At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead executive search and talent management to shape Trustpilot's leadership for the future.
- Company: Join Trustpilot, a profitable FTSE-250 company on a mission to become the symbol of trust.
- Benefits: Flexible working, competitive pay, private medical insurance, and generous holiday allowance.
- Other info: Access to learning opportunities, wellness resources, and a vibrant office culture.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by developing top-tier leaders in a dynamic, inclusive environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in executive search and leadership assessment with strong strategic partnership skills.
The predicted salary is between 118800 - 145200 £ per year.
At Trustpilot, we're on an incredible journey. We're a profitable, high-growth FTSE-250 company with a big vision: to become the universal symbol of trust. We run the world's largest open customer review platform, and while we've come a long way, there's still so much exciting work to do. Come join us at the heart of trust!
Our growth depends entirely on the strength and vision of the leaders guiding us. We are looking for a strategic, high-impact talent leader to shape, build, and sustain our executive capability for the future. In this role, you will own the end-to-end lifecycle of our top leadership talent - balancing external talent acquisition with internal executive development to ensure our leadership teams are equipped to guide us through our next phase of scale.
You’ll make sure the people sitting on our Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and Executive Leadership Team (ELT) are the right people for those roles - whether that means growing them ourselves or bringing them in from outside. Reporting to the Senior Director of Talent, this role balances two critical priorities: leading our external executive search strategy and driving internal executive succession and development.
On the search side, you’ll set the strategy for how we position Trustpilot to attract senior leaders while empowering your direct report, the TA Manager for Executive Hiring, to run seamless search executions. On the talent management side, you’ll partner closely with Business Partners to assess senior capability, build tailored successions plans, and ensure our highest-potential leaders are stretched, supported, and ready to step up.
What you'll be doing
- Set the global executive search strategy: Define how we headhunt, target, and position Trustpilot to attract top-tier talent capable of stepping into SLT and ELT roles.
- Guide and empower executive search execution: Direct and develop the TA Manager (Executive Hiring) who manages live search delivery - giving them the autonomy to excel while keeping the bar exceptionally high.
- Drive senior leadership capability and development: Partner with People Business Partners to view our senior leadership cohort holistically, identifying what each leader needs to perform at their best - whether that’s targeted development, stretch assignments, or repositioning.
- Lead Big Talent, Big Patch: Drive our annual process for identifying critical senior roles and ensuring high-performing, high-potential leaders are positioned for maximum impact.
- Own the Global Talent Review (GTR) for executive tiers: Oversee performance and potential assessments across SLT and the tier directly below it, creating clear visibility on succession pipelines for SLT and ELT positions.
- Conduct targeted leadership assessments: Determine when formal leadership assessments are needed for incoming or internal talent, using insights to build tailored L&D plans to go beyond standard L&D frameworks.
- Build succession plans for key roles: Identify future successors across our executive ranks and design targeted development pathways to close critical capability gaps before vacancies arise.
- Inform executive stakeholders and the Board: Partner with the Senior Director of Talent to deliver clear, data-backed updates on leadership capability, talent pipelines, and succession to the People Leadership Team (PLT), Executive Leadership Team (ELT), and Board.
- Manage executive talent budgets: Oversee and optimise spend across executive search, leadership development programs, and external assessment tools.
Who you are
- An executive search strategist: You know how to position executive roles and headhunt top-tier talent. You don't need to execute every search yourself, but you have an expert eye for what exceptional talent looks like.
- A skilled assessor of leadership potential: You have a proven track record of building succession plans and conducting leadership assessments. You instinctively know whether a leader needs a stretch assignment, targeted coaching, or simply more runway to develop and grow.
- A trusted strategic partner: You can sit down with senior leaders and have honest, actionable conversations about their development and team's future - completely free of HR jargon or framework-speak.
- A pragmatic decision maker: When assessing talent readiness or future capability, you articulate your reasoning in plain, business-focused terms - not theoretical frameworks.
- An empowering people manager: You guide, develop and support your direct reports without micromanaging, give them room to own execution while you drive the overarching strategy.
What’s in it for you
- A range of flexible working options to dedicate time to what matters to you.
- Competitive compensation package + bonus.
- Restricted Stock Units.
- Private Medical Insurance.
- Critical Illness Cover.
- 25 days holiday per year, increasing to 28 days after 2 years of employment.
- Two (paid) volunteering days a year to spend your time giving back to the causes that matter to you and your community.
- Rich learning and development opportunities are supported through the Trustpilot Academy and Blinkist.
- Pension and life insurance.
- Health cash plan, online GP, 24/7, Employee Assistance Plan.
- Full access to Headspace, a popular mindfulness app to promote positive mental health.
- Paid parental leave.
- Season ticket loan and a cycle-to-work scheme.
- Central office location complete with table tennis, a gaming corner, coffee bars and all the snacks and refreshments you can ask for.
- Regular opportunities to connect and get to know your fellow Trusties, including company-wide celebrations and events, ERG activities, and team socials.
- Access to over 4,000 deals and discounts on things like travel, electronics, fashion, fitness, cinema discounts, and more.
- Independent financial advice and free standard professional mortgage broker advice.
- Talent acceleration programs: Fast-track your career with our tailored development programs designed to support growth at whatever stage of your career.
- Tailored leadership development program consisting of workshops, coaching opportunities, and structured feedback mechanisms to enable world-class leadership.
Still not sure? We want to be a part of creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive world of work for all. We’re excited to hear about your experiences as well as how you will contribute to our working culture. So, even if you don’t feel you don't meet all the requirements, we'd still really like to hear from you!
Director of Executive Search & Talent Management in London employer: Trustpilot
At Trustpilot, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters growth and development. With a clear progression path from the Procurement and Accounts Payable Administrator role into specialist positions, employees benefit from comprehensive training, flexible working options, and a competitive compensation package. Our central office location is designed for collaboration and well-being, featuring amenities like gaming corners and regular social events, making it an ideal place to build a meaningful career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of Executive Search & Talent Management in London
✨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 Trustpilot, 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 Trustpilot!
✨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 Director of Executive Search & Talent Management in London
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 Trustpilot 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 Director of Executive Search & Talent Management at Trustpilot, 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 Trustpilot
✨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 Trustpilot 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!
