We are hiring a high-impact, leadership-driven Recruitment Team Manager / Lead VA to take ownership of the recruitment function within a fast-growing recruitment business.

This role is responsible for leading, structuring, and elevating the performance of the recruitment team across candidate delivery, operations, and systems. You will ensure the team operates at a consistently high standard, delivering strong candidate experiences, reliable execution, and scalable processes.

You will operate within a high-performance, startup-style environment where speed, accountability, and continuous improvement are critical. Your role is to drive team performance, not just contribute individually.

This is not a standard senior recruiter role. You are expected to act as a leader, coach, and operational owner, enabling the business to scale through strong systems and a high-performing team.

Key Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Performance Ownership

• Lead and manage a team of recruitment VAs across candidate delivery and operations

• Set clear performance standards and ensure consistent output quality

• Conduct quality checks, audits, and performance reviews

• Identify performance gaps and address root causes through coaching and support

• Build a high-accountability, high-performance team culture

• Act as the first point of escalation, reducing reliance on the founder

• Balance being supportive and firm — maintaining standards without micromanaging

Candidate Delivery Oversight

• Ensure high-quality candidate experience across all stages

• Oversee screening coordination, follow-ups, and candidate communication

• Maintain speed and responsiveness across all delivery touchpoints

• Ensure timely feedback loops between candidates and clients

• Monitor recruiter support readiness and daily execution quality

Systems, Process & SOP Development

• Build, refine, and optimise recruitment workflows and SOPs

• Identify inefficiencies and implement scalable improvements

• Ensure consistent system usage across the VA team

• Develop structured processes across ATS, pipelines, and reporting

• Maintain clear, documented workflows for repeatable execution

ATS & Data Quality Management

• Ensure high standards of ATS hygiene and database accuracy

• Monitor data integrity across candidate and job records

• Ensure consistent use of tags, notes, and structured fields

• Maintain visibility across pipelines and delivery metrics

Operational Management & Reporting

• Track and report on team performance metrics (quality, speed, output)

• Ensure alignment between team activity and business priorities

• Monitor workload distribution and capacity across the team

• Flag risks, bottlenecks, and inefficiencies proactively

Hands-On Delivery Support (As Needed)

• Step in to support sourcing, screening, or coordination when required

• Assist on high-priority or high-volume roles

• Ensure continuity of delivery during peak periods

Strategic & Team Development Contribution

• Support hiring and onboarding of future VAs and recruiters

• Contribute to scaling the VA function as the business grows

• Help improve overall delivery performance and revenue outcomes

• Act as a cultural leader within the team

Required Experience & Attributes

• Proven experience leading or mentoring teams (recruitment or operations preferred)

• Background in recruitment agency, preferably supporting startups, scale-ups, or

high-growth businesses

• Strong understanding of candidate delivery and recruitment workflows

• Strong systems and process mindset (SOP creation, workflow optimisation)

• Proven experience in training, coaching, and upskilling team members to improve

performance and capability

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills

• Highly organised with strong attention to detail

• Confident in managing performance and having direct conversations

• Strong time management across multiple priorities and time zones

• Tech-savvy and comfortable working with ATS and AI-enabled tools

Leadership & Behavioural Expectations

• Outcome-driven, not task-driven

• Proactive — identifies and solves problems independently

• Comfortable pushing back and managing upward when needed

• High standards for quality and accountability

• Strong EQ — able to read, coach, and support team members

• Growth mindset — continuously improving systems and performance

• Thrives in fast-paced, evolving environments

What This Role Does NOT Do

• Own client relationships or business development (initially)

• Operate as a purely task-based VA

• Focus only on individual contributor work

• Avoid performance management responsibilities

Success Metrics (First 90 Days)

• Improved team alignment, accountability, and performance

• Reduced founder involvement in day-to-day VA management

• Faster turnaround times across candidate delivery

• Stronger candidate experience and communication standards

• Clear systems and workflows implemented across the team

• Increased recruiter productivity through reliable VA support