Talent Acquisition Specialist (Tech)

About Stitch Stitch is a payments infrastructure company on a mission to make it easier for enterprise businesses to connect to the financial system and build better experiences for their customers. We are expanding the team to enable Stitch to broaden our product offering and extend our geographical footprint. Stitch is one of the fastest-growing fintech companies in South Africa, building critical financial infrastructure and solving complex problems at scale. Hiring is our single biggest lever for success. We’re looking for a Talent Acquisition Specialist to own and elevate how we hire across technical functions - improving quality of hire, reducing reliance on external agencies, and building a world-class candidate experience. This role is about raising the bar. You’ll act as a dedicated talent partner to Product & Engineering, working closely with the relevant People Business Partner and business leadership to ensure we consistently hire exceptional talent that succeeds at Stitch. Key responsibilities End-to-end hiring Own the full recruitment lifecycle across technical roles (e.g. Product, Engineering, Security & IT) Partner with Hiring Managers and the People Business Partner to define role requirements and craft high-quality job specs Build and manage strong inbound and outbound pipelines Functional alignment & business partnership Act as the primary talent partner for your aligned business functions Work closely with the People Business Partner and business leadership to align hiring with team priorities Develop a deep understanding of team structures, hiring needs, and capability gaps Screening & quality control Conduct structured, high-signal screening to assess candidate quality before Hiring Manager involvement Act as a quality gatekeeper, pushing back when the bar is not met Continuously improve how we assess candidates across different functions Interview design & assessment Design and evolve interview processes, scorecards, and assessments to ensure consistent, high-quality hiring decisions Calibrate with hiring managers and interviewers to maintain a high hiring bar Candidate experience Own and continuously improve the candidate experience end-to-end Ensure all candidate interactions reflect Stitch’s high standards, speed, and attention to detail Speed & execution Run fast, efficient processes across multiple roles simultaneously Ensure interviews are well-structured, coordinated, and high signal Remove friction for Hiring Managers wherever possible Sourcing & pipeline building Proactively source high-quality candidates using creative and data-driven approaches Build long-term relationships with strong candidates across relevant functions Reduce dependency on agencies by building strong internal pipelines Offer management & closing Own offer processes, including structuring, negotiation, and closing candidates Partner with Hiring Managers and leadership to secure top talent in competitive markets Agency ownership (where needed) Manage and optimise relationships with external recruiters for niche roles Set clear expectations and hold partners accountable for quality Data & continuous improvement Use data to inform and improve hiring decisions and processes Track funnel performance and identify areas for optimisation Quality of hire & feedback loops Track and continuously improve quality of hire Use post-hire performance and probation outcomes to refine hiring decisions and processes Stakeholder enablement Coach and support Hiring Managers to improve interview quality and consistency Drive alignment on hiring standards and decision-making AI & automation Leverage AI tools and automation to streamline sourcing, screening, coordination, and communication Continuously identify opportunities to reduce manual work and improve efficiency Stay at the forefront of modern recruiting practices Process & strategy Design and evolve hiring processes that balance speed and quality Translate business hiring needs into effective recruiting strategies in partnership with the People Business Partner Contribute to employer brand by shaping how Stitch shows up to candidates Requirements 4+ years of experience in recruiting across non-technical roles Proven track record of hiring high-quality candidates in fast-paced environments Strong ability to assess candidate quality and generate clear hiring signals Experience partnering with a variety of tech functions (e.g. Product, Engineering, etc) Comfortable operating with a high degree of autonomy while partnering closely with stakeholders Strong stakeholder partner - able to influence and push back constructively Highly organised and able to manage multiple roles without dropping the ball Excellent communication skills and strong attention to detail Ideal candidate Demonstrates a strong commitment to quality of hire, not just filling roles Highly proactive, with a bias toward action and the ability to operate without direction Able to move quickly while maintaining strong judgment and decision-making standards AI-savvy, with a continuous focus on automation and improving efficiency Takes full ownership of problems and drives outcomes end-to-end Motivated by building and improving systems, not just maintaining existing processes What success looks like We consistently hire high-quality talent across non-technical functions New hires are high-performing and successful in their roles Improved probation pass rates through better hiring decisions Hiring managers are unblocked and supported Our reliance on external recruiters decreases significantly over time Candidates have a fast, thoughtful, and high-quality experience Stitch consistently attracts top-tier talent Benefits & Perks 🏖️ Remote-friendly Work We recognise and value the importance of enabling remote work and maintaining a globally distributed workforce. We cater to equitable employee experiences for both in-office and remote team members. We remain conscientious about ensuring a level playing field, especially around team events, business meeting practices, and office-driven benefits. While we facilitate remote work, we also see the value in bringing the full team together in person from time to time. 🎨 Stock Ownership* We believe in the power of ownership. That's why every full-time team member becomes a part-owner of Stitch. Our employee stock ownership plan ensures that when the company thrives, you do too. ⏰ Time Off* Taking time off from work is critical to ensure that you can take necessary breaks and have time for important life events outside of work. It also helps you manage your energy better. In line with this, we provide a generous annual leave policy, along with supportive family responsibility, parental, study, and long-tenure sabbatical leave options, designed to accommodate the diverse needs of our team. 📚 Learning & Development Fund* We are committed to the professional growth of our team. Each year, we allocate $3,000 per full time team member for learning and development, supporting a culture of continuous improvement and skill enhancement. 🩺 Health Insurance Contribution* Recognising the importance of health and well-being, we contribute to health insurance for all team members and provide group health insurance schemes in certain jurisdictions. 💻 Equipment To ensure our team has the tools they need, new members receive a brand-new Mac laptop along with the necessary peripheral equipment upon joining Stitch. 💜 Employee Assistance Programmes We care about the well-being of our team. Our Employee Assistance Programmes provide you with the necessary resources and support to not only excel in your job but also to thrive in your personal life. Whether it's counselling, advice, or support services, we're here to help every step of the way. Other notable benefits and perks Celebrations for important life and work milestones Daily team lunches in the Cape Town office Bi-annual work retreats New starter dinners Frequent team and company events Compliance with POPIA Our processing of your Personal Information is subject to, and in compliance with, the provisions of POPIA. Privacy and security of your information We will process your information only on instructions from you, which we are deemed to have received when you submit information on our website. We will maintain the confidentiality and security of such information per the standards contained in the POPIA, which requires us to adopt reasonable safeguards to protect the integrity and confidentiality of such information from unauthorized access, loss or destruction. *these benefits are applicable for full-time staff members but may not apply for fixed-term and part-time staff