At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead talent acquisition and management, shaping the future of our team.
- Company: Boutique management consulting firm in London with a people-first culture.
- Benefits: Competitive compensation, hybrid working, and real ownership of your role.
- Other info: Join us at a growth stage and influence our trajectory.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact by building a top-tier talent function from scratch.
- Qualifications: 6+ years in talent acquisition and management, preferably in consulting.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
About Dune Advisors
Dune Advisors is a boutique management consulting firm based in London, delivering strategic advisory, business transformation and transaction support to clients across Life Sciences, CPG and Manufacturing.
We operate a senior-led delivery model, small, high-calibre teams working directly with clients on complex, high-stakes engagements.
At around 20 people today, every hire meaningfully shapes who we are.
We are looking for a Senior Talent Acquisition & Management Specialist to build the people engine behind our next stage of growth, someone who can own everything from sourcing our next Director to shaping how we onboard, develop and retain the people we hire.
The Role
This is a hands-on, end-to-end talent role, not a purely transactional recruitment function, and not limited to acquisition.
You'll be the single owner of talent at
Dune: sourcing and hiring exceptional consultants, and then helping build the frameworks that keep them, develop them, and set them up to succeed.
In a firm our size, that means you'll be doing the sourcing yourself, running the process yourself, and also thinking about performance, career pathing and culture not delegating pieces of it to a larger team.
You'll work directly with senior leaders, with real influence over hiring decisions and the shape of our talent strategy.
This is a 6 month fixed-term contract role.
What You'll Do
- Talent Acquisition
- Own end-to-end recruitment for consulting and business services roles at every level, from direct sourcing through offer and close.
- Build and execute proactive sourcing strategies to engage passive, high-calibre candidates from consulting firms, industry and adjacent sectors.
- Design and continuously improve our interview process and assessment methodology.
- Lead offer management and compensation negotiations.
- Manage relationships with external recruitment partners
- Build our employer brand and candidate pipeline through digital channels.
- Talent Management
- Design and run onboarding so new joiners ramp quickly and land well culturally.
- Support performance management processes, feedback cycles and career development frameworks appropriate to a firm our size.
- Partner with leadership on workforce planning, succession thinking and retention strategy.
- Act as a trusted point of contact for consultants on career and development questions.
- Insight & Operations
- Provide market intelligence on talent availability, compensation benchmarks and competitor activity.
- Build recruitment and people reporting to track pipeline health, hiring performance and retention metrics.
- Manage recruitment technology and candidate data (ATS, Linked In Recruiter, etc.), improving systems and ways of working as we grow.
- What We Are Looking For
- 6+ years of experience across talent acquisition and talent management, within top tier management consulting firms.
- Proven track record owning end-to-end recruitment for experienced hires, including direct sourcing of passive candidates.
- Experience with broader talent management: onboarding, performance frameworks, career development or retention even if gained in a smaller or generalist HR/People role.
- Comfort operating without a large team or established infrastructure; you'll be building processes, not just running existing ones.
- Strong stakeholder management skills and the confidence to partner with and influence Partners and senior leaders.
- Commercial awareness of the consulting and professional services talent landscape.
- Comfort with data and able to build simple reporting and translate it into recommendations.
- Familiarity with an ATS, Linked In Recruiter and recruitment analytics tools.
- Excellent written and verbal communication.
- A self-starter who's genuinely energized by building something from scratch in a small, fast-moving firm.
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.
- What Makes Dune Advisors Different
- Real ownership
- — you'll build the talent function, not inherit one
- High-calibre bar
- — help attract exceptional talent to a firm punching well above its size
- People-first culture
- — collaborative, respectful, built on trust
- Agile by design
- — small teams, fast decisions, visible impact
- Growth stage
- — join at an inflection point and shape the growth trajectory
- Flexibility
- — hybrid working, competitive compensation
Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist in London employer: Dune Advisors
Dune Advisors is an exceptional employer that fosters a people-first culture, prioritising collaboration and trust within its dynamic team. Located in London, the firm offers a unique opportunity for growth and ownership, allowing employees to engage directly with senior clients on impactful transformation projects while enjoying the flexibility of hybrid working arrangements. With a focus on high-calibre work and the chance to shape strategic outcomes, Dune Advisors stands out as a rewarding place for professionals seeking meaningful contributions in management consulting.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist in London
✨Get Involved in Recruitment Events
Temporary roles in talent acquisition can pop up all over the place, so keep an eye on local recruitment fairs and industry networking events. These are prime opportunities to chat directly with companies like Dune Advisors and get your foot in the door—sometimes you can even land an interview on the spot!
✨Engage in Online Recruitment Communities
Join communities on platforms like LinkedIn or niche forums where recruiters hang out. Engage in discussions, share your insights, and post your availability for temporary roles. You never know, a connection might refer you to a role at a place like Dune Advisors before it even hits job boards!
✨Flex Your Availability and Skills
When applying for temporary positions, be upfront about your availability and any specific skills you have that can meet the urgent needs of recruiters. This makes you more attractive to hiring managers looking for someone who can hit the ground running.
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If you're still near a university, don't forget about their career services! They often have exclusive listings for temporary roles, especially in talent acquisition, and can connect you with employers who are keen to hire students or recent grads like us for short-term assignments.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Recruitment Skills:As someone applying for a talent acquisition role, it’s key to highlight your experience in finding and placing talent. Talk about specific methods you’ve used in past roles—whether it’s social media sourcing, networking, or using ATS systems. Show us how you’ve made a difference in previous projects!
Tailor Your CV for Talent Acquisition:When you're putting together your CV for a temporary role in recruiting, focus on your measurable achievements—like the number of positions filled or the reduction in time-to-hire. Use bullet points to make it easy for us to see your contributions at a glance, and don’t forget to mention any relevant certifications or training you've undergone!
Craft a Relatable Cover Letter:For a temporary role, your cover letter should not only explain why you want this job but also why you’re suited for short-term projects. Mention your adaptability and any past experiences where you quickly integrated into a team or got up to speed with new processes. Let us know how you can hit the ground running!
Highlight Immediate Availability:Since this is a temporary position, it’s essential to emphasise your availability in your application. Make it clear when you can start and how flexible you are with hours. Frame it as a positive—your ability to jump in and help us right when we need you will definitely make you stand out!
How to prepare for a job interview at Dune Advisors
✨Show Off Your People Skills
Since you're getting into talent acquisition, it's crucial to highlight your communication and interpersonal skills. Think of a few scenarios where you've successfully dealt with candidates, managed relationships, or resolved conflicts—these will give you a solid edge in the interview with Dune Advisors.
✨Research the Latest Recruiting Tools
Stay ahead of the game by familiarising yourself with popular ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) and recruitment tools that are trending in the industry. Be ready to discuss how you might use these tools in your role at Dune Advisors, even if it's just a temporary role—they’ll want to know you can hit the ground running.
✨Understand the Urgency
Temporary roles often mean quick turnarounds. Show that you understand the nuances of urgent hiring processes, perhaps by sharing experiences where you had to source candidates under tight deadlines. It demonstrates you know the ropes and can adapt fast, which will definitely impress Dune Advisors.
✨Highlight Your Flexibility
Temp roles can be unpredictable, so emphasise your flexibility and willingness to take on varying workloads or adapt to different company cultures. Prepare a few anecdotes where you've thrived in a dynamic environment—Dune Advisors will want to see that you can roll with the punches!
