Recruitment Manager - Economic Development Team

Contract type: 1 year fixed term

Location: London (hybrid)

Background 

Adam Smith International is a global advisory company that works locally to transform lives by making economies stronger, societies more stable, and governments more effective. We work on behalf of governments, foundations and companies that share our ambition to take on the big challenges facing the world. Our core team of managers and technical experts, in offices around the world, ensures the quality of delivery and high ethical standards that we and our clients require. We are committed to corporate integrity and a triple bottom line of social, environmental and financial performance. Company-wide, our pipeline of business opportunities and portfolio of programmes are growing. We want to recruit high calibre candidates to support the continued growth and delivery of our global portfolio and become part of a team of bright, dynamic and committed people, determined to transform lives for the better.  

The Economic Development team 

Our team designs and delivers high-impact programmes in: 

• Infrastructure and Urban Development 

• Climate Change and Nature 

• Trade, Investment and Private Sector Growth 

We work across Africa, South Asia, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and the Americas for clients including the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), European Commission, DFAT, EIB, and other multilateral and bilateral donors. 

About the role  

We are seeking a Recruitment Manager to lead efforts to identify, engage, and onboard exceptional technical experts and associates across our portfolio. This is a pivotal role for the team, ensuring we maintain a high calibre of talent to deliver complex and ambitious economic development programmes. 

The role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys building relationships, and is passionate about finding the right people to help drive change. You will work closely with technical and delivery teams to understand programme needs and ensure we have the right people in place, at the right time. 

Key Responsibilities  

Talent Sourcing & Recruitment  

• Lead recruitment processes for priority Economic Development programmes, with a focus on building and maintaining a high-quality associate pool. 

• Identify, screen, and assess candidates across core thematic areas: infrastructure, climate and nature, urban development, and private sector growth. 

• Coordinate directly with project leads to understand role requirements and develop tailored outreach strategies. 

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with existing associates and emerging talent across key geographies. 

• Ensure all recruitment activities align with client requirements (e.g. FCDO, EU, DFAT). 

Candidate Management & Operations 

• Manage end-to-end recruitment administration including job descriptions, candidate tracking, interview scheduling, reference checks, contracting, and onboarding. 

• Maintain and refine candidate databases to ensure data is accurate and up to date. 

• Work closely with ASI’s People & Talent team to ensure recruitment policies are upheld and continuously improved. 

Strategic Input 

• Contribute to strategic workforce planning, identifying upcoming capacity needs across the portfolio. 

• Help shape our recruitment brand in target markets, including support to social media and targeted recruitment campaigns. 

• Support efforts to improve the diversity and inclusion of our associate pool. 

Support to Bids & Project Delivery (where relevant) 

• Assist with CV formatting and gathering compliance documents during proposal development. 

• Identify and line up potential candidates for live bids in collaboration with bid and technical teams. 

About you 

You are a proactive, organised, and people-focused professional who understands the value of great talent in achieving development impact. You have a strong eye for quality, excellent interpersonal skills, and a passion for matching people to meaningful work. 

Adam Smith International seeks the following skills and experience: 

• 5–10 years’ experience in recruitment, talent acquisition, HR, ideally with an understanding of consultancy 

• Interest in international development, particularly across infrastructure, climate, and economic growth. 

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build rapport quickly with diverse stakeholders. 

• Strong organisational and time management skills, with attention to detail. 

• A proactive, flexible and collaborative approach to problem solving. 

• Fluency in written and spoken English. 

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and applicant tracking systems. 

Please note that to apply for this role, you must be eligible to work in the UK with full employment rights.  

What we offer you 

As a certified B Corp, our people are at the heart of our strategy and our decisions. We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, a dynamic and friendly team environment, the opportunity to support a highly successful portfolio of programmes, and support to develop your skills and progress in your career.  The diversity of our workforce makes ASI a great place to work, more creative and resourceful, and underpins strong partnerships. We keep a sharp focus on diversity and inclusion, including through our Equality Action Plan and our Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and through leadership from our Executive Team and oversight by our Board. 

We recognise the importance of your life outside of work. We are proud to support flexible working arrangements and commit to making a success of flexible hybrid working arrangement. We’ve built a culture to reflect our values, full of likeminded professionals who are smart, passionate and great at what they do. 

Deadline for applications is 5th September 2025.