At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead recruitment efforts and build a talent strategy from the ground up.
- Company: Join a fast-growing AI startup transforming the insurance industry.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus, and direct access to founders.
- Other info: Opportunity for ownership and career growth in a dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping the company's hiring function.
- Qualifications: 4-6 years of in-house recruitment experience in tech startups.
The predicted salary is between 85000 - 115000 £ per year.
Location: New York or London (office based role)
Salary: up to $140,000 (or up to £100,000) + 15% bonus
Join one of Europe's fastest-growing AI startups and build the hiring engine from the ground up. Most recruitment roles ask you to fill vacancies. This one asks you to help build a company. We're working with a venture-backed, AI-native startup that is transforming the insurance industry. Having raised over $15M from some of the world's leading investors, including Y Combinator, the business is entering a critical phase of growth with Series A firmly on the horizon.
To support that growth, they're looking for their first in-house Talent hire. This is an opportunity to work directly alongside the founders and become the architect of the company's hiring function, helping scale the team from 40 employees today to 60+ over the next 12 months.
What You'll Be Doing
As the first Talent hire in the business, you'll own recruitment end-to-end. You'll partner directly with founders and hiring managers to understand hiring needs, build talent pipelines, and deliver exceptional candidates at speed. Your responsibilities will include:
- Owning the full hiring lifecycle from intake to onboarding
- Building proactive outbound sourcing strategies across technical and non-technical roles
- Engaging and converting passive candidates who have never heard of the company before
- Managing hiring pipelines and ensuring an exceptional candidate experience throughout
- Partnering with founders to forecast hiring needs and deliver against ambitious growth plans
- Building scalable recruitment infrastructure including ATS workflows, scorecards, interview processes, reporting, and automation
- Creating a recruitment function that can support rapid growth without sacrificing quality
What We're Looking For - our non negotiable requirements:
- 4-6 years of in house recruitment experience within tech startups (not agency)
- Extensive experience building technical and non-technical teams within tech startups as an in-house talent lead
- Experience scaling teams in fast-moving environments
- Strong sourcing capability and confidence approaching passive candidates
- Proven ability to manage multiple hires simultaneously without compromising quality
- A highly organised, process-driven mindset
- Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills
- Comfortable operating with ambiguity and limited structure
- Energised by ownership, autonomy, and accountability
You'll Love This Role If:
- You enjoy building rather than inheriting
- You want direct access to founders and business decisions
- You thrive in high-intensity environments where speed matters
- You love finding talent that others can't
- You believe candidate experience is just as important as hiring outcomes
- You want to see the direct impact of your work on company growth
Why Join?
This isn't a traditional recruiter role. You'll be the person who builds the systems, processes, and talent strategy that power the next phase of growth for a business that is scaling fast and attracting significant investor attention. If you've successfully helped scale a startup before and want the opportunity to build a world-class talent function from scratch, we'd love to hear from you.
Talent Acquisition Lead in Slough employer: Mekion Consulting
Join a dynamic and innovative AI startup that is not only transforming the insurance industry but also prioritises employee growth and development. With a collaborative work culture that encourages autonomy and direct access to founders, you'll have the unique opportunity to shape the company's hiring strategy while enjoying competitive compensation and a bonus structure. Located in vibrant cities like New York or London, this role offers a chance to make a significant impact in a fast-paced environment where your contributions are valued and recognised.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Talent Acquisition Lead in Slough
✨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 Mekion Consulting, 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 Mekion Consulting!
✨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 Talent Acquisition Lead in Slough
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 Mekion Consulting 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 Talent Acquisition Lead at Mekion Consulting, 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 Mekion Consulting
✨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 Mekion Consulting 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!
