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- Tasks: Lead talent strategies and oversee recruitment for Aqua's vibrant restaurant group.
- Company: Aqua Restaurant Group, known for its unique dining experiences in major cities worldwide.
- Benefits: Enjoy discounts, birthday leave, ongoing training, and financial wellness perks.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team and shape the future of culinary talent across the globe.
- Qualifications: Experience in talent acquisition and strategic leadership roles.
- Other info: Work in a vibrant office near iconic London landmarks with excellent career growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Aqua Restaurant Group is home to a unique collection of restaurants and bars in vibrant cities like London, Paris, Hong Kong, New York, Miami and Dubai. At Aqua, we offer passionate culinary and hospitality professionals the chance to grow their careers and explore new opportunities.
The Head of Talent is a senior, strategic leadership role responsible for designing and delivering the talent strategy, with a primary focus on executive and senior-level recruitment across all current and future regions, employer branding, partnerships and closely working alongside L&D on career paths and talent development.
Based in London, the role partners with the Executive Team and regional leadership to ensure Aqua Restaurant Group attracts, develops and retains best-in-class talent that supports the Group's growth, brand standards and long-term vision.
We are looking for a mid/end April 2026 start for this role.
Where are we located? The position will be based in our Head Office located on Borough High Street, neighbouring the Shard and a stone's throw away from the historic Borough Market. Our head office is conveniently next to Borough station, and a 5-minute walk away from London Bridge station - making it well connected to Central and Greater London. Part of the job also involves frequenting our incredible venues across Central and West London, with restaurants never over half an hour away from our Head Office.
What we bring to the table:
- Dine with us: Enjoy discounts at all Aqua venues
- Celebrate YOU: Take your birthday off and earn additional long service leave
- Grow with us: Ongoing training and development to support both your professional and personal development
- Financial well-being: Manage your pay with ease through Wagestream & enhance your financial knowledge
- Work out: Discounted gym membership
- Lunch & Learn: Head Office perk
Your day at Aqua:
- Talent strategy & attraction: You will design and deliver a comprehensive talent acquisition strategy, embedding strong recruitment procedures, employer branding and building talent pipelines across all senior and executive level roles in the restaurant group
- Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on talent planning, succession planning and organisational design
- Proactively build talent pipelines for critical leadership and culinary roles as well as execute confidential searches, when needed
- Build scalable recruitment frameworks and initiatives to support growth into new international markets as the Group expands
- Lead end-to-end recruitment for executive and senior roles, including General Managers, Executive Chefs, regional leaders and HQ leadership positions
- People development & retention: You will collaborate with senior leaders, operations, HR and L&D to drive engagement, succession planning, career paths and mentor the recruitment coordinator while reporting progress to leadership
- Industry insight & talent sourcing: You will stay up to date with recruitment trends and best practices, build relationships with communities, universities, partners and manage external sourcing channels to keep the restaurant group competitive in attracting and developing top talent
Role characteristics:
- Operates with a high degree of autonomy and discretion, as the role is reporting into the COO and working closely with the owner
- Culturally aware and commercially focused
- Key contributor to the Group's long-term leadership capability and succession planning
All applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK. Aqua Restaurant Group welcomes individuals from all backgrounds and is committed to creating an inclusive work environment. If you require reasonable adjustments to make your experience more accessible, please let us know.
Apply today as a Head of Talent and be part of Aqua's global culinary adventure!
Head of Talent in London employer: Aqua Restaurant Group
Contact Detail:
Aqua Restaurant Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Talent in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry folks, attend events, and join relevant groups. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that Head of Talent role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your expertise! Create a personal brand on LinkedIn by sharing insights about talent strategies and recruitment trends. This will help you stand out as a thought leader in the field.
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just apply; engage! When you find a job you love, reach out to current employees or hiring managers to express your interest. A little initiative can go a long way in making a memorable impression.
✨Tip Number 4
Keep it local! Since Aqua is based in London, focus on building connections within the city’s culinary scene. Attend local meetups and workshops to get your name out there and discover hidden opportunities.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Talent in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the culinary and hospitality industry shine through. We want to see that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you’re genuinely excited about the opportunity to lead talent strategies at Aqua.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Head of Talent role. Highlight your experience in executive recruitment and talent development, and don’t forget to mention any relevant partnerships or branding initiatives you've been involved in. We love seeing how your background aligns with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to tell us why you’re the perfect fit for Aqua. Use it to elaborate on your strategic vision for talent acquisition and how you plan to support our growth. Keep it engaging and personal – we want to get to know you!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us that you’re proactive and keen to be part of our team at Aqua!
How to prepare for a job interview at Aqua Restaurant Group
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into Aqua Restaurant Group's values, culture, and recent developments. Familiarise yourself with their talent strategies and how they align with the culinary industry. This will show your genuine interest and help you connect your experience to their needs.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Mindset
As a Head of Talent, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to design and deliver effective talent strategies. Prepare examples from your past roles where you've successfully implemented recruitment frameworks or built talent pipelines. Be ready to discuss how you can apply these experiences at Aqua.
✨Engage with the Executive Team
Since this role involves partnering with senior leadership, practice articulating your thoughts on talent planning and organisational design. Think about how you can act as a trusted advisor and be prepared to share insights on succession planning and engagement strategies that have worked for you in the past.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare insightful questions about Aqua's future growth plans, their approach to employer branding, and how they envision the role of Head of Talent evolving. This not only shows your enthusiasm but also helps you gauge if the company aligns with your career goals.
