Head of Talent Acquisition – 12 Month FTC

Working at Stella McCartney is a truly rewarding experience. As a luxury fashion company with a strong ethical standpoint we are leaders and innovators in our industry.
Overview
Reporting to the Chief People Officer, the Head of Talent Acquisition is responsible for leading and delivering the end-to-end recruitment activity for Stella McCartney, ensuring the business attracts and secures exceptional talent to support its continued growth and creative vision.
This is a highly hands-on, operational role, combining senior stakeholder management and talent acquisition expertise with direct responsibility for managing the full recruitment lifecycle. As a standalone contributor, the Head of Talent Acquisition will personally drive recruitment across a broad range of business functions, with a particular focus on Design, Creative Image, Marketing & Communications, Merchandising and other Head Office functions.
The role will work closely with People Partners and senior business leaders to anticipate talent needs, develop effective sourcing strategies and deliver against recruitment priorities. There may also be opportunities to support regional recruitment requirements across Italy, the US and Japan.
As a brand ambassador, the Head of Talent Acquisition will play a key role in representing Stella McCartney's values, culture and creative identity throughout the candidate journey, ensuring an exceptional experience for all candidates.
Your Mission
Talent Acquisition & Recruitment Delivery
Take full ownership of the end-to-end recruitment lifecycle, from briefing and sourcing through to offer management and onboarding.
Personally manage a varied and often complex recruitment portfolio, prioritising competing demands and responding quickly to changing business requirements.
Partner closely with hiring managers and People Partners to understand current and future talent needs, providing expert advice on recruitment strategy and market conditions.
Lead recruitment for specialist, creative and business-critical roles, with a particular focus on Design and Creative talent.
Proactively identify and engage high-calibre passive candidates through direct sourcing, networking and market research, reducing reliance on external agencies.
Develop comprehensive market maps and talent pipelines for creative and difficult-to-hire positions.
Ensure recruitment activity is delivered efficiently, with pace, quality and a consistently high standard of candidate experience.
Stakeholder Management & Business Partnership
Build strong, trusted relationships with hiring managers, People Partners and the executive leadership team, acting as a credible recruitment partner and advisor.
Proactively collaborate with People Partners regarding organisational changes and evolving talent requirements within their respective areas.
Challenge and advise hiring managers on role requirements, candidate profiles, market availability and appropriate recruitment approaches.
Provide regular updates on recruitment progress, market insights, challenges and recommendations, ensuring stakeholders remain informed throughout the process.
Balance the needs of the business with a pragmatic and solutions-focused approach, demonstrating the ability to adapt quickly to changing priorities.
Talent Attraction & Market Intelligence
Maintain a deep understanding of the luxury fashion industry, particularly the creative and design talent landscape.
Continuously network with industry professionals and develop relationships with relevant talent communities to strengthen Stella McCartney's talent pipelines.
Build and maintain relationships with relevant universities and educational institutions to support early careers talent attraction.
Partner with Marketing and Communications to develop and support employer branding initiatives that strengthen Stella McCartney's position as an employer of choice.
Stay informed of competitor activity, industry developments and emerging talent trends to provide meaningful market intelligence to the business.
Recruitment Excellence & Candidate Experience
Champion best practice throughout the recruitment process, ensuring a consistent, inclusive and professional approach to assessment and selection.
Deliver recruitment training and guidance to hiring managers, supporting them to make informed and effective hiring decisions.
Ensure a positive and engaging candidate experience at every stage of the recruitment journey, acting as a strong ambassador for the brand.
Continuously review and improve recruitment processes to drive efficiency, quality and consistency.
Ensure recruitment practices are fair, equitable and aligned with relevant local employment legislation.
Reporting, Data & External Partnerships
Track and analyse key recruitment metrics, including time-to-hire, cost-per-hire, quality of hire and candidate experience.
Use recruitment data and market insights to identify trends, highlight challenges and make recommendations for improvement.
Manage relationships with external recruitment agencies and service providers, continuously reviewing the preferred supplier list and ensuring appropriate use of external support.
Your Talent
Proven experience in a senior Talent Acquisition role, with a strong track record of personally delivering end-to-end recruitment across a broad range of functions.
Specialist experience recruiting within luxury fashion, with particular expertise in Design and Creative recruitment.
A highly hands-on recruiter who enjoys being close to the detail and is confident managing a busy and varied recruitment workload independently.
Demonstrable experience partnering with senior stakeholders and advising hiring managers on recruitment strategy and talent decisions.
Strong direct sourcing, networking and market-mapping capabilities, with the ability to identify and engage exceptional passive talent.
Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage multiple vacancies and competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Proactive, adaptable and resilient, with the confi

Skills
Talent Acquisition, Sourcing, Onboarding