At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead talent acquisition and build recruiting processes from the ground up.
- Company: Join a rapidly growing AI company in London with a dynamic culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hands-on experience, and the chance to shape the team.
- Other info: Work closely with founders and senior leaders in a fast-paced environment.
- 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 80000 - 100000 £ 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.
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 @ Leading AI Companies employer: Sxaler
Sxaler is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to shape the talent acquisition function within a rapidly growing AI company in London. With a strong focus on collaboration and hands-on involvement, employees are empowered to build impactful processes while enjoying a vibrant work culture that values innovation and growth. The company not only invests in its people through professional development but also fosters an environment where every team member can contribute to defining what excellence looks like in hiring top-tier talent.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Founding Talent Lead @ Leading AI Companies
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company culture before you even step in for an interview. Spend some time researching their values and mission, and think about how your own experiences align with them. This will help you connect better with the founders and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their journey.
✨Tip Number 2
When you’re networking, don’t just focus on the job title; build relationships with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and engage with professionals on LinkedIn. We can leverage our connections to get insights into the company and potentially get a foot in the door.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for your interviews by practising common questions but also be ready to discuss specific scenarios from your past experiences. Think about how you’ve sourced, assessed, and closed candidates in previous roles. This hands-on approach will resonate well with the founders looking for someone who can hit the ground running.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interviews! A simple thank-you email can go a long way in showing your enthusiasm for the role. Use this opportunity to reiterate why you’re a great fit and how you can contribute to building their talent function. And remember, apply through our website for the best chance!
We think you need these skills to ace Founding Talent Lead @ Leading AI Companies
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Talent Acquisition:When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for building a talent function shine through. We want to see how much you care about sourcing and assessing candidates, and how you can help shape the company’s hiring strategy.
Be Hands-On in Your Approach:Make sure to highlight your hands-on experience in recruiting. We’re looking for someone who isn’t afraid to roll up their sleeves and get involved in every step of the hiring process, so share specific examples of how you've done this in the past.
Tailor Your Application to Us:Don’t just send a generic application! Take the time to tailor your CV and cover letter to our job description. We want to see how your skills and experiences align with what we’re looking for in a Founding Talent Lead.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates during the process. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sxaler
✨Know the Company Inside Out
Before your interview, dive deep into the company's mission, values, and recent achievements. Understanding their culture and what they stand for will help you connect with the founders and demonstrate that you're genuinely interested in being part of their journey.
✨Showcase Your Hands-On Experience
Since this role is all about being hands-on, prepare to share specific examples from your past where you've successfully sourced, assessed, and closed candidates. Highlight your experience in building recruiting functions and how you've partnered with leaders to define hiring priorities.
✨Prepare for Strategic Conversations
Expect to discuss not just how you hire, but also your vision for the talent function. Be ready to articulate your thoughts on scalable recruiting processes and how you would create an exceptional candidate experience in a competitive market.
✨Emphasise Your Builder Mindset
This role requires someone who can create processes without adding unnecessary bureaucracy. Share examples of how you've built systems or improved hiring practices in previous roles, and be prepared to discuss how you would approach this challenge in their fast-paced environment.
