What Does a Recruiting Manager Do?
A recruiting manager leads the talent acquisition function within an organization, managing recruiters and coordinators to meet hiring goals. They develop and implement recruiting strategies, oversee the hiring process, and ensure the organization attracts and retains top talent. Recruiting managers also collaborate with department leaders to forecast workforce needs and align hiring strategies with business objectives.
In addition to managing staff performance, recruiting managers are responsible for evaluating sourcing methods, ensuring compliance with employment laws, and analyzing hiring metrics. They play a key role in employer branding, candidate experience, and the introduction of recruiting technology to improve efficiency.
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Recruiting Manager Core Responsibilities
- Supervise and coach recruiters and recruiting coordinators
- Develop and implement sourcing strategies to attract qualified candidates
- Partner with department leaders on workforce planning and hiring priorities
- Oversee full-cycle recruiting, from job postings to offer negotiation
- Track recruiting metrics and present performance reports to HR leadership
- Manage vendor relationships with job boards, agencies, and recruiting platforms
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws
- Promote employer brand and enhance the candidate experience
Required Skills and Qualifications
Hard skills
- Strong knowledge of recruiting strategies, tools, and applicant tracking systems (ATS)
- Experience with workforce planning and recruiting analytics
- Ability to manage recruiting budgets and vendor contracts
- Understanding of employment laws and compliance requirements
Soft skills
- Leadership and team management abilities
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Strong organizational and problem-solving skills
- Ability to influence stakeholders and drive process improvements
- Strategic mindset with focus on long-term hiring goals
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, or related field
Certifications
- SHRM-CP or PHR certification recommended
- SHRM-SCP or SPHR certification valued for senior-level roles
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in human resources, business, or organizational leadership
- Experience leading recruiting in high-growth or global organizations
- Familiarity with recruitment marketing and employer branding strategies
- Background in implementing new ATS or recruiting technologies
- Active membership in HR or recruiting professional associations
National Average Salary
Recruiting manager salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. Click below to explore salaries by local market.
The average national salary for a Recruiting Manager is:
$106,650
Sample Job Description Templates for Recruiting Managers
Assistant Recruiting Manager
Position Overview
We are looking for an assistant recruiting manager to support the recruiting manager in overseeing day-to-day hiring operations. This entry-level leadership role is ideal for recruiters with team coordination experience who are ready to step into management.
Responsibilities
- Assist in supervising recruiters and recruiting coordinators
- Help implement sourcing strategies and monitor candidate pipelines
- Support interview scheduling and candidate communications
- Review job postings and ensure consistency across platforms
- Track recruiting metrics and prepare reports for leadership
- Collaborate with hiring managers to align recruiting efforts with department needs
Requirements
Hard skills
- Familiarity with ATS systems and recruiting platforms
- Basic understanding of recruiting metrics and reporting
- Ability to conduct interviews and evaluate candidates
- Knowledge of employment laws and compliance requirements
Soft skills
- Strong communication and interpersonal abilities
- Ability to coordinate tasks and support team activities
- Detail-oriented and well organized
- Eagerness to learn and develop leadership skills
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business, or related field
Certifications
- None required; SHRM-CP or PHR recommended
Preferred Qualifications
- 2–3 years of recruiting experience
- Previous experience mentoring or training junior staff
Mid-Level Recruiting Manager
Position Overview
Our company is seeking a mid-level recruiting manager to manage recruiters and lead full-cycle hiring initiatives. This role requires hands-on recruiting experience combined with proven management skills to deliver talent acquisition strategies that meet business needs.
Responsibilities
- Manage recruiting staff performance and provide coaching
- Partner with department leaders to forecast hiring needs
- Oversee full-cycle recruiting across multiple functions
- Implement sourcing strategies to attract diverse candidate pools
- Ensure compliance with company policies and employment regulations
- Prepare and present recruiting performance reports to HR leadership
Requirements
Hard skills
- Proficiency in applicant tracking systems and HR software
- Strong understanding of recruiting processes and workforce planning
- Ability to manage recruiting budgets and vendor relationships
- Familiarity with diversity hiring practices
Soft skills
- Leadership and team management abilities
- Strong organizational and problem-solving skills
- Effective communication across departments
- Ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in human resources, business administration, or related field
Certifications
- SHRM-CP or PHR certification recommended
Preferred Qualifications
- 4–6 years of recruiting experience with at least 1–2 years in a leadership role
- Experience implementing new recruiting technologies
Senior Recruiting Manager
Position Overview
We are hiring a senior recruiting manager to lead complex recruiting initiatives, oversee multiple teams, and align talent acquisition strategies with organizational objectives. This role requires deep recruiting expertise and proven success in developing high-performing teams.
