Talent Acquisition Lead

Job Title: Associate Manager – Talent AcquisitionJob OverviewThe Associate Manager – Talent Acquisition will lead the end-to-end recruitment lifecycle, drive hiring strategies, and manage a team of recruiters to meet organizational talent needs. This role requires a strategic mindset, strong leadership capabilities, and a passion for building high-performing teams within the education sector. The ideal candidate will develop and execute talent acquisition initiatives aligned with business goals, ensure a seamless recruitment experience, and strengthen the organization's employer brand.Key Responsibilities1. Recruitment Strategy & Planning- Develop and implement recruitment strategies to attract high-quality candidates across academic, technical, and business roles.- Collaborate with senior management to forecast hiring needs aligned with organizational expansion and academic calendars.- Analyze talent market trends and competitor hiring practices to optimize recruitment approaches.- Design and execute innovative sourcing methods (campus hiring, social media recruitment, digital campaigns).2. Team Management- Lead, mentor, and motivate a team of recruiters and talent acquisition specialists.- Allocate workloads to ensure timely and efficient hiring across functions.- Conduct performance reviews, provide training, and improve recruiter productivity through process optimization.- Foster a collaborative, target-driven team culture.3. Recruitment Operations- Oversee the full recruitment cycle—from requisition to on boarding—across all levels of roles.- Ensure adherence to defined SLAs (Turnaround Time, Quality of Hire, Offer-to-Join Ratio).- Implement structured interviews and competency-based assessment frameworks.- Maintain a strong talent pipeline for recurring and critical positions.4. Stakeholder Collaboration- Partner with department heads and academic leadership to define role requirements and candidate profiles.- Provide data-driven insights and regular hiring reports to senior management.- Collaborate with HR Business Partners to ensure smooth onboarding and cultural alignment.5. Employer Branding & Campus Engagement- Lead employer branding initiatives through social media, job fairs, and campus recruitment activities.- Build relationships with colleges, universities, and training institutions for talent outreach.- Represent the organization at educational and career events to enhance brand visibility.6. Data Management & Analytics- Track and report recruitment metrics (time-to-fill, cost-per-hire, source effectiveness).- Utilize ATS and HRMS tools to streamline recruitment workflows.- Maintain accurate candidate databases and ensure adherence to data privacy norms.Qualifications & SkillsEducation- Master's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.Experience- 5–8 years of progressive talent acquisition experience.- Minimum 2–3 years of experience in a team-leading role, preferably within the education or EdTech sector.- Proven experience managing large-scale recruitment drives and building recruitment strategies.- Strong knowledge of academic and business hiring trends in the education industry.Technical Skills- Proficiency in Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and HRMS tools.- Strong recruitment analytics and reporting capabilities.Soft Skills- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.- Strong stakeholder management abilities.- Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with tight deadlines.Language Proficiency- Mandatory: English and Malayalam (spoken and written)- Preferred: Tamil and HindiKey Competencies- Strategic Thinking & Planning- Leadership & Team Management- Result Orientation- Analytical & Decision-Making Skills- Relationship Management- Process Orientation- Adaptability & Continuous ImprovementInterested candidates can email their CV to jijin@xylemlearning.comwith "TA Leadership" as the subject.