Lead Recruiter

Mane Contract Services; Watford; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive training and development

Career progression opportunities

Global reach and international network

Job summary

MANE is seeking a Lead Recruiter to drive revenue, manage client relationships and mentor the team. This hands-on, billing leadership role combines individual desk ownership with leadership responsibilities, shaping the growth of our specialist markets across aerospace, automotive, defence and more.

You will lead by example, win new business, and support consultants to achieve ambitious targets while developing talent and contributing to the firm's international reach.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of recruitment success and consistent billing performance.
• Experience in recruitment leadership or mentoring, or the ambition to step up from Principal Consultant.

Responsibilities

• Drive personal billings while leading by example.
• Identify and develop new client relationships and win new business.
• Develop a specialist market and establish trusted partnerships with clients and candidates.
• Coach and mentor colleagues to improve recruitment skills and commercial performance.
• Deliver end-to-end recruitment lifecycle from business development to placement.
• Contribute to team strategy and growth of the market.

Skills

Billing leadership

Leadership experience

Business development

Account management

Client relationship building

Communication skills

Job description

Hands‑On Billing Role | Recruitment Leadership | MANE

Ready to take the lead?

Are you an experienced recruiter ready to take the next step into leadership, or a Principal Recruitment Consultant looking to make the move into management while continuing to build your own desk?

At MANE, we’re looking for an ambitious, commercially minded Lead Recruiter to drive recruitment success, develop client relationships and play a key role in growing our business. This is a hands‑on, billing leadership role, ideal for someone who enjoys winning business, delivering results and supporting others to succeed.

With more than 30 years of experience connecting exceptional talent with some of the world’s most exciting organisations, MANE operates across Aerospace, Automotive & Motorsport, Defence, Energy, Engineering & Manufacturing, and Infrastructure.

As we continue to grow, this is an exciting opportunity to combine your recruitment expertise with leadership responsibilities, make a tangible impact and take the next step in your career.

The role

As Lead Recruiter, you’ll take ownership of your own specialist market, driving revenue through business development, client management and successful placements, while helping to develop and support the wider team.

This is a role for someone who leads by example. You’ll remain actively involved in the full recruitment lifecycle, using your commercial experience to win new business, build lasting relationships and deliver against billing targets, while developing the skills and confidence to lead others.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Driving personal billings: Managing your own desk, developing new opportunities and consistently delivering against commercial targets.
• Winning new business: Identifying and developing new client relationships, expanding existing accounts and maximising market opportunities.
• Building your market: Developing a specialist recruitment market and establishing yourself as a trusted partner to clients and candidates.
• Leading by example: Sharing your knowledge, setting high standards and supporting consultants to achieve their goals.
• Developing talent: Coaching and mentoring colleagues, helping them strengthen their recruitment skills and commercial performance.
• Delivering recruitment excellence: Managing the full recruitment lifecycle, from business development and candidate sourcing through to negotiation and placement.
• Driving business growth: Contributing to team strategy, identifying opportunities for expansion and helping shape the future success of your market.

At MANE, we believe recruitment is about more than filling vacancies. It’s about building long‑term relationships, understanding specialist markets and creating opportunities that make a genuine difference.

Joining us means you’ll have the opportunity to:

• Build and grow your own specialist market within established, high‑demand sectors.
• Work with exciting, high‑profile clients and exceptional candidates.
• Combine hands‑on recruitment with leadership and team development.
• Access comprehensive training, ongoing development and clear career progression.
• Work with modern recruitment technology and tools.
• Be part of a collaborative, entrepreneurial environment where initiative is encouraged.
• Develop your industry expertise and build an international network through our global reach.
• Make a meaningful contribution to the growth and success of the business.

Who are we looking for?

We’re interested in speaking with recruiters who are commercially driven, relationship‑focused and ready to take greater ownership of their career.

You’ll ideally have:

• A proven track record of recruitment success and consistent billing performance.
• Experience in recruitment leadership or mentoring, or the ambition and capability to step up from a Principal Consultant position.
• A strong background in business development, account management and winning new clients.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and relationship‑building skills.
• A commercial mindset, with the ability to identify opportunities and turn them into revenue.
• The confidence to take ownership, make decisions and lead by example.
• A genuine interest in developing people and contributing to team performance.

Experience in technical, engineering or other specialist recruitment markets would be advantageous, but we’re equally interested in your commercial ability, leadership potential and ambition to succeed.

Where could MANE take you?

This is an opportunity to build on your recruitment success and develop into a leadership role without losing the hands‑on, commercial side of recruitment that you enjoy.

Whether you already have management experience or you’re a Principal Consultant ready for your first leadership opportunity, MANE can provide the platform, support and development to help you progress.

With our specialist markets, international reach and commitment to developing our people, you’ll have the opportunity to grow your own business, influence team performance and build a rewarding long‑term career.

At MANE, your career is yours to shape.

Ready for your next challenge?

If you’re an experienced recruiter who wants to keep billing, develop your leadership skills and make a genuine impact on a growing business, we’d love to hear from you.

Take the next step with MANE and discover what you can achieve.