Talent Acquisition Manager

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 Talent Acquisition Manager 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 & Performance- Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team of Senior Technical Recruiters- Conduct regular 1-on-1s, performance reviews, and create individualized development plans- Build a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement- Make difficult decisions when performance or cultural fit issues arise- Scale the team strategically as hiring demands growStrategic Planning & Execution- Own the hiring roadmap in partnership with leadership, translating business goals into talent acquisition plans- Build capacity models to ensure the team can meet aggressive hiring targets- Develop and maintain recruiting playbooks, best practices, and SOPs- Stay ahead of talent market trends and competitive intelligenceMetrics, Analytics & Accountability- Define and track core recruiting KPIs: time-to-hire, quality of hire, source effectiveness, conversion rates, and recruiter productivity- Hold team accountable to weekly/monthly hiring goals and individual performance targets- Use data to identify bottlenecks, optimize processes, and forecast capacity- Present regular talent acquisition insights to leadership- Implement retrospectives to learn from wins and lossesEmployer Branding & Candidate Experience- Own Wednesday's employer brand strategy and recruitment marketing- Build and execute talent marketing content, social media presence, and community partnerships- Ensure exceptional candidate experience at every touchpoint and track satisfaction metrics- Create feedback loops from candidates throughout the funnelCompensation & Offer Strategy- Design compensation frameworks and benchmarking strategies for technical roles- Own offer negotiation strategy and train team on compensation conversations- Partner with leadership on total rewards philosophy and market positioningProcess & Systems Optimization- Own the recruiting tech stack (ATS, sourcing tools, assessment platforms, AI tools)- Continuously refine processes to improve efficiency, quality of hire, and candidate experience- Lead assessment strategy: oversee creation, monitor performance, and iterate based on data- Ensure compliance and maintain thorough documentationStakeholder Partnership- Build strong relationships with hiring managers across the organization- Guide managers through role definition, calibration, and interview training- Provide consultative guidance on market realities and hiring strategy- Represent talent acquisition at leadership meetings and strategic planningOperational Excellence- Manage recruiting budget, vendor relationships, and contract negotiations- Own onboarding and enablement of hires and vendors- Handle entire HR team operations & admin activities- Create career pathways for the recruiting teamPlayer-Coach Contribution (initially)- Personally handle select high-priority searches to stay close to the work- Model best-in-class recruiting behaviors and AI-driven workflowsWhat We're Looking For- 10+ years in technical recruiting with 3-5+ years managing recruiting teams in high-growth startups or consulting/services companies- Deep 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 clarity- Data-driven leader who uses metrics to optimize performance and translate business strategy into talent plans- Hands-on experience leveraging AI and automation in recruiting workflows- Excellent stakeholder management and executive communication skills- Self-starter who thrives in fast-paced environments and embraces experimentation- Passionate about building exceptional teams and recruiting excellence