- We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Talent Acquisition leader for one of our clients, to join as DGM - Talent Acquisition for their Research & Development (R&D) function.

- This role is critical in driving hiring strategies and execution across key technology and innovation verticals.

- The ideal candidate will bring strong experience in managing niche and high-skill technical hiring in fast-paced environments and will be responsible for building high-performing teams that enable breakthrough innovation and organizational excellence.

Key Responsibilities:

End-to-End Talent Acquisition Management:

- Lead and manage the full-cycle recruitment process for R&D roles across multiple innovation, engineering and technology verticals.

Niche & High-Skill Technical Hiring:

- Design and implement robust strategies to attract top technical talent for specialized R&D domains while maintaining quality and time-to-fill metrics in a fast-paced, innovation-driven environment.

Stakeholder Management:

- Build strong relationships with senior business leaders, R&D heads and technical stakeholders to align hiring strategies with organizational goals. Act as a strategic advisor and talent partner.

Team Leadership:

- Lead, mentor and develop a high-performing Talent Acquisition team to ensure delivery excellence and a consistent candidate experience.

Market Intelligence & Competitor Analysis:

- Conduct ongoing market mapping, talent intelligence and competitor benchmarking to support proactive hiring and long-term workforce planning for niche skill sets.

Employer Branding & Candidate Experience:

- Drive initiatives to enhance the employer brand in the R&D talent market and ensure a superior candidate experience across all touchpoints.

TA Process Improvement:

- Continuously optimize and streamline recruitment processes, tools and sourcing strategies to enhance efficiency, quality of hire and scalability.

Reporting & Analytics:

- Provide regular updates, dashboards and insights to leadership on hiring metrics, market trends and talent pipelines to support data-driven decision-making.

Desired Candidate Profile

Experience:

- 8-15 years of relevant Talent Acquisition experience, preferably in Automotive, Engineering, Technology, FMCD or other industries with niche or specialized hiring demands. Experience in RPO, staffing or consulting environments is an advantage.

Domain Expertise:

- Strong understanding of recruitment for R&D roles, technical functions, and high-skill engineering talent.

Market Intelligence:

- Proven experience in competitor analysis, market mapping and building strategic talent pipelines.

Leadership:

- Demonstrated ability to lead and manage a geographically dispersed team across multiple technical functions.

Stakeholder Engagement:

- Strong influencing capability with experience in managing senior stakeholders and partnering closely with technical and business leaders.

Agility:

- Comfortable working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment with evolving priorities.

Tools & Tech:

- Familiarity with modern ATS platforms, digital sourcing channels and HR analytics tools.

Preferred Exposure:

- Prior experience managing leadership hiring or niche technical hiring will be highly desirable.

Key Competencies:

- Strategic Thinking & Business Acumen

- Stakeholder Management & Influencing Skills

- Problem Solving & Conflict Resolution

- Ability to Deal with Ambiguity

- Action & Result-Oriented Approach

- Strong Talent Research & Market Mapping Ability

- Process Excellence & Operational Rigor

- High Accountability & Ownership Mindset