Head - Strategic Talent Acquisition - Retail

Job Title: Head - Strategic Talent Acquisition

Location: Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu

Industry: Retail

Reports to: Head - Human Resources

Experience Required: 12-18 years (with at least 5 years in a leadership talent acquisition role)

Employment Type: Full-time

About the Company

Our client is a leading name in the retail industry with a strong presence across South India. With ambitious plans for expansion and digital transformation, they are looking to hire a seasoned Head of Strategic Talent Acquisition to lead end-to-end hiring and workforce planning initiatives across stores, corporate functions and supply chain.

Role Overview

As the Head of Strategic Talent Acquisition, you will be responsible for building and executing a comprehensive talent acquisition strategy aligned with the business's growth plans. This role requires a deep understanding of the retail talent landscape, strong leadership abilities and the capability to drive high-volume and niche hiring across geographies.

Key Responsibilities

Talent Strategy & Planning

- Design and implement scalable TA strategies for mid-level and leadership hiring.

- Forecast workforce needs in collaboration with business heads and HRBPs.

- Build a robust talent pipeline aligned with expansion and seasonal workforce requirements.

Leadership Hiring & Employer Branding

- Lead CXO and leadership hiring initiatives.

- Position the company as an employer of choice through digital and campus engagement strategies.

- Drive DEI-focused recruitment initiatives.

Operational Excellence

- Set KPIs/SLAs for hiring (TAT, quality of hire, cost-per-hire etc.).

- Standardize TA processes and implement best practices.

- Drive adoption of ATS and other recruitment tech tools.

Vendor & Partner Management

- Manage external recruitment partners, RPO vendors and staffing agencies.

- Evaluate performance and negotiate contracts for efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

Team Leadership

- Build, coach and lead a team of recruiters across regions.

- Set performance goals and promote a high-performance culture.

Required Skills & Experience

- 12-18 years of progressive experience in talent acquisition, preferably in retail, telecom, FMCG or consumer sectors.

- Proven experience in managing high-volume and leadership hiring.

- Strong understanding of talent markets.

- Hands-on with modern ATS platforms and hiring analytics.

- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.

- Strategic mindset with an execution-driven approach.

Preferred Qualifications

- MBA/PGDM in HR or related field.

- Experience in scaling teams across new geographies.

- Exposure to employer branding and campus programs.