Talent Acquisition Manager

Job Description

About us

De Mellier is a London-based brand that was founded with the vision of doing things differently: to design handbags that would make women feel empowered, made ethically and sustainably, while giving back to those who need it most.

These principles guide everything we do.

All our pieces are crafted ethically in Europe using the finest sustainably sourced materials.

We champion equality, and for every piece sold, we fund vaccines and medical treatments aimed at saving the life of a child in need.

So far, through our permanent charity initiative, ‘A Bag, A Life’, in partnership with SOS Children’s Villages, we have funded over 2.5 million vaccines.

Join us and be part of an award-winning, purpose-driven brand that fosters creativity, collaboration, and meaningful impact within the luxury industry.

The role

As Talent Acquisition Manager, you will take full ownership of recruitment across De Mellier, playing a key role in building the teams that will support our continued growth.

Reporting to the Head of People, you'll partner closely with managers and senior leaders across the business to attract exceptional talent across Head Office, Retail and our international teams.

From specialist Product and Design roles to Retail and Corporate functions, you'll lead every stage of the recruitment process while delivering an outstanding candidate experience.

This is a hands-on role for someone who enjoys finding exceptional people, not simply filling vacancies.

Using your knowledge of the luxury fashion market, direct sourcing expertise and industry network, you'll identify and engage high-calibre talent, often before opportunities are advertised.

You'll provide hiring managers with market insight, advise on the most effective hiring approach and continuously improve how we attract, assess and hire talent.

As De Mellier continues to grow, you'll have the opportunity to shape our recruitment function, strengthen our employer brand, introduce new ideas and ways of working, and play a visible role in building the teams that will drive the next chapter of our success.

• Job Requirements
• At least five years' experience managing end-to-end recruitment within a fast-paced luxury, fashion or premium retail business.
• Proven experience recruiting across both Head Office and Retail functions internationally.
• Strong knowledge of the luxury fashion market, including competitor brands, talent pools and hiring trends.
• Strong track record of proactive direct sourcing, with the ability to identify, approach and engage high-calibre passive candidates, particularly for specialist, senior or hard-to-fill roles.
• Experience recruiting across functions such as Product Development, Design, Production, Buying, Merchandising, Marketing, E-commerce, Retail, Finance, Operations and HR.
• Experience carrying out market mapping and salary benchmarking.
• Confident partnering with senior stakeholders and influencing hiring decisions.
• Strong relationship-building, communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience using recruitment systems and HRIS, ideally Hi Bob.
• Proactive, organised and comfortable working independently in a fast-paced, growing business.
• Job Responsibilities
• Talent Acquisition
• Own the end-to-end recruitment process across Head Office, Retail and international teams, from briefing through to offer acceptance and onboarding.
• Partner with hiring managers to understand hiring needs, define role requirements and develop effective recruitment strategies.
• Manage multiple recruitment campaigns simultaneously, ensuring an efficient, high-quality and engaging hiring process.
• Create compelling job descriptions and adverts that reflect De Mellier's brand and attract exceptional talent.
• Conduct interviews, coordinate selection processes and manage candidate communications throughout.
• Manage the offer and negotiation process, working with the Head of People and hiring managers on compensation decisions, and coordinate references.
• Ensure every candidate receives a positive, professional and engaging recruitment experience.
• Direct Sourcing & Market Insight
• Proactively identify, approach and engage high-quality passive candidates through networking, Linked In, referrals and market research.
• Build and maintain talent pipelines for future hiring across key business functions.
• Maintain a strong understanding of competitor organisations, talent movements, salary levels and hiring trends within the luxury fashion industry.
• Carry out market mapping and salary benchmarking to support hiring decisions.
• Advise hiring managers and the Head of People on talent availability, market conditions and the most effective approach for each search.
• Manage external recruitment agencies where appropriate while promoting a direct sourcing approach wherever possible.
• Take a proactive, search-led approach to priority and hard-to-fill roles, identifying high-calibre talent beyond active applicants and traditional recruitment channels.
• Employer Brand & Recruitment Excellence
• Partner with Marketing to strengthen De Mellier's employer brand across Linked In, careers pages and other recruitment channels.
• Champion De Mellier's culture, values and purpose throughout the candidate journey.
• Continuously review and improve recruitment processes, introducing new ideas, technologies and ways of working that improve quality, efficiency and candidate experience.
• Ensure recruitment activity is compliant, well managed and accurately maintained, including appropriate candidate data management, right-to-work requirements and accurate recruitment records.
• Recruitment Planning & Continuous Improvement
• Partner with the Head of People and business leaders to forecast hiring needs and support workforce planning.
• Analyse recruitment metrics and provide insight into hiring performance, source effectiveness, candidate experience and market trends.
• Use recruitment data to identify trends, patterns, risks and make recommendations.
• Coach and support hiring managers on recruitment best practice, interviewing and selection.
• Contribute to wider People projects where talent acquisition expertise adds value.
• Job Benefits
• Hybrid-working policy
• Annual Leave package increases the longer you stay with us
• Enhanced company maternity policy
• Employee Discount: 50% off Stock and up to 90% off Seasonal Sample Sales
• Free gift De Mellier bag on successful probation

De Mellier is committed to fostering a workplace that reflects the diversity of our amazing, global customer base.

We believe that a diverse team brings a wealth of perspectives and experiences to our business, leading to more innovative and inclusive products.

By recruiting talent from diverse backgrounds, we aim to create a company culture where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to contribute their best.

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