Role Overview:

We are building a next-generation creative design agency from the ground up. We need a 0-1 Talent Acquisition Partner to design our hiring architecture, establish candidate pipelines, and source top-tier creative, technical, and strategic talent.

Working directly with agency founders and leadership, you will build recruitment workflows from scratch and serve as the main talent engine driving our agency's growth.

Key Responsibilities:

- Build 0-1 Hiring Infrastructure: Set up end-to-end talent acquisition processes, select and configure ATS software, create interview scorecards, and standardize portfolio evaluation criteria.

- Targeted Creative Sourcing: Headhunt elite creative talent - including Brand Designers, Art/Creative Directors, Motion & 3D Artists, UI/UX Designers, Copywriters, and Studio Operations staff.

- Portfolio & Craft Evaluation: Go beyond resume screening. Assess portfolio visual quality, creative execution, design rationale, and studio/agency suitability.

- Leadership Alignment: Partner closely with agency founders and creative directors to define headcount goals, write role profiles, and calibrate the hiring bar.

- End-to-End Ownership: Manage the full candidate lifecycle from initial outreach and screening to offer extension, negotiation, and closing.

- Freelance & Roster Management: Build a pre-vetted network of freelance designers, strategists, and specialized contractors for dynamic project scaling.

- Employer Branding: Represent the agency's vision, culture, and value proposition across design communities, platforms, and industry events.

Qualifications & Requirements:

- Experience: 4-5 years of full-lifecycle recruiting experience, with at least 3 years spent sourcing creative/design roles within an agency, studio, or high-growth product setup.

- Portfolio Fluency: Demonstrated ability to evaluate creative portfolios on platforms like Behance, Dribbble, Readymag, and personal portfolio sites.

- 0-1 Adaptability: Proven track record of operating autonomously in unstructured, fast-moving environments without existing corporate recruitment blueprints.

- Sourcing Mastery: Deep familiarity with modern sourcing channels, direct headhunting techniques, and niche creative communities.

- Relationship & Closing Skills: High emotional intelligence, strong candidate-nurturing abilities, and proven experience negotiating competitive offers.

Preferred Qualifications:

- Pre-existing networks within the creative, branding, and digital design ecosystem.

- Experience managing both permanent and freelance/contract hiring workflows.

- Familiarity with design agency economics, billable rates, and studio operations.