Responsibilities
- Lead recruiting teams across multiple departments or regions
- Partner with executives to define long-term workforce strategies
- Drive innovation in sourcing, recruiting technology, and employer branding
- Oversee recruiting budgets, vendor contracts, and key performance metrics
- Mentor mid-level recruiting managers and ensure consistency in processes
- Ensure compliance with employment laws at local, state, and federal levels
Requirements
Hard skills
- Advanced expertise in recruiting strategies and workforce planning
- Strong financial and resource management skills
- Experience analyzing and presenting recruiting metrics to executives
- Knowledge of global or enterprise-level recruiting practices
Soft skills
- Executive-level leadership and team development skills
- Strong communication and influencing abilities
- Ability to manage complex projects and competing priorities
- Strategic thinking with focus on organizational growth
Education
- Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree in HR or business preferred
Certifications
- SHRM-SCP or SPHR strongly recommended
Preferred Qualifications
- 7+ years of recruiting experience with 3+ years in management
- Proven success in scaling recruiting functions for growing organizations
Director of Talent Acquisition
Position Overview
We are seeking a director of talent acquisition to design and implement company-wide recruiting strategies. This senior leadership role requires driving workforce planning, improving employer branding, and leading global recruiting initiatives.
Responsibilities
- Develop and execute long-term talent acquisition strategies
- Oversee all recruiting teams and ensure alignment with business goals
- Partner with senior executives to forecast hiring and workforce needs
- Manage recruiting budgets, vendors, and technology platforms
- Drive diversity, equity, and inclusion recruiting efforts
- Report recruiting results and strategies to executive leadership
Requirements
Hard skills
- Expertise in enterprise-level recruiting operations and strategy
- Strong knowledge of recruiting technology, ATS systems, and HR analytics
- Experience in employer branding and recruitment marketing
- Ability to lead global or multi-site recruiting teams
Soft skills
- Strong leadership and executive communication abilities
- Strategic decision-making and problem-solving skills
- Ability to influence and collaborate across executive teams
- Innovative mindset focused on continuous improvement
Education
- Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree or MBA strongly preferred
Certifications
- SHRM-SCP or SPHR certification strongly recommended
Preferred Qualifications
- 10+ years of recruiting experience with significant leadership exposure
- Experience driving talent acquisition in global organizations
Vice President of Recruiting
Position Overview
The vice president of recruiting will serve as the executive leader responsible for the organization’s global talent acquisition function. This role sets the vision for hiring strategy, oversees large recruiting teams, and ensures the company attracts top talent to remain competitive.
Responsibilities
- Define and implement the company’s global recruiting strategy
- Lead recruiting managers, directors, and large-scale teams
- Partner with executive leadership on workforce design and organizational growth
- Oversee budgets, vendor relationships, and recruitment technologies
- Drive innovation in sourcing, analytics, and employer branding
- Represent recruiting function at board-level and industry events
Requirements
Hard skills
- Expert-level knowledge of talent acquisition strategy and operations
- Ability to manage enterprise-level budgets and resources
- Advanced analytical skills with focus on recruiting metrics and trends
- Experience with global workforce planning and compliance
Soft skills
- Executive-level leadership and communication skills
- Visionary mindset with ability to drive organizational change
- Strong collaboration and influence across C-suite executives
- Ability to inspire and lead large, global teams
Education
- Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree or MBA preferred
Certifications
- SHRM-SCP or SPHR certification strongly recommended
Preferred Qualifications
- 15+ years of recruiting experience, including leadership at executive level
- Proven success in building scalable, global talent acquisition programs