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| Location | Korea, South, Seoul |
| Job Type | Permanent Full-time |
| Salary | Negotiable, based on experience |
Head of Talent Acquisition, Founding Leader
VC-Backed AI Robotics / Physical AI Startup | Seoul, Korea
About the Company
A rapidly growing Robotics and Physical AI startup developing next-generation robotic systems for real-world industrial environments.
The company combines advanced hardware, AI, robotics software, controls, perception, and system integration technologies to solve operational challenges in industries where traditional automation has struggled to create value.
Backed by leading investors and experiencing strong commercial momentum, the company is entering a critical scaling phase and is seeking its first Founding Head of Talent to build the talent engine that will enable its next stage of growth.
The Opportunity
This is not a traditional recruiting leadership role.
The company is seeking a Player-Coach who will personally drive critical hiring while simultaneously building the talent systems, processes, and team required to scale a world-class engineering organization.
You will partner directly with Founders and Executive Leadership to shape workforce strategy, define hiring standards, attract exceptional talent, and build a high-performance recruiting function from the ground up
Key Responsibilities
Talent Acquisition Leadership
Lead critical hiring efforts across Engineering, AI, Robotics, Software, Hardware, Manufacturing, Product, and Leadership functions
Personally source and engage high-caliber passive candidates
Build and maintain talent maps, target company strategies, and long-term talent pipelines
Drive executive-level candidate management and closing strategies
Manage offer negotiations and candidate conversion processes
Hiring System Development
Design scalable hiring processes and operating standards
Develop Hiring Briefs, Interview Scorecards, Structured Interview Frameworks, and Debrief Processes
Build recruiting analytics and reporting capabilities
Implement and optimize ATS and talent operations infrastructure
Establish hiring calibration standards across the organization
Workforce Planning
Translate business priorities into workforce strategies
Partner with executives and hiring managers on organizational planning
Support hiring prioritization and headcount allocation decisions
Influence role definitions, job architecture, and talent evaluation frameworks
Talent Team Building
Build and lead a future Talent Acquisition organization
Hire and develop Recruiters, Sourcers, and Recruiting Operations personnel
Define operating rhythms and recruiting performance metrics
Establish a scalable talent operating model
What Success Looks Like
Within the first 12 months, you will:
Build a predictable hiring engine for critical technical talent
Create a strong pipeline of highly qualified engineering and leadership candidates
Improve hiring quality, speed, and candidate experience
Reduce dependency on external recruiting agencies
Establish recruiting systems that remain effective as the company scales
Build a world-class Talent function capable of supporting rapid organizational growth
Key Requirements
Proven experience owning complex recruiting initiatives in startup or high-growth technology environments
Successful track record of hiring senior technical individual contributors, technical leaders, or executives
Experience building or redesigning recruiting processes and systems
Strong direct sourcing and talent mapping capability
Experience partnering closely with senior business leaders
Experience managing candidate closing and offer negotiations
Ability to communicate effectively in both Korean and English
We are open to candidates from both in-house and executive search environments.
Head of Talent, Head of Recruiting and Talent Acquisition Lead
Senior Talent Partner, Principal Recruiter and Talent Director
Executive Search Consultant with strong technical recruiting experience
Who Will Thrive Here
Hunter : You proactively identify and engage talent rather than waiting for applicants.
Closer : You know how to convert high-caliber candidates into successful hires.
Truth-Based Seller : You can attract talent through credibility and transparency rather than hype.
Bar Keeper : You protect hiring standards even when hiring demand is high.
High-Intensity Operator : You combine urgency, ownership, and execution excellence.
Technical Learner : You quickly understand complex technologies and technical hiring needs.
Long-Term Builder : You care about creating systems, teams, and institutions that scale beyond yourself.
Why This Role?
Build the first Talent function at a category-defining deep-tech company
Partner directly with Founders and Executive Leadership
Own critical hiring decisions that shape the future of the business
Help scale a world-class engineering organization
Competitive compensation package including meaningful equity participation
For confidential consideration, please apply directly or contact us for further information.
Contact
Jason Lee - Associate Director, JAC Recruitment Korea
jason.lee@jac-recruitment.com
Notice: By submitting an application for this position, you acknowledge and consent to the disclosure of your personal information to the Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions, for the purpose of recruitment and candidate evaluation.
Privacy Policy Link: https://www.jac-recruitment.kr/privacy-policy
Terms and Conditions Link: https://www.jac-recruitment.kr/terms-of-use
| Minimum Experience Level | Over 6 years |
| Career Level | Mid Career |
| Minimum English Level | Business Level |
| Minimum Japanese Level | None |
| Minimum Education Level | Associate Degree/Diploma |
| Visa Status | No permission to work in Japan required |
| Job Type | Permanent Full-time |
| Salary | Negotiable, based on experience |
| Industry | Other (Manufacturing) |