Operations & Systems Lead AI Automation

About Zazu Digital Talent

Zazu Digital Talent is a specialist, founder-led recruitment business focused on high-growth tech-driven companies across Europe and North America. We operate differently to traditional agencies, prioritizing quality over volume, deep market understanding, close partnerships with founders and leadership teams, and a strong belief in the art and science of recruiting. We are now building a modern, tech-enabled recruitment engine powered by systems, AI, and automation.

The Role

This is not a support role. This is a build, optimise, and transform role. We are looking for someone to design how the business runs behind the scenes, remove manual, repetitive work, embed smarter, tech-enabled ways of working, and turn recruiting into a system, not a set of tasks.

What You’ll Own

• End-to-end workflows across sourcing, outreach, tracking, and follow-up
• CRM structure, hygiene, and usability
• Automation across key processes
• Outreach systems across LinkedIn and email
• Pipeline visibility and reporting
• Continuous improvement of tools, systems, and workflows

AI, Automation & Tech (Core to the Role)

You will play a key role in building an AI-enabled recruitment engine. This involves evaluating and implementing AI tools that improve sourcing, screening, and outreach; exploring the use of AI agents and automated workflows where they create real leverage; identifying opportunities to eliminate manual work through smart automation; and applying AI in practical, outcome-driven ways.

Build vs Buy (Critical Thinking Required)

You will help shape our tech decisions by evaluating tools across the recruitment tech stack, understanding trade-offs in cost, speed, flexibility, and scalability, and deciding when to use existing tools versus build lightweight internal solutions. The goal is to avoid tool sprawl and unnecessary complexity, building only when it creates real value.

Tech Stack Exposure

You should be comfortable working across tools such as ATS and CRM platforms, LinkedIn Recruiter and sourcing tools, data enrichment tools (Apollo, Clay or similar), outreach and sequencing tools, automation platforms (Zapier, Make), AI tools for workflow optimization, and internal systems (Notion, Airtable or similar).

What We’re Looking For

• Experience in operations, systems, automation, or growth ops
• Experience working with or building recruitment or sales tech stacks
• Proven ability to build systems from scratch and drive adoption
• Strong understanding of the recruitment tech landscape
• Ability to make smart build vs buy decisions
• Practical experience using AI tools or automation workflows
• Highly proactive with a strong bias toward action
• Comfortable operating in a fast-moving, unstructured environment

How You Work

• You don’t wait to be told what to do; you spot problems and fix them.
• You think in systems, not tasks.
• You are obsessed with efficiency and leverage.
• You focus on outcomes, not tools.
• You challenge inefficient ways of working.

What Success Looks Like (First 30–60 Days)

• Manual work significantly reduced
• CRM structured and fully usable
• Core workflows built and embedded
• Initial automations live and delivering value
• Clear improvement in speed and efficiency
• Founder spending far less time on admin and ops

Why This Role Is Different

• You are not maintaining systems, you are building them.
• You will own the recruitment tech stack end-to-end.
• Your work will directly impact speed, quality, and revenue.
• You will work closely with the founder and see everything.
• You will help reshape how recruiting is done.

Contract Details

3–6 month contract (extendable / potential to convert). Full-time or near full-time focus. Immediate start preferred.

Final Note

This role is for someone who wants to build, improve, take ownership, and create real leverage. If you prefer clear instructions and fixed processes, this role will not be the right fit.

Key skills/competency

• Operations & Systems Lead
• Recruitment Technology
• AI in Recruitment
• Automation Workflows
• CRM Systems
• ATS Platforms
• Build vs Buy Decisions
• Process Optimization
• Tech Stack Management
• Growth Operations