VP, Global Talent & Workforce Strategy
VP, Global Talent & Workforce Strategy

VP, Global Talent & Workforce Strategy

Full-Time 72000 - 108000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
Go Premium
Smartly.io

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead global talent strategy and workforce planning for Smartly's growth.
  • Company: Join Smartly, a leading AI-powered advertising technology company.
  • Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, equity options, and generous healthcare packages.
  • Why this job: Shape the future of talent acquisition in a high-growth tech environment.
  • Qualifications: Proven experience in global talent functions and workforce strategy.
  • Other info: Be part of a diverse team making a global impact.

The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.

Smartly is seeking a Vice President, Global Talent & Workforce Strategy to architect and lead our global talent strategy. This role shapes how Smartly scales across markets, capabilities, and business models. Reporting to the Chief HR Officer and partnering closely with the CEO, CFO, and Executive Team, you will define how talent, workforce planning, and organizational design enable long-term growth and competitive advantage. This is a strategic leadership role accountable not only for hiring outcomes, but for building the systems, infrastructure, and decision frameworks that ensure Smartly’s talent strategy drives capital efficiency, innovation capacity, and sustainable scale.

What You Will Do

  • Define and lead a multi-year global workforce strategy aligned to Smartly’s business ambition and growth plans.
  • Shape enterprise capability roadmaps across technical, commercial, and emerging domains, including machine learning and advanced engineering.
  • Partner with Finance on long-range capacity modeling, productivity assumptions, and build vs. buy vs. mobility trade-offs.
  • Influence executive-level decisions on organizational design, sequencing, and global expansion.
  • Own global talent acquisition strategy and execution across EMEA, UK, US, and APAC.
  • Integrate internal mobility as a core lever of talent supply and career growth across the company.
  • Establish enterprise-wide standards for assessment, calibration, and talent quality to ensure consistent, data-driven hiring outcomes.
  • Co-lead global site strategy and new market entry, evaluating labor markets based on skill density, cost structure, and strategic fit.
  • Elevate Smartly’s ability to attract and compete for ML and advanced engineering talent, building durable pipelines in specialized markets.
  • Lead and develop a distributed global Talent organization, building senior leaders who operate with autonomy and accountability.

What We Are Looking For

  • Strong experience leading global talent functions at scale, including executive-level ownership of Talent Acquisition and workforce strategy.
  • Experience in a high-growth technology environment (e.g., late-stage or Series D+ company).
  • Proven track record building and leading global TA organizations across multiple regions.
  • Deep expertise recruiting both advanced technical talent (ML, engineering) and commercial roles.
  • Experience shaping workforce strategy during rapid scale and international expansion.
  • Strong financial fluency and comfort influencing enterprise-level trade-offs and investment decisions.
  • Systems-oriented thinking — you design infrastructure and decision frameworks, not just processes.
  • High judgment, low ego leadership style with the ability to operate effectively at executive level.

Why You’ll Love Working Here

  • Inclusive Culture: Join a team of over 750 Smartlies representing more than 60 nationalities across 24 locations in 13 countries, we foster a culture built on trust, transparency, and open feedback.
  • Global Impact: Be part of a company making a global impact, directly influencing our customers and business growth.
  • Wellbeing Focus: Enjoy generous healthcare packages, mental health services, and a healthy work-life balance with paid holidays and family leave.
  • Total Rewards: Benefit from equity options, performance-based rewards, competitive compensation, and ample career development opportunities.
  • Hybrid Workplace: We work in a hybrid model, balancing office and remote work, with the option to work abroad for up to 30 days.

