Need to Hire a Talent Acquisition Manager? Here’s What You Need to Know
If you're struggling to attract high-calibre candidates, reduce time-to-hire, or scale a growing team, it may be time to bring a dedicated Recruitment or Talent Acquisition Manager into your business.
At HR Hire, we speak with HR leaders daily who are under pressure to deliver results quickly. They tell us:
“We need someone who can take ownership of our hiring strategy, not just process CVs.”
That’s where a skilled Recruitment or TA Manager comes in.
A Recruitment or Talent Acquisition Manager doesn’t just fill roles, they lead the recruitment function. They’re responsible for building pipelines, creating strategic sourcing plans and managing recruitment campaigns across departments.
Key responsibilities include:
✔️Leading full-cycle recruitment from job scoping to onboarding
✔️Partnering with hiring managers to understand talent needs
✔️Designing and executing sourcing strategies
✔️Using data to optimise time-to-hire and cost-per-hire
✔️Employer branding and candidate experience management
✔️Managing agency relationships and internal resourcing
In short, they make sure the right people are in the right roles!
Why This Role Matters More Than Ever
In Ireland’s current labour market, competition for skilled candidates is intensifying. According to the ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey (Q1 2024), 79% of Irish employers report difficulty filling roles , a record high. The shortage is particularly acute in HR, tech, life sciences and professional services, where demand for experienced recruitment professionals now outpaces supply.
Increased internal hiring demands, tighter budgets, and longer lead times have created new pressure on in-house HR teams. Many are operating reactively, juggling multiple open roles without a consistent strategy.
That’s where a Talent Acquisition Manager adds immediate value. It’s a necessity for:
✔️Building long-term talent pipelines instead of relying on short-term fixes
✔️Reducing recruitment costs by minimising agency dependence
✔️Strengthening employer brand to attract passive talent
✔️Improving candidate experience and onboarding quality
✔️Responding quickly to internal changes, growth phases or restructures
Post-pandemic workforce shifts, including increased remote and hybrid work, cross-border hiring, and evolving candidate expectations, have made recruitment more complex. Employers need someone who can navigate these changes, communicate with confidence, and deliver results.
Hiring a strong TA Manager helps organisations stay competitive, compliant, and connected to the evolving Irish talent landscape.
When hiring for a TA Manager, look for:
✔️Proven experience recruiting across various levels and functions
✔️Strong understanding of Irish employment law and DEI best practices
✔️Familiarity with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and recruitment analytics
✔️Experience building talent pipelines and passive candidate networks
✔️The ability to influence stakeholders and drive hiring decisions
Artificial Intelligence is reshaping how talent is identified and hired. The best Talent Acquisition Managers today are not afraid of AI; they leverage it.
Here’s how AI is being used:
✔️CV screening tools to quickly shortlist qualified applicants
✔️Chatbots to manage candidate queries and interview scheduling
✔️Predictive analytics to forecast hiring needs and attrition
✔️Talent mapping software to identify hard-to-find candidates
That said, technology is only as good as the people using it. Your TA Manager should know when to automate, and when to build a relationship.
✔️Create a clear job brief. Identify your current hiring challenges and the outcomes you expect.
✔️Use a specialist HR recruiter (like HR Hire) who understands the market and candidate pool in Ireland.
✔️Don’t delay. Great TA Managers are in demand and often hired within weeks.
✔️Be open to interim or project-based hires. This can be a flexible way to access top-tier talent quickly.
Want the Best HR Talent?
We’d love to partner with you.
Recruitment isn’t just about filling roles; it’s about growing your business. Hiring a strong Talent Acquisition Manager can transform how you attract and retain talent, giving you a strategic edge in today’s market.
