Recruiter

Zypsy; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Zypsy is seeking an experienced Recruiter with a design-focused eye to identify, evaluate, and prepare top design talent for active and upcoming projects. You will partner with in-house teams to understand project needs and ensure candidates are engaged and ready to move forward.

The ideal candidate has 4+ years in recruiting design talent, a strong portfolio for evaluation, and experience sourcing across global markets and fast-paced US startups.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of experience recruiting design or creative talent.
• Ability to evaluate design portfolios and provide feedback on quality and craft.
• Strong understanding of design fundamentals, workflows, and disciplines.
• Demonstrated visual taste and judgment aligned with high-quality design standards.

Responsibilities

• Sourcing and pipeline development for design talent across disciplines including product design, UX/UI, visual design, and creative leadership.
• Review and evaluate designer portfolios with a focus on craft and visual taste.
• Prepare candidates for opportunities by aligning project scope and timelines, and ensure readiness.
• Provide market insights on talent quality, market conditions, and availability.

Skills

Portfolio evaluation

Design recruiting

Global recruiting

Candidate communication

Startup experience

Job description

Job Description

We are seeking an experienced Recruiter with a strong eye for design and a refined sense of visual taste. This role focuses on identifying, evaluating, and preparing design talent for active and upcoming projects. You will work closely in-house with internal teams to understand the needs of each project and ensure candidates in the pipeline are aligned, informed, and ready to engage.

Responsibilities

Talent Sourcing & Pipeline Development

• Identify and engage high-quality design talent across disciplines including product design, UX/UI, visual design, and creative leadership.
• Build and maintain a strong pipeline of designers across global markets.
• Develop an understanding of available talent pools, regional strengths, and emerging design communities.

Portfolio Review & Candidate Evaluation

• Review and evaluate designer portfolios with a strong eye for craft, creativity, and visual taste.
• Assess candidates’ design process, problem-solving ability, and overall quality of work.
• Conduct candidate conversations focused on experience, skills, and design thinking.

Candidate Preparation & Project Alignment

• Prepare candidates in the pipeline for upcoming opportunities by setting expectations and clarifying project scope.
• Develop a deep understanding of the needs, timelines, and requirements of each project.
• Match candidates to projects based on skills, experience, availability, and design sensibility.
• Ensure candidates are informed, engaged, and ready to move forward when projects activate.

Market Knowledge & Insight

• Stay current on global design trends, compensation expectations, and talent availability.
• Understand the dynamics of US startup environments and how design teams operate within them.
• Provide insights on talent quality, market conditions, and candidate readiness.

What we’re looking for

Design Experience (Required)

• 4+ years of experience working with design or creative talent in a recruiting, sourcing, or talent-matching capacity.
• Strong ability to evaluate design portfolios and articulate feedback on quality and craft.
• Clear understanding of design fundamentals, workflows, and creative disciplines.
• Demonstrated visual taste and judgment aligned with high-quality design standards.

Skills & Attributes

• Experience working across global design markets and international talent pools.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to clearly prepare and guide candidates.
• Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple candidates and projects simultaneously.
• Comfortable working in fast-paced startup environments.
• Thoughtful, detail-oriented, and proactive in managing talent readiness.