About Smartly

Smartly is the AI-powered advertising technology company transforming ad experiences for brands and their consumers. Our comprehensive advertising platform seamlessly integrates the capabilities of media, creative, and intelligence to power more than 800 billion impressions and generate more than 300 billion creatives annually, delivering tangible business outcomes for brands and advertisers. Smartly is the only company in the industry recognized as a Leader in The Forrester Wave: Creative Advertising Technologies with PwC validating the results it delivers for brands. We manage creative and media for 700+ brands worldwide and $6B in ad spend across the largest media platforms, including Facebook, Google, Instagram, Pinterest, Snap, and TikTok. Our end-to-end technology, unmatched access to media platforms and exceptional customer service help Fortune 500 brands to reach and engage consumers and learn what performs best. Smartly is a multinational and diverse team of 750+ Smartlies from 60+ nationalities, working in 13 countries. Together, we want to create and maintain an inclusive environment where everyone feels respected and heard. Our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion approach is at the heart of it.

VP, Global Talent & Workforce Strategy employer: Smartly.io

Smartly is an exceptional employer that champions an inclusive culture, fostering a diverse team of over 750 professionals from more than 60 nationalities across 24 locations. With a strong focus on employee wellbeing, generous healthcare packages, and ample career development opportunities, Smartly empowers its workforce to thrive in a hybrid workplace that balances office and remote work. Join us to make a global impact while enjoying competitive compensation and the chance to shape the future of talent strategy in a high-growth technology environment.
Smartly.io

Contact Detail:

Smartly.io Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land VP, Global Talent & Workforce Strategy

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to connections in the industry, attend events, and engage on platforms like LinkedIn. The more people know you’re on the hunt, the better your chances of landing that VP role.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for those interviews by researching Smartly’s culture and values. Tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with their mission. We want to see that you’re not just a fit on paper but also a cultural match!

✨Tip Number 3

Showcase your strategic thinking! Be ready to discuss how you would shape workforce strategies and tackle challenges in a high-growth environment. We love candidates who can think ahead and bring innovative ideas to the table.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining the Smartly team.

We think you need these skills to ace VP, Global Talent & Workforce Strategy

Global Talent Strategy
Workforce Planning
Organisational Design
Talent Acquisition
Capacity Modelling
Data-Driven Hiring
Executive-Level Decision Making
Financial Fluency
Systems-Oriented Thinking
Leadership Development
Market Evaluation
Technical Recruitment
High-Growth Technology Experience
Cross-Regional Collaboration
Adaptability in Rapid Scale

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to reflect the specific skills and experiences that align with the VP, Global Talent & Workforce Strategy role. Highlight your leadership experience in global talent functions and how you've driven workforce strategy in high-growth environments.

Showcase Your Strategic Thinking: In your application, emphasise your ability to design systems and frameworks that support talent acquisition and organisational growth. Use examples from your past roles where you influenced executive decisions or shaped workforce strategies during rapid scaling.

Highlight Financial Fluency: Since this role involves influencing enterprise-level trade-offs, make sure to demonstrate your financial fluency. Share instances where you've partnered with finance teams on capacity modelling or investment decisions to showcase your strategic impact.

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application through our website for a smoother process. This way, we can ensure your application gets the attention it deserves and you can easily track its progress!

How to prepare for a job interview at Smartly.io

✨Know Your Stuff

Before the interview, dive deep into Smartly's mission and values. Understand their global talent strategy and how it aligns with their business goals. This will help you articulate how your experience can contribute to their vision.

✨Showcase Your Leadership Style

Be ready to discuss your leadership approach, especially in high-growth environments. Share specific examples of how you've influenced executive decisions and shaped workforce strategies in previous roles. This will demonstrate your fit for a strategic leadership position.

✨Prepare for Scenario Questions

Expect questions that assess your systems-oriented thinking and decision-making frameworks. Prepare scenarios where you've successfully navigated complex trade-offs in talent acquisition or organisational design, showcasing your analytical skills.

✨Engage with the Team

Since this role involves collaboration with various executives, be prepared to ask insightful questions about their current challenges and future plans. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you gauge how you can add value to the team.

VP, Global Talent & Workforce Strategy
Smartly.io
Go Premium

Land your dream job quicker with Premium

You’re marked as a top applicant with our partner companies
Individual CV and cover letter feedback including tailoring to specific job roles
Be among the first applications for new jobs with our AI application
1:1 support and career advice from our career coaches
Go Premium

Money-back if you don't land a job in 6-months

>