Specialist Talent Acquisition Consultant

Sodexo; Ireland; Hybrid; EUR 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Sodexo is building an in-house capability to recruit specialist, hard-to-find talent across UK & Ireland. This role leads market definition, talent mapping and direct candidate engagement with a research-led approach.

As a Specialist Talent Acquisition Consultant you will map markets, engage passive candidates and advise senior leaders on briefs, reward and strategy. Regular on-site presence is expected in Ireland under a hybrid model.

Qualifications

• Experience in headhunting and senior-level search.
• Strong direct-sourcing and talent-mapping capabilities.
• Credible in advising senior hiring leaders on briefs and market conditions.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end search assignments for specialist and leadership roles.
• Translate requirements into search hypotheses and target markets.
• Conduct organisation and talent mapping to identify candidates.
• Approach passive talent directly with credibility and market knowledge.
• Build and maintain specialist talent communities and pipelines.
• Interview and assess against required leadership outcomes.
• Provide evidence-based advice on talent availability and market positioning.
• Manage sensitive searches with discretion and clear communication.

Skills

Head hunting

Candidate interviewing

Talent mapping

Direct sourcing

Market intelligence

Stakeholder advisory

Recruitment tech

On-site travel

Job description

The following content displays a map of the jobs location - Hybrid - Ireland, with a minimum of 3 days per week on-site / in a Sodexo office

Specialist Talent Acquisition Consultant

Job Reference SDX/TP/706042/161970

Number of Positions:

1

Contract Type:

Permanent

47,000 Euro

Working Hours:

Monday - Friday - 39 hours per week

Location:

Hybrid - Ireland, with a minimum of 3 days per week on-site / in a Sodexo office

Closing Date:

09/10/2026

Job Category:

HR

UK Transversal Functions

Job Introduction

Research the market. Reach the people others cannot. Advise leaders on what it will take to secure them.

Sodexo is building a dedicated in-house search capability for specialist, hard-to-find and executive talent across UK & Ireland. This is not high-volume recruitment and it is not a role centred on advert response. It is a research-led, insight-rich search position with ownership of critical assignments from market definition to accepted offer.

As a Specialist Talent Acquisition Consultant, you will develop deep expertise in your talent markets, map competitor organisations, identify passive talent and approach people with credibility. You will advise senior leaders on availability, positioning, reward and search strategy, helping them make informed choices rather than simply presenting a shortlist.

You will join at the point the capability is being created, giving you the opportunity to shape search practice, build long-term talent communities and demonstrate what a strong in-house search function can deliver.

What you'll do:

• Own end-to-end search assignments for specialist, niche, hard-to-fill and leadership appointments across an allocated market portfolio.
• Translate business and capability requirements into clear search hypotheses, target markets and candidate profiles.
• Conduct detailed organisation and talent mapping to identify relevant employers, teams, networks and prospective candidates.
• Approach and engage passive talent directly, representing Sodexo's proposition with credibility and market fluency.
• Build and curate specialist talent communities and future pipelines, maintaining relationships beyond an immediate vacancy.
• Interview and assess candidates against technical expertise, leadership behaviours and the outcomes required from the appointment.
• Provide senior stakeholders with evidence-based advice on talent availability, reward, competitor movement and market positioning.
• Manage sensitive and confidential searches with sound judgement, discretion and outstanding candidate communication.
• Maintain deep knowledge of your specialist markets and turn external intelligence into practical recommendations for the business.
• Increase direct-search delivery and reduce avoidable reliance on agencies and external search firms.

The Ideal Candidate

• Strong specialist and/or senior-level search experience, including headhunting, interviewing and assessment.
• Advanced direct-sourcing and talent-mapping capability with evidence of engaging passive and hard-to-reach candidates.
• Credibility with senior hiring leaders and the confidence to advise on briefs, market conditions and appointment strategy.
• Strong research and market-intelligence skills, with the curiosity to develop genuine subject-matter expertise.
• Commercial awareness and the ability to explain how talent availability, reward and positioning affect hiring outcomes.
• Sound judgement and discretion in complex, confidential and business-critical work.
• Confidence using recruitment technology, digital sourcing and talent-intelligence platforms.
• A visible, business-facing approach, including regular travel and on-site presence

About The Company

Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it's a chance to be part of something greater.

You'll belong in a company and team that values you for who you are; you'll act with purpose and influence outcomes through your everyday decisions; and you'll thrive in your own way through the growth and opportunities we provide.

We offer 20+ Sodexo benefits including a competitive retirement plan, discounts across 1,900+ retail brands, gym discounts, and a confidential 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme offering emotional, legal and financial support.