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- Tasks: Lead talent acquisition and build a high-performance culture in a scaling tech company.
- Company: Dynamic data technology business transforming customer insights with innovative solutions.
- Benefits: Hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Shape the future of a growing company and make a real impact on its success.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in scaling businesses and hiring top talent across various functions.
- Other info: Join a collaborative team and help drive sustainable growth in an exciting industry.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
We are a growing data technology business in the Customer Data Platform (CDP), analytics & data activation space. We have 55+ staff and partner with leading UK and international brands to transform how they understand and monetise their data. Our proprietary CDP platform, Horizon, enables clients to gain deep customer insight and activate data to drive measurable commercial outcomes. XCM delivers a full solution across data, technology, people and partnership, offering a high-touch, “white glove” service that differentiates us in the market. Following recent investment, we are entering a critical phase of growth and scaling the business significantly across product, platform, delivery and commercial functions.
This is a critical leadership hire for XCM and will play a central role in determining how successfully we scale. The primary purpose of this role is to build the organisation required to support XCM’s next phase of growth ensuring we attract, hire and develop high-quality talent whilst also developing a high-performance, accountable culture. This role is fundamental to embedding and scaling XCM’s three strategic pillars across the organisation:
- World-Class Technology through high-quality technical hiring
- Deep Expertise through building exceptional talent and capability
- Exceptional Relationships through hiring and developing the right behaviours and culture
Core Focus
- Build and deliver a high-quality hiring engine across all functions
- Translate growth plans into a clear, prioritised hiring roadmap
- Define and enforce a high talent bar aligned to XCM’s strategic pillars
- Support leadership in designing a scalable organisational structure
- Establish clear performance expectations and accountability
- Partner with internal HR manager & recruiter to deliver hiring at pace and quality
Key Responsibilities
- Hiring & Talent (Primary Focus)
- Build and execute the hiring plan across product, platform, sales and delivery
- Ensure hiring supports the three strategic pillars
- Introduce structure, consistency and pace into hiring processes
- Ensure high-quality hiring decisions
- Challenge hiring decisions where standards are not met
- Partner with CEO and CTO on team structure and role definitions
- Ensure organisation design supports delivery against the pillars
- Support hiring and development of leadership roles
- Identify gaps and inefficiencies
- Define what “great” looks like at XCM for the staff base
- Align performance expectations to strategic pillars
- Support managers in setting expectations
- Introduce simple performance frameworks
- Build onboarding processes for fast productivity
- Ensure new hires understand strategic pillars
- Support ongoing development
- Embed a high-performance, collaborative culture aligned to the pillars
- Ensure culture scales effectively
Essential Experience (Non-Negotiable)
- Experience scaling a business (50 → 120+ employees)
- Proven hiring across engineering, commercial and delivery
- Experience in client-facing, supplier-led tech/services business
- Experience with ARR-based business models
- Experience working with founders and leadership
Strongly Desired
- Experience in CDP, data, martech or SaaS
- Experience with tech + services models
- Experience building recruitment functions
- Experience in client delivery environments
- Experience scaling multi-location teams
What Success Looks Like (First 6–18 Months)
- Scales from circa 60 to 85+ employees with high-quality hires
- Structured, predictable hiring process
- Strong pipelines across roles
- Fast productivity of new hires
- Clear organisation structure
- Strengthened leadership team
- Reduced founder dependency
Why This Role Matters at XCM
- Critical to scaling following investment
- Hiring quality directly impacts success
- Supports delivery of all three strategic pillars
- Enables sustainable, structured growth
This is an opportunity to build a high-performing organisation from the ground up in a scaling, investor-backed technology business.
Head of Talent/Talent Director in Leeds employer: XCM
Contact Detail:
XCM Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Talent/Talent Director in Leeds
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy to reach out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can refer you directly.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! Create a portfolio or a personal website that highlights your achievements and projects. This is especially important for roles like Head of Talent where showcasing your past successes can really set you apart from the competition.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews like it’s game day! Research the company thoroughly, understand their culture, and be ready to discuss how you can contribute to their growth. Tailor your answers to reflect their strategic pillars and show them you’re the perfect fit.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got some fantastic opportunities waiting for you, and applying directly can sometimes give you an edge. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of our team!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Talent/Talent Director in Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the role shine through! We want to see how excited you are about building a high-performing organisation and scaling talent at XCM.
Tailor Your Experience: Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in scaling businesses and hiring top talent. We’re looking for someone who can translate growth plans into action, so connect your past achievements to our needs!
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. We appreciate clarity, especially when it comes to your vision for building a hiring engine and developing a high-performance culture at XCM.
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 XCM
✨Know the Company Inside Out
Before your interview, dive deep into XCM's mission, values, and recent achievements. Understanding their Customer Data Platform and how they differentiate themselves in the market will show your genuine interest and help you align your answers with their goals.
✨Showcase Your Scaling Experience
Be ready to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully scaled a business in the past. Highlight your experience in building hiring processes and organisational structures that support growth, as this is crucial for the Head of Talent role.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
Expect questions about how you’ve built high-performance cultures and managed teams. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses, focusing on how your leadership has driven accountability and performance.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions that demonstrate your understanding of the role and the company’s strategic pillars. Inquire about their current challenges in talent acquisition or how they envision the culture evolving as they scale, showing that you're already thinking about how to contribute.