Head of Talent Acquisition

About WednesdayWednesday is a software engineering partner to ambitious companies. We specialize in Data Engineering, Applied AI, and Product Engineering, helping fast-growing businesses solve complex product engineering problems.We're looking for a Head of Talent Acquisition to build, lead, and scale our recruiting function. You'll manage our team of Senior Technical Recruiters, drive hiring strategy, and ensure we consistently attract exceptional engineering talent to fuel our growth.Key ResponsibilitiesTeam Leadership & PerformanceLead, coach, and develop a high-performing team of Senior Technical RecruitersConduct regular 1-on-1s, performance reviews, and create individualized development plansBuild a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous improvementMake difficult decisions when performance or cultural fit issues ariseScale the team strategically as hiring demands growStrategic Planning & ExecutionOwn the hiring roadmap in partnership with leadership, translating business goals into talent acquisition plansBuild capacity models to ensure the team can meet aggressive hiring targetsDevelop and maintain recruiting playbooks, best practices, and SOPsStay ahead of talent market trends and competitive intelligenceMetrics, Analytics & AccountabilityDefine and track core recruiting KPIs: time-to-hire, quality of hire, source effectiveness, conversion rates, and recruiter productivityHold team accountable to weekly/monthly hiring goals and individual performance targetsUse data to identify bottlenecks, optimize processes, and forecast capacityPresent regular talent acquisition insights to leadershipImplement retrospectives to learn from wins and lossesEmployer Branding & Candidate ExperienceOwn Wednesday's employer brand strategy and recruitment marketingBuild and execute talent marketing content, social media presence, and community partnershipsEnsure exceptional candidate experience at every touchpoint and track satisfaction metricsCreate feedback loops from candidates throughout the funnelCompensation & Offer StrategyDesign compensation frameworks and benchmarking strategies for technical rolesOwn offer negotiation strategy and train team on compensation conversationsPartner with leadership on total rewards philosophy and market positioningProcess & Systems OptimizationOwn the recruiting tech stack (ATS, sourcing tools, assessment platforms, AI tools)Continuously refine processes to improve efficiency, quality of hire, and candidate experienceLead assessment strategy: oversee creation, monitor performance, and iterate based on dataEnsure compliance and maintain thorough documentationStakeholder PartnershipBuild strong relationships with hiring managers across the organizationGuide managers through role definition, calibration, and interview trainingProvide consultative guidance on market realities and hiring strategyRepresent talent acquisition at leadership meetings and strategic planningOperational ExcellenceManage recruiting budget, vendor relationships, and contract negotiationsOwn onboarding and enablement of hires and vendorsHandle entire HR team operations & admin activitiesCreate career pathways for the recruiting teamPlayer-Coach Contribution (initially)Personally handle select high-priority searches to stay close to the workModel best-in-class recruiting behaviors and AI-driven workflowsWhat We're Looking For10+ years in technical recruiting with 3-5+ years managing recruiting teams in high-growth startups or consulting/services companiesDeep expertise in sourcing strategies, recruiting operations, and technical talent markets (Data Engineering, AI, Product Engineering)Proven track record building accountability structures and performance-managing teams with empathy and clarityData-driven leader who uses metrics to optimize performance and translate business strategy into talent plansHands-on experience leveraging AI and automation in recruiting workflowsExcellent stakeholder management and executive communication skillsSelf-starter who thrives in fast-paced environments and embraces experimentationPassionate about building exceptional teams and recruiting excellence