Associate Director - Recruitment

Vickerstock; Belfast City District; Hybrid; GBP 110.000 - 140.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

Vickerstock seeks an Associate Director to lead a specialist recruitment division in Belfast, hybrid working. You will drive revenue performance, develop key client relationships and coach consultants to deliver high-value assignments, while aligning with the company’s strategic direction and growth objectives.

The role combines hands-on billings with leadership responsibilities, requiring senior-level influence, strategic thinking and ability to navigate complex client needs across engineering,

Qualifikationen

• Significant recruitment industry experience, preferably in specialist markets.
• Proven track record of generating revenue and profitable client relationships.
• Experience mentoring or developing recruitment consultants.
• Strong business development with senior decision-makers.
• Ability to manage pipelines, forecasts and performance objectives.

Aufgaben

• Lead divisional revenue, profitability and commercial performance.
• Develop opportunities for retained and high-value assignments.
• Build relationships with senior client leaders to expand presence.
• Coach and develop recruitment consultants to improve outcomes.
• Oversee recruitment delivery standards and compliance.

Kenntnisse

Significant recruitment experience

Revenue generation

Leadership & mentoring

Business development

Senior stakeholder management

Client relationship management

Commercial judgement

Tools

Bullhorn

Jobbeschreibung

Associate Director - Recruitment

Location: Belfast
Working Arrangement: Hybrid
Reports to: Managing Director
Level: Senior Leadership
Remuneration: Competitive basic salary, uncapped commission and performance-related bonus. Realistic annual earnings of £120,000+.

The Role

The Associate Director will take responsibility for the commercial performance, development and growth of a specialist recruitment division within Vickerstock.

This is a hands-on leadership position combining personal revenue generation, strategic business development, client relationship management and the development of recruitment consultants.

The successful individual will be expected to operate as a senior commercial leader, taking ownership of divisional performance while contributing to the wider growth and direction of Vickerstock.

Key Responsibilities

Commercial Performance & Revenue Generation

• Take ownership of divisional revenue, profitability and commercial performance.
• Establish and deliver annual and quarterly revenue objectives.
• Maintain personal billing activity, particularly across senior, specialist and strategically important appointments.
• Develop opportunities for retained, exclusive and higher-value recruitment assignments.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities within existing and emerging markets.
• Manage divisional forecasts, recruitment pipelines and commercial performance.
• Ensure recruitment activity is aligned with revenue objectives and client demand.
• Take accountability for the quality, consistency and profitability of recruitment delivery.

Business Development & Client Relationships

• Develop and maintain relationships with senior decision-makers, including Managing Directors, Operations Directors, HR Directors and functional leaders.
• Identify opportunities to expand Vickerstock's presence within existing client organisations.
• Build relationships with strategically important new clients.
• Position Vickerstock as a trusted recruitment partner rather than a transactional recruitment supplier.
• Lead commercial discussions, including recruitment strategies, service agreements and fee negotiations.
• Develop a strong understanding of clients' operational challenges, workforce requirements and long-term business objectives.
• Identify opportunities to introduce additional Vickerstock recruitment services across the wider business.

Leadership & People Development

• Lead, motivate and develop a team of recruitment consultants.
• Establish clear individual expectations around revenue, activity, client development and recruitment delivery.
• Conduct regular performance reviews, coaching sessions and development discussions.
• Support consultants in developing stronger commercial relationships and improving recruitment outcomes.
• Identify skills gaps and implement appropriate coaching and development plans.
• Take an active role in recruiting and developing additional consultants as the division grows.
• Build a culture of accountability, professionalism, collaboration and consistent performance.
• Address underperformance constructively and decisively.

