Head - Strategic Talent Acquisition - Retail

Job Title: Head - Strategic Talent Acquisition
Location: Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
Industry: Retail
Reports to: Head - Human Resources
Experience Required: 12-18 years (with at least 5 years in a leadership talent acquisition role)
Employment Type: Full-time
About the CompanyOur client is a leading name in the retail industry with a strong presence across South India. With ambitious plans for expansion and digital transformation, they are looking to hire a seasoned Head of Strategic Talent Acquisition to lead end-to-end hiring and workforce planning initiatives across stores, corporate functions and supply chain.
Role Overview

As the Head of Strategic Talent Acquisition, you will be responsible for building and executing a comprehensive talent acquisition strategy aligned with the business's growth plans. This role requires a deep understanding of the retail talent landscape, strong leadership abilities and the capability to drive high-volume and niche hiring across geographies.
Key ResponsibilitiesTalent Strategy & Planning
- Design and implement scalable TA strategies for mid-level and leadership hiring.
- Forecast workforce needs in collaboration with business heads and HRBPs.
- Build a robust talent pipeline aligned with expansion and seasonal workforce requirements.
Leadership Hiring & Employer Branding
- Lead CXO and leadership hiring initiatives.
- Position the company as an employer of choice through digital and campus engagement strategies.
- Drive DEI-focused recruitment initiatives.
Operational Excellence
- Set KPIs/SLAs for hiring (TAT, quality of hire, cost-per-hire etc.).
- Standardize TA processes and implement best practices.
- Drive adoption of ATS and other recruitment tech tools.
Vendor & Partner Management
- Manage external recruitment partners, RPO vendors and staffing agencies.
- Evaluate performance and negotiate contracts for efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Team Leadership
- Build, coach and lead a team of recruiters across regions.
- Set performance goals and promote a high-performance culture.
Required Skills & Experience
- 12-18 years of progressive experience in talent acquisition, preferably in retail, telecom, FMCG or consumer sectors.
- Proven experience in managing high-volume and leadership hiring.
- Strong understanding of talent markets.
- Hands-on with modern ATS platforms and hiring analytics.
- Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
- Strategic mindset with an execution-driven approach.
Preferred Qualifications- MBA/PGDM in HR or related field.
- Experience in scaling teams across new geographies.
- Exposure to employer branding and campus programs.