Talent Lead

Talent Acquisition Lead – Build a Recruitment Function Within a High-Growth SME Manchester City Centre £55k - £80k - DOE Perm | Office based

I am partnering with a fast-growing, founder-led SME that is private equity-backed and entering an exciting period of growth. They are looking for a Talent Acquisition Lead who can take full ownership of recruitment and help build the foundations for future scale.

This is a strategic yet hands-on role, ideal for someone who enjoys being close to the business, partnering with senior leadership, and creating processes that improve the quality and efficiency of hiring.

The Role

You will be responsible for:

• Owning the full recruitment lifecycle, from sourcing through to onboarding.
• Building strong candidate pipelines across multiple roles.
• Developing recruitment processes, interview structures, and assessment methods.
• Partnering with founders and senior leaders to understand hiring needs.
• Providing market insight and guidance on candidates and hiring strategy.
• Ensuring only high-quality candidates reach interview stage.

This is a true build-and-own opportunity for someone who wants to create a recruitment function, not just manage vacancies.

What They’re Looking For

The ideal candidate will have exceptionally high standards and a strong eye for quality. You will be someone who:

• Can manage multiple roles and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Understands how to identify great talent beyond a CV.
• Is confident advising and challenging senior stakeholders.
• Has excellent attention to detail and a meticulous approach.
• Takes ownership and enjoys building processes from the ground up.

Agency experience is welcomed, particularly from recruiters who focus on quality search and strong candidate assessment rather than simply CV volume.

Why Join?

This is an opportunity to join a founder-led, mission-driven business at a key stage of growth and make a genuine impact.

You will have the chance to:

• Build a recruitment function from scratch.
• Work closely with founders and senior leadership.
• Influence hiring strategy and company culture.
• Create a scalable talent approach for future growth.

Details:

• Office-based role.
• 9:00am – 5:30pm.
• £55k - £80k – Salary is open to discussion based on experience level and what you can bring to the role.
• 4 weeks notice max preferred
• Excellent package and benefits
• Stunning offices in City Centre

If you are looking for a role where you can think like a founder, take ownership, and build something meaningful, I would love to hear from you.

Robert Walters Operations Limited is an employment business and employment agency and welcomes applications from all candidates