Opportunity

Talent Science & Graduate Hiring Role at Canonical in Columbus

Location Columbus
Company Canonical
Source jobicy
Posted 2026-08-03 10:21:26

Career & Market Insight

Unique Role Positioning: This is explicitly not a recruiter role — it sits at the intersection of I/O psychology, data science, and talent strategy. This distinction is important: it signals a more analytical, research-driven career path rather than a sales-oriented sourcing function.

Skills Development: You'll build highly transferable skills across:

  • Talent analytics and SQL-based dashboarding
  • Psychometric assessment design and interpretation
  • Behavioural interviewing methodology and stakeholder training
  • Global university partnership management

These competencies are in growing demand as organisations shift toward evidence-based hiring — a trend accelerated by AI screening tools and DEI accountability requirements.

Compensation Signals: No salary is disclosed, but Canonical uses geo-adjusted pay, which can disadvantage candidates in higher cost-of-living markets. Research suggests Talent Science/People Analytics roles at senior levels in EMEA typically range £55,000–£90,000 depending on location and seniority. The annual review cycle and performance bonus partially offset the lack of transparency.

Culture Signals: Canonical's remote-first model since 2004 and the emphasis on "scientific rigour" suggest a structured, intellectually demanding culture. The requirement for an exceptional academic background (including high school) is an unusual signal — expect a rigorous hiring process.

Green Flags: Stable 20+ year company, open-source mission, genuine remote culture. Watch for: geo-adjusted pay compression and high performance expectations with limited stated career ladder detail.

As a pioneer remote-first tech company with a product that inspires people globally, we attract a huge number of applicants to our organisation. We have created a hiring process that is totally unique, empowering our business-based Hiring Leadership team to lead talent selection. Our Talent Science team ensures that our processes are effective and that the business is able to make the best decisions to select exceptional talent. This is an exceptional opportunity to join a team that is changing the way an organisation hires.

We have a mission to ensure that we follow objective, scientifically rigorous and efficient processes to select the very best new colleagues regardless of location, culture or background. We work closely with a carefully selected hiring cohort to ensure we have exceptional judgement with a hiring model that supports the selection of world class talent. We drive initiatives, build automations and offer an expert viewpoint on assessing talent.

We are looking to advance our graduate hiring strategy to ensure we can reach and assess world class junior talent. The role will focus on building strong partnerships with top ranked universities across the globe. The suitable individual will bring experience of leading graduate hiring on a regional or global scale within the technology industry. You will possess a strong academic track record with the ability to analyse data, assess performance outcomes and build dashboards to monitor your outcomes. This is not a recruiter position; it's about the science of talent and performance, raising awareness and insights across the business so that they are able to select the best talent available from our global talent pool.

Location: This is a remote position based in the EMEA region.

What your day will look like

  • Build effective partnerships with leading academic institutions to raise awareness of our graduate opportunities.
  • Create a highly effective proposition to inspire top talent to apply to Canonical.
  • Drive talent analytics to provide our business with real-time insight, partnering with the business to help them move through their hiring processes efficiently.
  • Conduct in-depth behavioural talent interviews providing considerable insights into motivations and behaviours.
  • Build key relationships with global stakeholders to ensure we deliver against our hiring agenda, closely monitoring hiring activities, driving results and ensuring consistency in our operational processes.
  • Drive data-driven insights, making sure our decision-making process is robust and supportive to inform our decisions.
  • Consider our employer brand and how our interactions with a candidate impact their experience.
  • Review and streamline hiring processes and tools to drive continuous improvement.
  • Work with external third parties and platforms to ensure we maximise our return on investment.
  • Bring a passion for diversity and inclusion, ensuring we remove unconscious bias from our hiring process and that our sourcing strategy underpins this.

What we are looking for in you

  • An exceptional academic background from both high school and university, with a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Psychology or a People-based subject.
  • Experience of hiring talent in the technology industry, with an informed viewpoint on graduate hiring essential.
  • A highly data-driven mindset with the ability to create measurable outcomes, using SQL.
  • Passionate about how an organisation selects talent using scientific approaches, with a viewpoint on how to predict and measure hiring outcomes.
  • Exposure/appreciation of psychometric assessments preferable, including interpretation.
  • Experience of conducting behavioural, competency-based interviews with the ability to train stakeholders and advise on how to get the best out of an interview.
  • Experience of the following tools advantageous: Greenhouse, LinkedIn, Superset, Thomas International/DISC assessments.
  • A high level of personal organisation and self-drive to work remotely and be effective.
  • Willingness to travel to company events 2–4 times a year, for up to two weeks each.

What we offer you

We consider geographical location, experience, and performance in shaping compensation worldwide. We revisit compensation annually (and more often for graduates and associates) to ensure we recognise outstanding performance. In addition to base pay, we offer a performance-driven annual bonus. We provide all team members with additional benefits, which reflect our values and ideals. We balance our programs to meet local needs and ensure fairness globally.

  • Distributed work environment with twice-yearly team sprints in person
  • 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 to meet colleagues
  • Priority Pass, including lounge access, for company travel

About Canonical

Canonical is a pioneering tech firm at the forefront of the global move to open source. As the company that publishes Ubuntu, one of the most important open source projects and the platform for AI, IoT and the cloud, we are changing the world on a daily basis. We recruit on a global basis and set a very high standard for people joining the company. We expect excellence — in order to succeed, we need to be the best at what we do. Canonical has been a remote-first company since its inception in 2004. Working here is a step into the future, and will challenge you to think differently, work smarter, learn new skills, and raise your game.

Canonical is an equal opportunity employer

We are proud to foster a workplace free from discrimination. Diversity of experience, perspectives, and background create a better work environment and better products. Whatever your identity, we will give your application fair consideration.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this role fully remote or does it require office attendance?
This is a fully remote position based in the EMEA region. Canonical has been a remote-first company since 2004, so no office attendance is required. However, you must be willing to travel to company events 2–4 times per year for up to two weeks at a time.
Is this a standard recruiter or talent acquisition role?
No — Canonical explicitly states this is not a recruiter position. It focuses on the science of talent selection, including data analytics, psychometric assessments, behavioural interviewing methodology, and building university partnerships to attract graduate talent.
What qualifications are required for this role?
Canonical requires a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Psychology or a People-based subject, along with an exceptional academic background. Experience in tech industry hiring and a data-driven mindset with SQL skills are also essential.
What is the salary for this Talent Science position?
No specific salary range is disclosed. Canonical states that compensation is shaped by geographical location, experience, and performance, and is reviewed annually. A performance-driven annual bonus is also offered in addition to base pay.
What tools and platforms should I be familiar with for this role?
Experience with Greenhouse (ATS), LinkedIn, Superset, and Thomas International/DISC psychometric assessments is listed as advantageous. SQL proficiency for data analytics is described as a core requirement.
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