort: pursuing greater integration across programs, funds, offices, and teams while maintaining the local ownership and initiative that are central to Acumen’s success. The addition of new programs has added a significant new pool of people with needs for cultural onboarding and integration, and support for new people managers. For People & Talent, this inflection point means anticipating people and talent needs and driving initiatives as we reinforce stronger visibility and communication, common standards, and shared practices and accountability across the growing organization.

Dual reporting to the President and General Counsel, and working closely with senior leaders across Acumen, the Head of People & Talent will serve as the organization’s senior talent leader and a trusted thought partner on people, organization, and culture.

The objective of the role is not about building a large, centralized HR operation - administration is relatively lean, as befits Acumen’s entrepreneurial culture. This opportunity is to identify - and drive forward - what the people and organization need now and, in the future, to attract and develop talent, care for its people and effectively evolve so that the strength of Acumen’s people and leadership continues to match the ambition of its mission, while reinforcing a culture that combines purpose with excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

The Leader:

Acumen seeks a strategic people and culture leader who can help build One Acumen, raise performance standards, strengthen succession and leadership pipelines, identify organizational risks before they emerge, and help a complex global institution become more integrated, effective, and accountable.

The successful candidate will be an experienced talent leader who combines strategic range with a strong bias toward action. They will be drawn to Acumen’s mission while also recognizing that this is an entrepreneurial, ambitious, high-performing culture that operates with for profit discipline and accountability.

Location, Travel & Work Authorization:

Compensation & Benefits:

Priority will be given to applications submitted by November 23rd 2026 although we will continue to receive and review applications until the position is filled.