At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead transformative talent acquisition strategies and optimise recruitment processes using innovative technologies.
- Company: Join Diligent, a leader in AI-driven governance solutions with a collaborative culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible work, comprehensive health benefits, generous time off, and wellness programmes.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse global team committed to positive change and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping the future of talent acquisition with cutting-edge AI tools.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in talent acquisition leadership with strong strategic and analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
We are seeking a transformative Senior Director, Talent Acquisition to lead the overall recruiting function and deliver a high-impact, modern, and scalable hiring experience across the organization. In this role, the successful candidate will partner closely with senior business leaders and HR stakeholders to align hiring priorities, shape workforce plans, and support business growth through innovative, data-driven talent strategies.
This leader will oversee end-to-end recruitment strategy and operations, guide team performance, and drive process improvements that strengthen hiring outcomes, scalability, speed, and quality of hire. A key focus of the role will be leading the successful implementation and optimization of Workday Recruiting and related processes, while advancing the use of AI-enabled recruiting tools, automation, talent intelligence, and analytics to improve sourcing effectiveness, decision quality, operational efficiency, and candidate experience.
The ideal candidate is an AI-forward talent acquisition leader who brings strong leadership, stakeholder management, strategic thinking, and communication skills, along with deep expertise in recruiting operations, team development, talent analytics, recruiting technology, and enterprise process transformation. They will bring experience leading large-scale systems and process change, including Workday implementation or optimization, as well as a thoughtful approach to the responsible use of AI and technology across the hiring lifecycle. They will also bring a fresh and creative approach to attracting top talent and play a key role in advancing and strengthening our employer brand in the market.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the global Talent Acquisition function across a broad team or portfolio, with accountability for recruiting strategy, delivery, team capability, technology adoption, and performance against hiring goals.
- Partner closely with senior business leaders, HRBPs, budget stakeholders, and People Technology partners to align workforce plans, headcount priorities, and hiring strategy with business needs, using market intelligence and talent data to inform decisions.
- Lead the implementation, optimization, and adoption of Workday Recruiting and related workflows, ensuring processes are scalable, efficient, and aligned to business and candidate needs.
- Oversee end-to-end recruitment execution across roles and regions, ensuring strong delivery from requisition creation and job posting through screening, interviewing, offers, preboarding, and onboarding handoff.
- Define and evolve an AI-enabled sourcing and recruiting strategy by leveraging automation, talent intelligence platforms, market mapping tools, and predictive insights to build stronger pipelines and improve speed to hire.
- Drive recruiting effectiveness through process standardization, workflow redesign, ATS optimization, pipeline analytics, workflow automation, and continuous improvement of how the Talent Acquisition function scales and delivers results.
- Evaluate, implement, and optimize emerging recruiting technologies, including AI tools that support sourcing, screening, scheduling, reporting, and recruiter productivity.
- Establish and track metrics that measure both efficiency and effectiveness, including time to fill, funnel health, recruiter capacity, candidate experience, hiring manager satisfaction, quality of hire, and adoption of key recruiting technologies and workflows.
- Establish clear standards for the responsible and ethical use of AI in hiring, with appropriate attention to fairness, transparency, compliance, data quality, and human decision-making.
- Lead change management efforts tied to recruiting process transformation, ensuring strong stakeholder alignment, user adoption, training, and operational readiness across recruiters, hiring managers, and cross-functional partners.
- Coach and develop recruiters and TA leaders to build capability in consultative partnership, data literacy, AI fluency, and modern talent acquisition practices.
Required Experience / Skills
- 10+ years of experience leading talent acquisition across a broad team, function, or portfolio, with accountability for hiring delivery, capability building, and performance against recruiting goals.
- Strong leadership and business partnering skills, with the ability to work closely with senior business leaders, HRBPs, budget stakeholders, and cross-functional partners to align hiring priorities, workforce plans, and recruiting strategy.
- Deep understanding of the end-to-end recruitment lifecycle, including requisition creation, job posting, sourcing, screening, interviewing, offers, preboarding, and onboarding handoff.
- Demonstrated experience leading the implementation, optimization, or transformation of recruiting technology, ideally including Workday Recruiting or a comparable enterprise ATS.
- Experience evaluating and implementing emerging AI solutions and recruiting technologies in a way that improves both efficiency and quality without compromising candidate experience, hiring rigor, or compliance.
- Demonstrated experience using AI-enabled recruiting tools, automation, talent data, and recruiting technologies to improve sourcing effectiveness, recruiter productivity, operational efficiency, decision quality, and hiring outcomes.
- Strong market awareness and strategic judgment, with the ability to guide sourcing strategy, share talent insights, and support informed hiring decisions in a competitive environment.