Market Development & Strategic Growth

• Develop a clear commercial strategy for the division, identifying target clients, priority sectors and opportunities for growth.
• Build an in-depth understanding of market conditions, salary trends, competitor activity and emerging talent requirements.
• Identify opportunities to expand into complementary specialist markets.
• Strengthen Vickerstock's reputation and visibility within the division's specialist sector.
• Establish relationships with influential individuals and organisations across the market.
• Contribute to decisions around future investment, recruitment and divisional expansion.
• Work alongside the Managing Director to identify opportunities that support the company's longer-term growth objectives.

Recruitment Delivery & Operational Excellence

• Maintain high standards of recruitment delivery across the division.
• Ensure consultants properly qualify vacancies, client expectations and candidate requirements.
• Oversee the management of strategically important recruitment assignments.
• Promote effective use of Bullhorn and other recruitment technology.
• Ensure recruitment activity, client information and commercial forecasts are accurately recorded.
• Monitor key performance indicators, including job conversion, candidate submissions, interviews, placements and revenue generation.
• Identify operational inefficiencies and implement improvements.
• Ensure recruitment practices meet relevant legislative, compliance and professional standards.

Senior Leadership Contribution

• Act as a senior representative of Vickerstock with clients, candidates and industry stakeholders.
• Contribute to wider business planning, commercial strategy and operational improvements.
• Work collaboratively with other divisional leaders to identify cross-selling and business development opportunities.
• Support the development of Vickerstock's leadership culture and commercial standards.
• Demonstrate ownership of decisions, performance and outcomes.
• Represent the values and professional standards expected of the business.

Experience & Skills Required

Essential

• Significant experience within the recruitment industry, ideally within a specialist professional or technical recruitment market.
• A demonstrable track record of generating recruitment revenue and developing profitable client relationships.
• Experience managing, mentoring or developing recruitment consultants.
• Strong business development capability, including relationships with senior-level decision-makers.
• Experience managing recruitment pipelines, commercial forecasts and performance objectives.
• The ability to combine personal billing with wider team leadership responsibilities.
• Strong commercial judgement and the confidence to make decisions independently.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and relationship management skills.
• A high level of personal accountability and ownership.

Desirable

• Experience managing a recruitment division or specialist market.
• An established network within Engineering, Manufacturing, Construction, Technical or Professional Services recruitment.
• Experience delivering retained or exclusive recruitment assignments.
• A track record of growing recruitment teams and developing consultants into consistent billers.
• Experience contributing to business strategy, market expansion or operational improvements.

What Success Looks Like

Success in this position will be measured by more than individual billings.

Commercial Growth

• Consistent achievement of agreed divisional revenue and profitability objectives.
• Growth in high-value, retained and exclusive recruitment assignments.
• Development of new and existing client relationships.

Team Performance

• Improved individual consultant productivity and consistency.
• Successful development and retention of high-performing consultants.
• A team operating with clear commercial expectations and accountability.

Market Position

• Stronger recognition of Vickerstock within the division's specialist market.
• Development of relationships with strategically important clients.
• Increased opportunities for repeat business and long-term recruitment partnerships.

Leadership

• Effective ownership of divisional performance.
• Sound commercial decision-making.
• A positive contribution to Vickerstock's wider leadership team and business objectives.

The Individual

We're looking for someone who thinks beyond their own recruitment desk.

Someone who understands that building a successful recruitment division requires a combination of commercial ambition, market knowledge, strong relationships and the ability to get the best out of people.

They will be comfortable winning business, delivering assignments, challenging consultants and making decisions.

They will have the confidence to operate independently but recognise the value of working as part of a wider business.

Above all, they will take genuine ownership of their division, its people and its commercial performance.

Career Development

The Associate Director position represents an important role within Vickerstock's senior leadership structure.

For the right individual, this appointment offers a genuine pathway towards Divisional Director, with increasing responsibility for commercial strategy, people, revenue and profitability.

Progression will be determined by the ability to build a successful, sustainable division, develop future leaders and contribute to the wider business.

We want people who are ambitious about their own careers, but equally ambitious about what they can build around them.

Interested?

All enquiries and applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.