Head of Recruitment

Job role : Head - Talent AcquisitionLocation : Mumbai HOExperience : 10+ yearsRole overview:As a “Talent acquisition head” at The Hosteller, you shall be leading the entire team of acquisition specialists hiring for India’s largest backpacker hostel brand. This role requires a strategic thinker who can build a super-efficient team and processes having a sound understanding/experience in the hospitality sector, specially in domains like manpower agencies/campus hiring/facility management services/etc. supporting the face paced human resource requirement of the company. The role shall also require experience in P&L management, attrition controls, pan-India knowledge including regional/national expertise, labour laws, manpower forecasting, etc. in order to attract and retain the best talent in the hospitality sector.Key responsibilitiesDesign and execute The Hosteller’s pan-India full scale talent acquisition strategy in line with growth plans (new property openings, functional scale-ups, and seasonal hiring cycles)Partner with leadership to anticipate talent needs, skill gaps, and organizational design changes aligned with business goalsBuild, mentor, and lead a high-performing talent acquisition team including regional leads, recruiters, and manpower partnersEstablish KPIs, hiring metrics and dashboards for TAT (time-to-fill), cost-per-hire, attrition forecasting, conversion efficiency, etc.Develop a centralized manpower forecasting model (property, F&B, housekeeping, community, ops, and support roles) and lead recruitment across functionsBuild partnerships with campuses, training institutes, and skill development centres (e.g., IHMs, hotel management schools, NSDC-affiliated institutions)Activate mass recruitment drives through job portals, agencies, job fairs, and regional collaborationsActivate and manage manpower supply partners, recruitment agencies and facility management vendors across North, South, East, and West zonesNegotiate and optimize contracts to balance cost efficiency and hiring qualityOversee P&L management of the recruitment vertical including budgets, agency commissions, onboarding costs, and productivity ratiosStandardize SOPs for job postings, screening, interviews, offers, and onboarding across all levelsImplement scalable ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) and digital hiring tools for better transparency and reporting, including the ones developed by The HostellerAnalyze attrition data, identify root causes, and co-create retention strategies with HR Business PartnersEnsure adherence to state and central labour laws, minimum wages, PF, ESI, contract staffing regulations, and HR auditsLiaise with compliance and finance teams for vendor documentation, agreements, and renewals and develop frameworks to prevent non-compliance issues in multi-state hiring and staffingQualificationsMBA/PGDM in HR or related field (Tier 1/Tier 2 institutes preferred)10+ years of proven experience in hospitality/facility management/retail/QSR/ manpower supply/multi-location operationsStrong pan-India recruitment exposure with understanding of regional hiring dynamics and language diversityExperience managing large-scale blue & grey collar hiring pipelinesDemonstrated success in P&L ownership, attrition control, and manpower forecastingKnowledge of hospitality org structures, shift dynamics, and service standardsFamiliarity with ATS tools, HR analytics, and recruitment automation systemsExcellent negotiation, stakeholder management, and team leadership skillsUp-to-date understanding of labour legislation and contract workforce regulations across statesExcellent communication, analytical, and stakeholder management skillsCertification in labour laws, HR analytics, or talent management is a plusStrategic thinker with an execution-first mindset