Head of Global Talent Acquisition

D-Wave (NYSE: QBTS), D-Wave is a leader in the development and delivery of quantum computing systems, software, and services. We are the world’s first commercial supplier of quantum computers, and the only company building both annealing and gate-model quantum computers. Our mission is to help customers realize the value of quantum, today. Our quantum computers — the world’s largest — feature QPUs with sub-second response times and can be deployed on-premises or accessed through our quantum cloud service, which offers 99.9% availability and uptime. More than 100 organizations trust D-Wave with their toughest computational challenges. With over 200 million problems submitted to our quantum systems to date, our customers apply our technology to address use cases spanning optimization, artificial intelligence, research and more. Learn more about realizing the value of quantum computing today and how we’re shaping the quantum-driven industrial and societal advancements of tomorrow: www.dwavequantum.com.

You can read more about our company and our innovations in the pages of The Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, Fast Company, MIT Technology Review, Forbes, Inc. Magazine, Wired and across many whitepapers. 

At D-Wave, we’re helping customers realize the value of quantum computing today and are shaping the quantum-driven industrial and societal advancements of tomorrow.

About the role

We are looking for a strategic Global Head of Talent Acquisition to lead and scale a world-class, end to-end talent acquisition function. This role, mission-critical to the company’s success, will directly shape the organization’s ability to attract the world’s best minds and accelerate breakthroughs in quantum computing, helping to build the teams that will define the future of the technology.

Key Responsibilities

Talent Acquisition Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and execute a global talent acquisition strategy to attract, engage, and hire exceptional talent in alignment with the company’s business objectives, growth plans, and long-term workforce needs.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the CHRO, executive leadership, and business leaders on talent market trends, workforce planning, and hiring strategies.
• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing global TA team, including recruiters, sourcers, and TA operations professionals.

Scaling in a High-Growth, Technical Environment

• Lead hiring across highly specialized roles, including quantum scientists, hardware and software engineers, AI/ML experts, customer facing roles, and critical corporate business functions.
• Design scalable hiring models to support rapid growth across multiple geographies while maintaining quality, speed, and a signature candidate experience.
• Partner closely with R&D and technical leadership to deeply understand evolving skill requirements and future talent needs.
• Develop proactive sourcing strategies to build diverse talent pipelines globally.

University Relations

•  Develop an early-career talent strategy, with responsibility for the full lifecycle of university recruiting programs. 
• Build thoughtful, data-informed approaches to identifying growth opportunities and building strong institutional connections.
• Cultivate and manage strategic partnerships with colleges and universities to build an ongoing talent pipeline interested in building careers in the quantum computing industry.
• Build and maintain relationships with senior stakeholders to support university partnerships, programs, and intern recruiting.
• Manage program budgets, forecasting, and vendor relationships while continuously improving efficiency and scalability.

Employer Brand & Candidate Experience

• Own and elevate the global employer brand, positioning the company as an employer of choice in the quantum computing and deep-tech ecosystem.
• Ensure a consistent, inclusive, and exceptional candidate experience from first touch through onboarding.
• Drive the development of a D-Wave branded employee value proposition in partnership with internal stakeholders

Operational Excellence & Analytics

• Establish best-in-class TA processes, systems, and governance, including ATS optimization and recruiting technology adoption.
• Define and track key hiring metrics (e.g., time-to-hire, quality of hire, diversity outcomes, cost efficiency).
• Use data and market intelligence to continuously improve hiring outcomes and inform executive decision-making.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience 
• 12+ years of progressive talent acquisition experience, including leadership of global or multi-regional TA teams.
• Proven success scaling talent acquisition in high-growth organizations, including University Relations programs.
• Demonstrated experience operating in frontier and rapidly evolving competitive markets, particularly in emerging technical/scientific disciplines and business environments.
• Strong understanding of global labor markets, employment practices, and compliance considerations.
• Track record of building data-driven, scalable recruiting organizations.
• Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a dynamic environment 
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building abilities to collaborate effectively with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to remain flexible and willing to take on additional responsibilities and projects as business needs evolve.

A D-Waver's DNA

• We look at the future and say “why not”; we see possibilities where others see problems or routines. We show the way ahead and are committed to achieving ambitious goals.
• We practice straight talk and listen generously to each other with empathy. We value different opinions and points of views. We ensure that we connect outside as well as inside to learn from others and inspire each other.
• We hold ourselves accountable for delivering results. We make decisions & take responsibility so that we can act & support each other.
• As leaders we motivate & engage our teams to undertake beyond what they originally thought possible, by developing our teams & creating the conditions for people to grow and empower themselves through enabling & coaching.

Our Compensation Philosophy is Simple but Powerful:

We believe providing D-Wavers with company ownership, competitive pay, and a range of meaningful benefits is the start of creating a culture where people want to give the best they’ve got — not because they’re simply making money, but because they’ve fallen in love with our vision, mission, values, and team. 

During the interview process, your Recruiter will review our total rewards (base, equity, bonus, perks, benefit, culture) offerings. The final offer is determined by your proficiencies within this level.   

Inclusion: 

We celebrate diverse perspectives to drive innovation in our pursuit. Our employees range from distinguished domain experts with decades of experience in their respective fields, to bright and motivated graduates eager to make their mark. Our diverse and innovative team will make you feel appreciated, supported and empower your career growth at D-Wave.

The Fine Print: 

No 3rd party candidates will be accepted

It is D-Wave Systems Inc. policy to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/provincial, local law. 

Minimum salary for the role is $150,000 USD.