Director Talent Acquisition

DIRECTOR, TALENT ACQUISITION, INTERNATIONAL (EMEA & APAC)Seven time zones. Two pods. One leader who can make them feel like the same team!!!We're partnering on a retained search for a Director of Talent Acquisition – International, based in Europe, ideally Amsterdam.Our client is a data centre business delivering gigawatts across three continents, with a workforce set to more than double in under 18 months.EMEA and APAC carry more than half of that forward demand.Your remit spans accounting waves in Malaysia, an operations ramp in India, and expansion into Japan, the Nordics and Italy, all under one leader.THE BUILDThe Amsterdam seat is the only one in the business that touches every region in a single working day, with APAC in the morning and the EU/US in the afternoon.You'll use that position to bring escalations, stakeholder conversations and hiring decisions into the same day.You'll build the new-market hiring playbooks that let the business open a country without reinventing the process.You'll also develop real agency coverage in markets where it's thin, and partner with HR on retention and offer strategy in markets where people move for 5 – 10% after six months.This is a function you'll help shape, not one you'll inherit.THE CATCH (AND IT'S A GOOD ONE)This is not an ivory tower role!!!You'll lead TA Partners in two regions, and you'll carry a meaningful personal desk of Director-level searches across EMEA and APAC alongside them.The best person for this seat still enjoys making the hire, and knows how to build a real relationship with the people they lead.WHO THRIVES HERESomeone who has led recruiters across more than one region, ideally EMEA and APAC togetherSomeone with working fluency in works councils, GDPR, notice-period planning and local contract normsSomeone with credible delivery in Malaysia, India, Japan or IndonesiaSomeone who has run a genuine hiring wave of 40+ hires into one site or function, from start to finishSomeone who has built their own reporting, owned a PSL, and can talk about each team member by nameData centre and mission-critical backgrounds are ideal. Engineering, energy, power, semiconductor and industrial experience all translate well. Leadership fundamentals will always outrank sector. Business English is essential, and Dutch is a genuine advantage.THE DETAIL📍 EU, ideally in Amsterdam (in-market, or relocating before you start; existing NL right to work strongly preferred)💰 Negotiable base (genuinely) + strong target bonus + equity, the equit piece is compelling!🗓️ Targeting an October 2026 startTHE NEXT STEPIf you're a player-coach who wants to build something spectacular across three continents, I'd like to hear from you. Every conversation is non-committal and completely confidential.Message me directly here, or email ben@umbilical.co