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 & PlanningDevelop 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 ManagementLead, 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 OperationsOversee 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 CollaborationPartner 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 EngagementLead 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 & AnalyticsTrack 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 & SkillsEducationMaster's degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.Experience5–8 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 SkillsProficiency in Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and HRMS tools.Strong recruitment analytics and reporting capabilities.Soft SkillsExcellent communication and interpersonal skills.Strong stakeholder management abilities.Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with tight deadlines.Language ProficiencyMandatory: English and Malayalam (spoken and written)Preferred: Tamil and HindiKey CompetenciesStrategic Thinking & PlanningLeadership & Team ManagementResult OrientationAnalytical & Decision-Making SkillsRelationship ManagementProcess OrientationAdaptability & Continuous Improvement Interested candidates can email their CV to jijin@xylemlearning.com with "TA Leadership" as the subject.