At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead talent acquisition and build a recruiting function from scratch in a fast-paced AI company.
- Company: Rapidly growing AI company in London with a dynamic culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hands-on experience, and the chance to shape a world-class team.
- Other info: Join a collaborative environment with significant growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by defining hiring strategies and attracting top talent.
- Qualifications: Experience in high-growth tech hiring, especially in AI and engineering roles.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Sxaler has been appointed by a rapidly growing AI company in London to find their Founding Talent Lead. This is a high-impact role for someone who can build the recruiting function from the ground up while staying close to the work: sourcing, assessing, closing, and partnering directly with founders on the hires that will shape the company.
Fresh off a significant raise, the company is building an exceptional team with high-talent density. You'll help them define what great looks like, earn the trust of technical and commercial leaders, and can translate ambitious hiring goals into a repeatable talent machine.
The Role
As Founding Talent Lead, you will own talent acquisition across the business, partnering closely with the founding team and senior leaders to define hiring priorities, raise the bar, and deliver exceptional candidates. You will build the systems, processes, and hiring rhythm needed for scale, while remaining hands-on across sourcing, candidate management, interviewing, and closing.
This is not a role for someone who wants to manage from a distance. You will spend meaningful time in the office, understand the culture from the inside, and help shape how the company attracts, assesses, and hires world-class people.
What You’ll Do
- Build and lead the company’s talent function from an early stage
- Partner directly with founders and hiring managers on role definition, search strategy, and assessment
- Own hands-on sourcing and candidate engagement for critical hires
- Design scalable recruiting processes, interview loops, scorecards, and reporting
- Hire across technical, product, commercial, and operational functions
- Create an exceptional candidate experience in a highly competitive market
- Develop a clear talent narrative that helps the company stand out to exceptional people
- Use data, market insight, and judgement to improve hiring quality and velocity
- Spend time in the office to understand the culture, pace, and talent bar first-hand
Your Background
- Experience hiring for high-growth technology companies, ideally at early or growth stage
- Strong track record across technical hiring, with exposure to AI, ML, infrastructure, engineering, or product roles
- Ability to operate strategically while staying highly hands-on
- Confidence partnering with founders and senior leaders
- Strong sourcing, assessment, stakeholder management, and closing skills
- Excellent judgement around talent quality, culture fit, and long-term potential
- Comfort working in ambiguous, fast-moving environments
- A builder mindset: someone who can create process without adding unnecessary bureaucracy
- Willingness to work closely with the team in the London office
Founding Talent Lead - AI employer: Sxaler
Sxaler is an exceptional employer that empowers its team members to thrive in a dynamic and innovative environment, particularly within the cutting-edge realm of frontier AI. With a strong focus on employee growth, Sxaler offers unique opportunities for professional development while fostering a collaborative work culture that values curiosity, emotional intelligence, and high agency. Working alongside top-tier technology companies, you'll not only contribute to impactful hiring processes but also be part of a mission-driven team dedicated to excellence.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding Talent Lead - AI
✨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 Sxaler, 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 Sxaler!
✨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 Founding Talent Lead - AI
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 Sxaler 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 Founding Talent Lead - AI at Sxaler, 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 Sxaler
✨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 Sxaler 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!
