Help shape the future of People & Culture one meaningful hire at a time. 

Samuels Donegan are a specialist talent agency matching People and Talent professionals with forward thinking, culture driven organisations. Ethical, personal and fearless, we combine deep experience and peerless connections across the HR and People landscape to help organisations find exceptional talent and people build fulfilling careers. As fierce advocates for our industry and its people, we are committed to creating meaningful connections and experiences that have a lasting impact. 

We’re looking for a Principal Talent Partner to join our high-performing team. You’ll combine exceptional recruitment delivery with trusted client advisory, deep HR market knowledge and strong commercial capability. If you thrive in a high-trust environment where you can shape your market, build meaningful partnerships and help others succeed, we’d love to hear from you. 

Principal Talent Partner 

• Melbourne / Hybrid 
• Full-time 

The Role 

As Principal Talent Partner, you’ll lead senior, complex and business-critical HR searches while growing trusted client relationships and strengthening your presence in the market. You’ll be relied on for sound judgement, thoughtful advice and exceptional execution- from the initial brief through to onboarding and post-placement care. 

Your influence will extend beyond your own desk. You’ll share market intelligence, mentor Talent Partners, and contribute ideas that strengthen our client experience, commercial approach, and ways of working. 

What You’ll Be Doing 

• Leading end-to-end recruitment across senior, executive and complex specialist HR appointments 
• Advising clients on role design, remuneration, market conditions, candidate availability and hiring risk 
• Leading retained and exclusive searches, strategic market mapping and insight-led shortlisting 
• Producing high-quality candidate briefs, market insights and documentation that build trust 
• Developing long-term relationships with senior HR leaders and generating repeat business and referrals 
• Growing existing accounts and winning new clients across permanent, fixed-term, project hiring and On-Demand Talent 
• Building recognised expertise through market insights, content, events, networks and talent communities 
• Using data, CRM systems, AI and automation to improve forecasting, business development and recruitment delivery 
• Mentoring colleagues, sharing knowledge generously and contributing to a high-performance, kind and accountable culture 

What Success Looks Like 

Trusted Client Partnerships 

Clients re-engage, refer and broaden their relationship with Samuels Donegan because your advice and delivery consistently add value. 

Commercial Performance 

You maintain a qualified pipeline and consistently deliver against agreed quarterly and annual NDR expectations. 

Quality Recruitment Delivery 

You deliver thoughtful, values-aligned shortlists and an exceptional end-to-end experience for clients and candidates. 

Influence & Judgement 

You confidently navigate complex or sensitive situations, challenge thinking respectfully and provide practical solutions. 

Market Credibility 

You become a recognised voice within the HR market and turn your knowledge, relationships and insights into meaningful opportunities. 

Team Contribution 

You mentor others, share your expertise and networks, and actively contribute to the success and capability of the broader team. 

Curiosity & Learning 

You seek feedback, embrace new technology and continue evolving your approach as the market changes. 

What You Bring 

• 8+ years of end-to-end, 360 recruitment experience, with equivalent depth and achievement also considered 
• Significant agency recruitment experience across HR, People & Culture or Talent 
• Experience recruiting senior, executive and complex specialist appointments 
• A sustained record of strong billing and high-quality delivery
• Demonstrated success winning new business, growing accounts and building trusted relationships with senior decision-makers 
• Confidence leading pricing, negotiation, retained search and other high-value commercial conversations 
• Deep understanding of the HR discipline and strong credibility within a defined market or capability area 
• Strong written and verbal communication, emotional intelligence and sound judgement 
• Experience mentoring others and a grounded, generous approach that helps the whole team perform 
• Confidence using data, CRM systems, AI and technology to improve recruitment delivery and business development 

Why Join Us? 

• A culture that genuinely lives its values: ethical, personal and fearless 
• A hybrid model and a beautiful Melbourne HQ 
• Autonomy to shape your market, client portfolio and professional profile 
• The support of an experienced, collaborative and well-connected team 
• Clear pathways for progression, meaningful mentoring and a genuine voice in how we grow 
• Competitive base salary and a generous commission structure 
• Paid parental leave, paid birthday leave, and quarterly unplugged days