Director of Recruitment

Director of Recruitment Agency (Software Engineering & AI)

Location: Kyiv, Ukraine (Hybrid / Remote with presence in Kyiv)

Employment Type: Full-time

Industry: Staffing, Executive Search, and IT Recruitment

Reports To: Board of Directors / Chief Executive Officer

Executive Summary

We are seeking a high-caliber Director of Recruitment to spearhead the growth and operational excellence of our agency in Ukraine. In this executive role, you will lead our strategic focus on placing top-tier Software Engineering, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence talent across international markets (US, UK, EU) and Ukraine’s high-growth tech sector.

You will combine commercial acumen, technical literacy in modern engineering/AI stacks, and operational leadership to scale our delivery capabilities, mentor recruitment teams, and build long-term relationships with global tech clients.

Core Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership & Business Development

• Define and execute the agency’s strategic roadmap, positioning the firm as the premier search partner for Software Engineering and emerging AI disciplines (GenAI, LLMOps, Computer Vision, MLOps, NLP).
• Drive international client acquisition by pitching search, staff augmentation, and RPO solutions to founders, CTOs, and VPs of Engineering in Europe and North America.
• Monitor domestic and global tech hiring benchmarks, compensation trends, and labor shifts, adjusting service offerings accordingly.
• Own the commercial P&L: revenue targets, client retention, placement margin, and operational expenditure.

2. Technical Specialization & Talent Pipeline Architecture

• Build industry-leading sourcing frameworks specifically calibrated for complex technical roles (Staff/Principal Engineers, Distributed Systems Architects, AI/ML Engineers, Data Scientists, and Engineering Leaders).
• Establish rigorous candidate pre-screening methodologies to ensure both technical aptitude and cross-border delivery readiness (system design fundamentals, English proficiency, cultural alignment with global teams).
• Lead the adoption of modern recruitment technology: AI-assisted sourcing platforms, advanced CRM/ATS automation, and talent intelligence tools.

3. Operational Management & Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and expand a high-performing team of technical recruiters, sourcers, and account managers.
• Define departmental KPIs (time-to-shortlist, offer acceptance rate, client satisfaction, sourcing-to-placement conversion) and hold the team accountable for targets.
• Conduct regular technical calibration and training sessions to keep recruiters abreast of changing software frameworks, cloud ecosystems, and AI toolsets.

4. Compliance, Market Navigation & Local Ecosystem

• Navigate local operational and regulatory frameworks (e.g., Diia.City, Private Entrepreneur/FOP contracts, B2B cross-border service agreements) smoothly and ethically.
• Foster a resilient operational culture adapted to Ukraine’s current operating environment, ensuring business continuity for distributed and remote teams.
• Represent the agency within the Ukrainian tech ecosystem, engaging with industry bodies, tech clusters, and tech communities (DOU, IT Ukraine Association).

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Revenue & Margin: Agency gross margin and target revenue attainment from software & AI placements.
• Pipeline Delivery: Average Time-to-Submit (< 5 business days for high-priority technical mandates) and Time-to-Fill.
• Fulfillment Ratio: Offer acceptance rate (> 85%) and probation pass rate (> 90%).
• Client Retention: Repeat business rate and Net Promoter Score (NPS) from tech clients.

Candidate Profile & Qualifications

Experience

• Leadership Track Record: 7+ years of progressive recruitment experience, with at least 3+ years in a senior leadership role (Managing Director, Head of Recruitment, or Recruitment Director) within an IT staffing agency or specialized search firm.
• Domain Specialization: Demonstrated success closing senior, lead, and executive roles across Backend/Fullstack, Cloud Infrastructure, and AI/ML specializations.
• Global Exposure: Direct experience managing client accounts in North America, Western Europe, or the UK, with a deep understanding of remote and nearshore delivery models.

Skills & Competencies

• Technical Acumen: Ability to converse credibly about modern engineering stacks (Python, Golang, Rust, React, Kubernetes), AI model deployment, and cloud architectures.
• Commercial Drive: Strong negotiation, contract drafting, and consultative B2B sales capabilities.
• Data-Driven Management: Deep familiarity with recruitment metrics, data pipelines, and workflow automation in platforms such as Ashby, Lever, Greenhouse, or Recruitee.
• Language Skills: Native or fluent Ukrainian; Full Professional/C1-C2 English proficiency (mandatory for executive client pitches).

What We Offer

• Competitive compensation package featuring a solid base salary and executive commission/profit-sharing based on agency performance.
• Strategic autonomy to shape the company’s service lines, technical focus, and geographic expansion.
• Executive budget for operational tooling, market intelligence licenses, and team development.
• Flexible hybrid/remote operating model with modern office infrastructure in Kyiv.