Markets & Securities Services Experienced Recruiting Lead - Vice President in London

Do you have recruiting leadership experience in Markets or Investment Banking and a track record of building high‑performing teams? Join us as a Vice President Recruiting Lead for Markets & Securities Services. As a Markets & Securities Services Recruitment Lead in the Commercial & Investment Bank Recruitment Team, you will lead a team of recruiters, set the talent acquisition strategy for priority franchises, and partner directly with senior business and HR leaders to deliver critical hiring outcomes that align with the firm’s strategic objectives. You will drive market coverage, diversity hiring, and senior lateral processes while improving our operating model, data rigor, and candidate experience across the region.

Job Responsibilities:

• Lead the recruiting function for Markets, Sales, Research & Securities Services in EMEA, owning workforce planning, demand forecasting, and hiring strategy to meet revenue and headcount objectives.
• Manage and develop a team of recruiters and sourcers, providing coaching, capacity planning, performance management, and career development; set clear goals and operating rhythms to ensure accountability and excellence.
• Serve as the senior point of contact for business heads and HR leadership across Markets client groups, shaping hiring priorities, advising on org design, and influencing decisions with data-backed insights.
• Own end-to-end delivery for senior lateral hiring (e.g., Executive Director and Managing Director), including talent pipelining, confidential projects, complex compensation structuring, and risk/controls adherence.
• Build and execute proactive market-mapping strategies and talent communities for critical roles; drive ongoing, opportunistic engagement to shorten time-to-fill and elevate quality of hire.
• Establish and track performance metrics and SLAs (time-to-offer, pipeline health, diversity slate quality, source effectiveness, candidate NPS); leverage analytics to optimize funnel performance and inform strategic decisions.
• Partner closely with HR Advisory, Compensation, Business Management, and Controls to ensure compliant, consistent processes; lead complex compensation and offer negotiations in alignment with internal frameworks and pay philosophy.
• Drive continuous improvement and technology adoption across the recruitment lifecycle, ensuring full, accurate use of the applicant tracking system, data integrity, and scalable processes.
• Represent the firm in the external market with credibility and discretion; enhance employer brand in front-office talent pools and cultivate long-term relationships with key connectors and executive search partners.
• Implement risk and control standards, ensuring adherence to firm policies, data privacy requirements, and regulatory obligations; proactively identify and remediate process gaps.

Required Qualifications, Capabilities, and Skills:

• Extensive full lifecycle recruiting experience with extensive coverage of Markets and/or Investment Banking; experience leading senior lateral searches and confidential mandates.
• Experience managing and developing recruiters/sourcers, with demonstrated ability to scale teams, allocate capacity, and deliver against dynamic, shifting priorities.
• Proven strategic planning capability: workforce planning, market mapping, funnel analytics, and conversion optimization; adept at translating business strategy into actionable recruiting plans.
• Strong executive presence and credibility with senior leaders; consultative advisor able to influence outcomes, manage ambiguity, and drive alignment across HR, Compensation, and the business.
• Expertise in direct sourcing, talent community building, and relationship management with currently employed, high-demand candidates; persuasive storytelling that articulates firm value proposition and career trajectories.
• Advanced negotiation skills for complex compensation packages within governance frameworks; comfortable leading nuanced discussions with candidates and hiring leaders.
• Data-driven operating style with command of recruiting metrics and ATS/CRM tooling; disciplined approach to data integrity, compliance, and controls.
• High learning agility, resilience, and sound judgment; able to operate independently and lead through change in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience handling highly sensitive/confidential information with discretion.

Preferred Qualifications, Capabilities, and Skills:

• Prior experience in an agency or executive search environment working on front-office mandates, or leading in-house executive recruiting for Markets or Investment Banking.
• Deep subject-matter knowledge of Markets businesses, product sets, and talent landscapes; familiarity with UK/EMEA regulatory context for hiring.
• Experience driving process optimization and technology enablement (e.g., ATS/CRM enhancements, assessment tools, reporting automation).