Full job descriptionAMS is a global workforce solutions partner committed to creating inclusive, dynamic, and future-ready workplaces. We help organizations adapt, grow, and thrive in an ever-evolving world by building, shaping, and optimizing diverse talent strategies.
AMS is supporting a leading global consulting organisation in the search for an experienced Recruitment Programme Lead to join their team on a permanent basis. The role is London based, with periodic travel to the London and Cork offices as business needs require.
Job Description - The Role
The Recruitment Program Lead is responsible for leading the day-to-day operational delivery of a complex vendor management program supporting a strategic enterprise client. This role serves as a primary operational point of contact for the client and is accountable for service delivery, supplier performance, issue resolution, process discipline, and the successful movement of talent through the program lifecycle.
This position requires a highly credible, client-facing leader who can operate effectively in a demanding, fast-moving environment, balance competing priorities, communicate clearly under pressure, and drive action across suppliers, internal MBO teams, client stakeholders, and other program partners. The Recruitment Program Lead must be equally comfortable managing executive-level client interactions and maintaining detailed operational control of the program.
Responsibilities of the role:
*Act as the primary operational contact for key client stakeholders, building strong relationships and ensuring an exceptional client experience.
*Lead the day-to-day delivery of the recruitment programme, overseeing candidate submissions, screening, interviews, onboarding, and all associated lifecycle activities.
*Manage supplier and staffing partner performance, driving accountability, service excellence, compliance, and candidate quality against agreed SLAs.
*Coordinate effectively across clients, suppliers, internal teams, and programme stakeholders to ensure seamless delivery and timely resolution of issues.
*Identify, manage, and escalate operational risks, blockers, and service challenges, providing clear recommendations and solutions.
*Ensure programme compliance with client policies, contractual requirements, governance standards, and established operating procedures.
*Maintain accurate programme data, reporting, and workflow management to support informed decision-making and operational efficiency.
*Monitor pipeline activity, programme performance, and resource requirements, proactively addressing capacity constraints and delivery risks.
*Lead client reviews, operational meetings, supplier discussions, and training sessions, ensuring clear communication and effective stakeholder engagement.
*Drive continuous improvement initiatives by optimising processes, enhancing service delivery, and improving programme outcomes.
*Produce and present meaningful operational, supplier, onboarding, and pipeline reporting, highlighting trends, risks, and required actions.
*Support the growth and development of the client partnership by identifying opportunities to enhance services, improve performance, and expand programme scope.
Required Experience & Capabilities;
*Professional Recruitment Lead experience, including meaningful responsibility for complex client-facing operations, program management, MSP/VMS, staffing, or vendor management.
*Demonstrated experience managing staffing or other third-party suppliers and holding external partners accountable for performance.
*Strong executive presence and client-management skills, with the ability to communicate confidently with demanding or highly engaged stakeholders.
*Proven ability to manage escalations, resolve ambiguous issues, and drive decisions across organizations without relying solely on formal authority.
*Strong operational discipline and attention to detail; able to manage high-volume workflows while maintaining accurate data and follow-through.
*Ability to interpret process requirements, identify risk, and make practical recommendations when exceptions or unclear situations arise.
*Strong written and verbal communication skills, including concise status reporting, issue framing, and stakeholder updates.
*Comfort working across multiple systems, trackers, stakeholders, suppliers, and concurrent priorities.
*College degree or equivalent relevant work experience.
*Human Resources, Customer Service, Procurement, Staffing, Sales Delivery, or contingent workforce experience preferred.
Success Profile
The strongest candidate will be more than an administrator or coordinator. They will be a composed, highly organised program leader who can earn the client’s confidence, challenge suppliers when performance falls short, bring structure to ambiguity, anticipate problems before they become escalations, and maintain rigorous control of program details while keeping the broader client relationship in view.
Next steps
If you are interested in applying for this position and meet the criteria outlined above, please click the link to apply, and we will contact you with an update in due course.