Founding Talent Lead – Build Talent Foundations

About the role

Cortea, a Berlin‑based AI startup revolutionising audits, is looking for a Founding Talent Lead to design and own the end‑to‑end talent acquisition process. You will shape the hiring engine, raise the bar for candidate quality, and help build a culture that reflects the company’s values of kindness, speed and ownership.

Key responsibilities

• Own the full talent cycle: job design, scope, JD creation, sourcing, structured interviews, offers and closures.
• Develop a proactive talent engine that attracts top tech and non‑tech talent through inbound and outbound strategies.
• Implement scorecards, train interviewers and ensure a consistent, bias‑reduced candidate experience.
• Partner with founders on cultural rituals, onboarding hand‑over and feedback loops.
• Elevate Cortea’s employer brand for AI and engineering talent via content, events and referral programs.

Required profile

• 5+ years of talent acquisition experience in fast‑moving environments (startup, scale‑up or agency).
• Proven track record of hiring senior and specialised talent, especially in tech/AI.
• Data‑driven decision making and ability to design systematic hiring processes.
• Clear communicator who can collaborate with founders and leverage their networks.
• Early‑stage recruitment achievements you’re proud of; career breaks are welcome.

Required skills

What we offer

• High impact from day one with a clear path to Head of Talent as the company scales.
• Competitive salary plus meaningful equity (range discussed in the first interview).
• Fully onsite Berlin office with shared lunches, whiteboard sessions and fast decision‑making.
• Uncapped growth budget for tools, learning and events of your choice.