Senior Specialist, Talent Acquisition – Services Sales

Company Overview

Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re helping build a sustainable economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.

We are seeking an experienced, commercially astute Senior Specialist, Talent Acquisition to support the growth of our Services business across Europe. Mastercard Services helps clients acquire, engage, and retain customers by managing fraud and risk, strengthening cybersecurity, and improving digital payments. Through deep expertise, data‑driven insights, and strong execution, Services delivers measurable value globally.

Key Skills

• Commercial Acumen
• Strategic Talent Advisory
• Strong Sourcing Capability
• Stakeholder Influence and Relationship Management
• Data Driven Mindset and Storytelling

Role Accountabilities

• Strategic Talent Advisory & Business Partnering
  • Act as a trusted advisor to SVP- and EVP-level stakeholders across Services Sales in Europe.
  • Lead quarterly business reviews with the EVP of Services Sales, sharing hiring performance, market insights, and talent risks.
  • Translate business strategy into targeted hiring plans and proactive talent pipelines across Europe.
  • Provide data-led market insights and hiring recommendations, including guidance on complex sales compensation structures.
  • Advise on how variable pay, incentives, and quota structures affect talent availability and offer competitiveness.
• End-to-End Recruitment Leadership
  • Own full-cycle recruitment from intake to offer, delivering a high-quality experience for candidates and hiring managers.
  • Lead structured intake sessions to define skills, outcomes, success profiles, and role economics.
  • Drive efficient, scalable hiring across multiple markets while balancing speed, quality, and stakeholder expectations.
  • Partner with HR Business Partners and Total Rewards on offers, compensation positioning, and internal equity.
• Advanced Sourcing & Talent Mapping
  • Develop direct sourcing strategies, including targeted headhunting for niche and senior talent.
  • Build and maintain proactive pipelines for critical and repeat roles across Services.
  • Use multiple sourcing channels, CRM tools, and recruitment marketing to maximise reach and engagement.
• Stakeholder Leadership & Influence
  • Build strong relationships with senior Services Sales leaders across Europe.
  • Provide strategic guidance and challenge on role design, talent availability, and compensation.
  • Navigate complex and sensitive stakeholder conversations, maintaining trust while driving outcomes.
  • Drive alignment and decision-making through clear, insight-led communication.
• Data, Insights & Storytelling
  • Use recruitment data and market insights to shape hiring strategy and track performance.
  • Translate complex hiring data and market insights into clear, compelling narratives that influence senior stakeholder decisions.
  • Communicate hiring progress, risks, and opportunities in a concise, executive-ready way.
  • Refine hiring strategies based on data, insights, and business needs.
• Operational Excellence & Process Governance
  • Ensure compliance with Mastercard TA processes, systems, and documentation standards.
  • Maintain accurate, disciplined use of ATS and CRM systems such as Workday.
  • Identify opportunities to improve efficiency across the recruitment lifecycle.
  • Apply strong process discipline while flexing approach to meet the needs of complex, senior-level hiring.
• Collaboration, Projects & Ecosystem Contribution
  • Partner with Talent Discovery, Recruitment Marketing, and HR to strengthen talent attraction.
  • Contribute to global recruitment marketing and employer branding initiatives.
  • Support and lead strategic TA projects to improve recruitment effectiveness.

All About You

• Proven experience delivering full-cycle recruitment in complex, matrixed global organisations.
• Strong experience hiring for consulting, sales, or customer-facing roles, ideally with variable compensation exposure.
• Demonstrated ability to advise and influence senior stakeholders, including SVP and EVP leaders.
• Strong understanding of how compensation models influence talent attraction and hiring outcomes.
• Advanced sourcing capability, including direct headhunting and talent mapping.
• Strong business acumen and the ability to turn commercial priorities into talent strategies.
• Highly data-driven, with the ability to interpret insights and drive action.
• Exceptional communication and storytelling skills across diverse audiences and propositions.
• Curiosity about Mastercard’s go-to-market model and the products we deliver to customers.
• Experience working across European markets and managing regional complexity.
• Comfortable working in fast-paced, ambiguous environments with strong ownership and urgency.
• Proficiency with recruitment tools and systems such as LinkedIn, CRM platforms, and Workday ATS.
• Collaborative mindset with a strong track record of cross-functional partnership.
• Demonstrated ability to operate with autonomy and sound judgment in high-visibility, high-stakes hiring environments.

Corporate Security Responsibility

All activities involving access to Mastercard assets, information, and networks come with an inherent risk to the organization and, therefore, it is expected that every person working for, or on behalf of, Mastercard is responsible for information security. Abide by Mastercard’s security policies and practices. Ensure the confidentiality and integrity of the information being accessed. Report any suspected information security violation or breach. Complete all periodic mandatory security trainings in accordance with Mastercard’s guidelines.