Associate Director, Talent Acquisition

Avid Bioservices•Tustin, CA

8d•$151,315 - $189,144•Onsite

About The Position

Avid Bioservices is a leading clinical and commercial biologics CDMO focused on creating innovative solutions to meet the needs of our clients and improve patient outcomes. As the Associate Director of Talent Acquisition, you will take ownership of the talent strategy that fuels our growth. You will lead and scale the Talent Acquisition function — building the team, infrastructure, and partnerships needed to attract exceptional talent across our CDMO operations. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who thrives at the intersection of strategy and execution. You will own workforce planning, employer branding, vendor and RPO management, and TA analytics — while still rolling up your sleeves to recruit for critical and senior-level roles. Your leadership will shape how Avid competes for talent in the life sciences market, and your voice will be part of the strategic discussions that drive our business forward. If you're energized by building something — a team, an employer brand, a scalable hiring engine — in a fast-growing, mission-driven environment, this role is for you.

Requirements

8+ years of progressive talent acquisition experience, including 3+ years leading or managing a TA team in a high-growth or scaling environment.
Demonstrated success building and executing TA strategy — including workforce planning, employer branding, and vendor/RPO management.
Experience managing TA budgets, external partnerships, and recruiting technology platforms (ATS, CRM, sourcing tools).
Proven ability to personally source and close senior-level and hard-to-fill roles using creative, multi-channel strategies.
Strong executive presence with the ability to influence and advise senior leadership on talent strategy and market dynamics.
Analytical mindset — comfortable building dashboards, interpreting data, and translating metrics into actionable strategies.
A coaching-first leadership style rooted in trust, empowerment, and accountability.
Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
Genuine curiosity and a growth mindset — always learning, always improving.
You have a "bring it on!" team player approach and an unshakable positive attitude, always ready to tackle anything that comes your way.
Your written and verbal skills are out of this world, and you communicate with clarity and confidence.
You have exceptional multitasking skills and an unparalleled attention to detail that ensure the smooth running of everything.
You are a master at building relationships, capable of establishing connections with anyone, be it team members, clients, vendors, or suppliers.

Nice To Haves

Experience in CDMO, biotech, pharmaceutical, or life sciences manufacturing environments.
Experience managing an RPO engagement or hybrid internal/external recruiting model.
Proven track record in both experienced hire and university/early-career recruiting.
Familiarity with GMP-regulated environments and the unique talent needs they present.
Experience leading or contributing to employer brand development (career site, EVP, content strategy).
SHRM-CP/SCP, PHR/SPHR, or AIRS certification a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead, coach, and develop the Talent Acquisition team (external and internal recruiters, coordinators, and contingent support), fostering a high-performance, people-core culture.
Define and execute a comprehensive TA strategy aligned with Avid's growth targets, workforce plan, and business priorities.
Own the TA budget, including headcount, tools, job board spend, and external partnerships (RPO, agencies, search firms); manage vendor performance and ROI.
Serve as a strategic advisor to the CPO and Executive Leadership Team on headcount planning, talent market trends, and organizational readiness.
Lead the work to define our future Organizational Structure and Strategic Workforce Plan, in order for Avid to hire the right positions and roles for our growth.
Oversee end-to-end recruitment across all functions and levels — from manufacturing operators to senior leadership — leveraging diverse channels and innovative sourcing strategies.
Design and continuously improve hiring processes, policies, interview frameworks, and candidate assessment methods to ensure quality, speed, and consistency.
Own the TA technology stack (ATS, sourcing platforms, analytics tools); evaluate and implement new solutions to drive efficiency and data-driven decisions.
Establish and track TA KPIs (time-to-fill, quality of hire, cost-per-hire, pipeline health, offer acceptance rates) and report insights to leadership.
Partner with Marketing and the People team to build and amplify Avid's employer brand across LinkedIn, Glassdoor, career site, and industry events.
Develop proactive talent pipelines for hard-to-fill and recurring roles, with a focus on CDMO, biotech, manufacturing, quality, and engineering talent.
Lead and expand the university recruiting and relations efforts, building relationships with target schools and early-career talent communities.
Cultivate a network of passive candidates and industry contacts through creative sourcing, events, and ongoing relationship-building.
Act as a trusted talent advisor to hiring managers and HRBPs — coaching on role design, market positioning, interview best practices, and offer strategy.
Lead post-interview debriefs and calibration discussions to drive informed, equitable hiring decisions.
Ensure an exceptional, consistent candidate experience at every touchpoint, positioning Avid as a premier employer in the life sciences space.
Collaborate cross-functionally with People Operations, Onboarding, and Compliance to ensure seamless handoffs from offer through Day 1.