Talent Operations Specialist

Talent Operations Specialist | Remote

The Big Search

Who we are

The Big Search runs executive searches for the world's top-tier investor-backed technology companies. Over the past decade we've built a track record serving the European technology ecosystem, working with VC-backed start-ups, growth and private equity portfolio companies, and enterprises leading digital transformation. We're a team of 35 consultants, researchers and talent operations specialists, with coverage across London, Berlin, Munich and Amsterdam.

About the role

Our Talent Operations team is the backbone of every practice. It owns the full candidate journey, process integrity, and the relationship cadence that keeps clients and candidates engaged.

As a Talent Operations Specialist, you'll drive candidate engagement from first contact to hire: compelling outreach, sharp positioning, and the follow-through that turns a cold name into a warm conversation. Topliner, our AI platform, handles the repetitive work. That leaves you free to focus on what moves the business forward: judgement, relationships, and the systems that make every search run better.

No two days look the same. You'll be part operator, part systems builder, and the hand behind the materials our clients see. You'll report to Alice Lesbaupin, Director of Research & Talent Operations.

What you'll own

• Search delivery: You'll run the operations side of every search from kick-off to close. That covers scheduling interviews, sending client updates, managing pace and response rates, and flagging risks before they become problems.
• Candidate engagement: You'll write the messages that make people respond, work out what's driving response and interest rates, and turn strong candidate connections into long-term relationships.
• Process and systems: You'll spot where there's friction, feed it back into product development, and test new automations that cut manual work and improve how the team operates.
• Commercial support: You'll help consultants win mandates with pitch decks, track-record materials and compensation benchmarks. You'll also keep former clients warm between mandates and run TBS dinners and events end to end.
• Team development: You'll run L&D sessions and share best practices that raise the quality and consistency of how the whole team works.

What we're looking for

• Ownership: The searches you touch are yours to see through, from first message to signed offer.
• Precision: In executive search, small mistakes have big consequences, so you hold a high quality bar on every detail.
• Empathy: Candidates and clients are making high-stakes decisions, and you bring real care and sensitivity to how we communicate.
• Curiosity and initiative: Things move fast here. You're keen to learn, comfortable building what doesn't exist yet, and confident making calls when the playbook runs out.

What you bring

• 2–3 years in a fast-paced, client-facing environment, ideally in executive search or recruitment
• A Bachelor's degree, or equivalent practical experience
• Strong organisation: you keep several projects moving at once, stay structured under pressure, and never let the small things slip
• Comfort with data, Excel and PowerBI, and everyday use of AI tools (experience with an ATS and outreach tools is a plus)
• Strong written and spoken English, with the ability to make a cold message land and a senior conversation flow

Why join The Big Search?

• Autonomy & impact: Shape the future of TBS with full leadership backing, and play a key role in building Europe's most innovative companies.
• Collaborative culture: Join a high-calibre team of experienced professionals who value excellence, insight and hands-on involvement.
• Built on Topliner: Get access to cutting-edge AI tools and a data-rich candidate CRM.
• Trust & accountability: We value freedom that's grounded in trust and accountability.
• Practical benefits: Flexibility, a learning budget, team offsites and more.

Our values

• Craft Excellence: We obsess over details and match quality with speed.
• Do It Now: We act the moment we spot an issue, and we choose progress and decisions over paralysis.
• Say It, Own It: We speak our minds plainly, commit to our goals, and deliver on our promises.

Our hiring process

1. Introductory call: A first conversation with Alice to get to know each other and align on expectations
2. Case study assignment: A practical task of around 60 minutes that shows how you think and approach real-life challenges
3. Case study presentation: You present your work to two TBS Consultants or Talent Operations colleagues, followed by Q&A and discussion
4. Follow-up meetings: Conversation with our CEO and other Partners
5. Final offer: A closing conversation with Alice to address any final questions

If you're ready to build and deliver with excellence, we want to hear from you.