Talent Lead

Relay is fundamentally reshaping how goods move in an online era. Backed by Europe’s largest-ever logistics Series A ($35M) led by deep-tech investors Plural, and a recently closed Series B ($95M), Relay is scaling faster than 99% of venture-backed startups. We're assembling the most talent-dense team the logistics industry has ever seen Relay’s Mission is to free commerce from friction. Today, high delivery costs act as a hidden tax on e-commerce, quietly shaping what can be sold online and limiting who can participate. We envision a world where more goods move more freely between more people, making the online shopping experience seamless and accessible to everyone. THE TEAM • ~160 people, around half in engineering, product and data • 45+ advanced degrees across computer science, mathematics and operations research • Thousands of data points captured, calculated, analysed and predicted for every single parcel we handle • An intellectually vibrant culture of first‑principles thinking, tight feedback loops and relentless experimentation The Opportunity The Talent Lead – Operations & Business at Relay will play a critical role in shaping and driving hiring strategies for our non-tech organisation. You’ll quickly establish yourself as the go-to TA partner for hiring managers in the org: consulting on best practices, sharing insights and reports, and continuously improving our talent acquisition function. You’ll help us make the right hiring decisions, bringing in top talent who are also a strong Relay fit. Who Will Thrive in this role? - You own end-to-end hiring: you can run the full lifecycle from sourcing and outreach through to offer, while keeping quality and pace high. - You’re a trusted partner to senior stakeholders: you build strong relationships with Business and Ops Leadership and People, align on priorities, and help translate plans into hiring action. - You’re operationally excellent: you create sharp JDs and scorecards, keep pipelines clean in Ashby, coordinate smoothly across hiring managers/agencies, and produce high-quality candidate packs/interview kits. - You leverage systems and tools to scale impact: you use the ATS expertly and you’re curious and proactive about new tooling (sourcing tools, automation, AI) that improves productivity and quality of hire. - You use data to drive decisions: you track and act on key TA metrics (sourcing activity, time-to-fill, time-in-stage, offer acceptance, candidate/HM satisfaction) and keep stakeholders clearly informed. - You improve the machine, not just run it: you spot bottlenecks, propose fixes, and implement changes that improve speed, quality, and candidate experience. Must-Haves - Proven track record as a Senior Recruiter or Talent Acquisition Lead.. - Background in hypergrowth startups or scale-ups. - Structured, clear communicator with strong stakeholder management. - Data-driven mindset, using metrics to prioritise, iterate and improve outcomes. Compensation & Benefits & Workplace - Generous equity, richer than 99% of European startups, with annual top-ups to share Relay’s success. - Private health & dental coverage, so comprehensive you’d need to be a partner at a Magic Circle law firm to match it. - 25 days of holidays - Enhanced parental leave. - Located in Shoreditch, our office set-up enables the kind of in-person interactions that drive impact. We work 4 days on-site, with 1 day remote. - Hardware of your choice. - Extensive perks (gym subsidies, cycle-to-work, Friday office lunch, covered Uber home and dinner for late nights, and more). Fast and Focused Hiring Process 1. Talent Acquisition Interview - 45 min 2. Hiring Manager Interview - 60 min 3. Case Study - 75 min 4. Decision and offer within 48 hours; our process mirrors our pace of work. Who Thrives at Relay? - Aim with Precision: You define problems clearly and measure your impact meticulously. - Play to Win: You chase bold bets, tackle the hard stuff, and view constraints as fuel, not friction. - 1% Better Every Day: You believe that small, consistent improvements lead to exponential growth. You move quickly, deliver results, and learn from every experience. - All In, All the Time: You show up and step up. You take ownership from start to finish and do what it takes to deliver when it counts. - People-Powered Greatness: You invest in your teammates. You give and receive feedback with care and candour. You build trust through high standards and shared success. - Grow the Whole Pie: You seek out win-win solutions for merchants, couriers, and our customers, because when they thrive, so do we. If these resonate, and you combine strong technical fundamentals with entrepreneurial drive, let’s connect. Relay is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity, inclusion, and fostering a workplace where everyone thrives.