- Strong knowledge of recruiting best practices, including structured screening, inclusive interviewing, and delivering a high-quality candidate and hiring manager experience across the hiring process.
- Strong analytical capability, with experience defining success metrics and using data to drive continuous improvement across recruiting performance, quality of hire, operational outcomes, and technology adoption.
- Experience leading change management, process redesign, stakeholder adoption, and operational enablement in support of recruiting transformation.
- Understanding of responsible AI principles and the ability to balance innovation with sound judgment, compliance, and equitable hiring practices.
- Excellent communication skills, strategic thinking, and operational discipline, with the ability to lead change and influence stakeholders across the organization.
Preferred Experience
- Experience with Workday Recruiting and related Workday tools, including implementation support, reporting, workflow optimization, user adoption, governance, and process enablement.
Senior Director, Talent Acquisition in London employer: Diligent
Diligent is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and inclusive work culture in Greater London, where innovation thrives through collaboration. With a strong commitment to employee well-being, we offer comprehensive benefits, including wellness programmes and generous time-off policies, alongside ample opportunities for professional growth and development. Join us to be part of a forward-thinking team that values diversity and empowers you to make a meaningful impact in the B2B SaaS landscape.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Director, Talent Acquisition in London
✨Dive into the Talent Acquisition Community
Get involved with communities specifically aimed at talent acquisition and recruitment. Follow popular forums, like the HR and recruitment threads on LinkedIn Groups or join Talent Acquisition Meetups in your area. Networking with fellow recruiters and industry experts can lead to hidden job opportunities and insider tips!
✨Show Off Your Expertise at Recruitment Events
Attend recruitment fairs and industry conferences where companies, including Diligent, often showcase their hiring needs. Not only can you meet potential employers face-to-face, but you can also demonstrate your passion and knowledge about the field. Make sure you've got some thoughtful questions ready to impress!
✨Leverage Your University Connections
If you’re a recent grad or still connected to your university, tap into their career services. Many universities have exclusive job boards and connections with companies eager to hire fresh talent in recruitment roles. Plus, you never know who might be able to put in a good word for you at places like Diligent!
✨Tailor Your Digital Footprint
Make sure your online presence reflects your passion for talent acquisition. Share articles, join discussions, and post about trends in recruiting to establish yourself as a knowledgeable candidate. Recruiters often check candidates out online, so use platforms like LinkedIn to showcase your insights and enthusiasm for discovering the right talent!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Director, Talent Acquisition in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Passion for Talent Acquisition:In your cover letter, let your passion for recruiting shine through! Talk about what drew you to talent acquisition. Share experiences where you helped others find their dream jobs or any times you've been involved in hiring processes – it’ll show us at Diligent that you're genuinely invested in the field.
Highlight Relevant Skills and Certifications:Make sure your CV includes any relevant skills or certifications related to recruiting. Mentioning your knowledge of applicant tracking systems, personality assessments, or even any HR-related qualifications can set you apart. This way, we can see straight away that you're not just any candidate but one with the necessary tools for talent acquisition.
Tailor Your CV for the Job:When applying for Senior Director, Talent Acquisition at Diligent, tailor your CV to reflect the job description. Highlight previous experiences in recruitment, candidate sourcing, or employee engagement that align with what we’re after. Personalisation shows we’re not just another checkbox on your job applications!
Bring Your Unique Perspective:In your cover letter, don't hesitate to share your unique perspective on what makes a good recruiter. Whether it's building strong candidate relationships or your approach to diversity in hiring, your insights can resonate well with our team. We love a fresh take, so let it shine!
How to prepare for a job interview at Diligent
✨Know Your Sourcing Strategies
In the talent acquisition world, it’s all about knowing the best sourcing strategies. Be prepared to discuss specific techniques you’ve used to find and attract top talent, whether that’s through social media, networking events, or innovative outreach methods. Bring examples that showcase your capability!
✨Value of Employer Branding
Employer branding is a huge part of recruitment, so be ready to chat about how you’ve contributed to building an attractive company image. Think about how you’d pitch Diligent to potential candidates and maintain a consistent brand image across platforms.
✨Demonstrate Your Interviewing Skills
Since this is a full-time gig, hiring managers will want to see your interviewing prowess. Prepare for mock interview scenarios where you might need to assess candidates' cultural fit and skill set. Practise asking competency-based questions to demonstrate your systematic approach.
✨Engage with Data and Metrics
Being data-driven is key in talent acquisition! Expect to discuss how you’ve used recruiting metrics to refine your strategies. Familiarise yourself with common KPIs, like time-to-fill and candidate satisfaction scores, and be ready to back up your insights with data!
