Founding Talent Lead @ Leading AI Companies in London

Founding Talent Lead @ Leading AI Companies in London

London Full-Time 80000 - 100000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Sxaler

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead talent acquisition for innovative AI companies, building a strong recruiting foundation.
  • Company: Join a dynamic team at the forefront of AI innovation in London.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, hands-on experience, and the chance to shape company culture.
  • Other info: Fast-paced environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by connecting top talent with groundbreaking AI projects.
  • Qualifications: Experience in recruitment and a passion for technology and culture.

The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.

Sxaler works with leading AI companies in London building at the edge of what comes next. Series A teams with serious technical ambition, founder-led intensity and hiring needs that cannot be solved by process alone. These companies are asking us to find them their Head of Talent and Founding Talent operators who can build the recruiting machine whilst still doing the work. People who can sit with founders, understand the bar, shape the story, find the signal and turn ambition into hires.

This is for talent leaders who know what great looks like, but are not too far from the ground to send the message, run the process, close the candidate and fix the thing that broke.

You will support AI companies scaling from early team to enduring institution. You will spend time in the office, understanding the culture from the inside, learning how decisions are made, what quality feels like, and where the company needs structure without losing its edge.

You will build hiring foundations, but you will also be hands-on across sourcing, assessment, stakeholder management, candidate experience and closing. You will spar with founders, challenge assumptions, translate urgency into systems and create a recruiting rhythm the company can trust.

  • Build Recruiting Machine: Processes, scorecards, workflows, hiring rhythms, interview loops, reporting. Build the infrastructure that lets great hiring compound.
  • Stay Hands-On: Source, message, assess, close. No task too small when the hire matters. You are close enough to the work to know what is actually happening.
  • Spar with Founders: Push with judgement. Challenge with context. Earn trust through clarity, pace and correct calls.
  • Read Culture: Spend time in the room. Understand the company beneath the pitch deck. Translate culture into hiring signal without flattening what makes it special.
  • Know What Great Looks Like: Recognise world-class talent across technical and commercial teams. Separate polish from substance, velocity from noise, and ambition from ability.
  • Operate in Ambiguity: Series A reality. High context, limited structure, shifting priorities. Bring order where needed without slowing the company down.

Recalls: building talent functions where the process did not exist yet, and the bar was still being defined. Partnering directly with founders and leadership teams in moments where each hire changed the trajectory of the company. Knowing when to architect the system, when to unblock the search, and when to personally step into the mess.

Patterns: Treats hiring as company-building, not admin. Moves between strategy and execution without ego. Gets close to the culture before prescribing the process. Communicates with founders in direct language, supported by evidence, instinct and market fluency. Understands that the best talent teams are both machine and human judgement.

Founding Talent Lead @ Leading AI Companies in London employer: Sxaler

At Sxaler, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer for those passionate about shaping the future of AI in London. Our dynamic work culture fosters collaboration and innovation, providing ample opportunities for personal and professional growth as you partner with ambitious founders to build robust talent functions. With a hands-on approach and a commitment to understanding the unique company cultures we support, you'll find a rewarding environment where your contributions directly impact the trajectory of pioneering teams.

Sxaler

Contact Details:

Sxaler Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Founding Talent Lead @ Leading AI Companies in London

Tip Number 1

Get to know the company culture inside out. Spend time in the office, chat with team members, and really understand what makes them tick. This will help you tailor your approach and show that you’re genuinely interested in their unique vibe.

Tip Number 2

Don’t just sit back and wait for opportunities to come to you. Be proactive! Reach out to founders and hiring managers directly through our website. Show them you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and get involved in building their recruiting machine.

Tip Number 3

When you’re in those interviews or chats, focus on showcasing your hands-on experience. Talk about how you’ve sourced, assessed, and closed candidates in the past. They want to see that you can get into the nitty-gritty while still keeping an eye on the bigger picture.

Tip Number 4

Be ready to challenge assumptions and bring fresh ideas to the table. Founders appreciate someone who can push back with context and clarity. Show them you can be a trusted partner in shaping their talent strategy while keeping pace with their ambitious goals.

We think you need these skills to ace Founding Talent Lead @ Leading AI Companies in London

Recruitment Strategy
Stakeholder Management
Candidate Experience
Sourcing
Assessment
Closing Skills
Cultural Understanding

Some tips for your application 🫡

Be Authentic:When you're writing your application, let your personality shine through! We want to see the real you, so don’t be afraid to share your story and what drives you in the talent space.

Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application for this role. Highlight your experience with building recruiting processes and working closely with founders. Show us how you can bring value to our team!

Show Your Hands-On Experience:We love candidates who are not just about strategy but also roll up their sleeves. Share specific examples of when you've sourced, assessed, or closed candidates successfully. We want to know you can get into the nitty-gritty!

Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves.

How to prepare for a job interview at Sxaler

Know the Company Inside Out

Before your interview, dive deep into the company’s culture and values. Understand their mission and how they operate. This will help you connect with the founders and demonstrate that you’re not just another candidate, but someone who truly gets what they’re about.

Showcase Your Hands-On Experience

Be ready to discuss specific examples of when you’ve built recruiting processes from scratch or improved existing ones. Highlight your ability to stay hands-on while also strategising. This role demands a balance between high-level thinking and ground-level execution, so make sure to illustrate your experience in both areas.

Prepare to Spar with Founders

Expect to engage in meaningful discussions with the founders. They’ll want to see if you can challenge assumptions and provide insights. Prepare thoughtful questions and be ready to share your perspective on what great talent looks like, as well as how to attract it.

Embrace Ambiguity

In a Series A environment, things can change rapidly. Be prepared to discuss how you’ve navigated ambiguity in the past. Share examples of how you’ve brought order to chaos without stifling innovation. This will show that you can thrive in a dynamic setting and adapt to shifting priorities.