Martin Dangerfield
Talent Strategy Director · the rec hub
Martin is one of those people who has actually done the job. He has spent years building and leading in-house talent functions, so he understands what good looks like from the inside and what it takes to get there.
At the rec hub, his focus is on two things: making sure the internal talent team is hiring the right people, and helping clients get more from their own hiring processes. It is a hands-on role that sits right at the heart of how we operate and grow.
A typical day
No two days look the same for Martin. Client calls, internal interviews, strategy work and the occasional fire to put out all compete for space in a calendar that rarely has a quiet hour. What follows is as close to a typical day as you are likely to get.
Martin is at his desk between 08:00 and 08:15. He blocks out the first part of the morning to work through emails and build a plan for the day. No calls, no meetings. Just a clear head before things get moving.
InternalFrom around nine, the calendar fills with client-led work. Account management, escalation calls and strategic conversations all sit in this window. On busy weeks, Martin runs six or more interviews a day on top of managing the delivery teams.
Client-ledHiring great people is a constant priority. In one recent week, Martin sat in on 12 interviews for new talent partners while running his delivery teams at the same time. Getting the right people in is what keeps the standard high.
Hiring"I'm poor at managing that time." If the weather is decent, Martin tries to get out for 15 minutes. More often than not it is a quick break at the desk. Always involves an apple and something peanut-based.
PersonalAfternoons are where the longer-horizon work happens. Martin is currently building an end-to-end talent acquisition plan that breaks down into tasks for him and the wider team. A mix of structured list work and just getting things done, alongside space to respond quickly if something comes up.
Internal"Nothing is forever, and that includes stressful moments." When something needs sorting, Martin focuses on the issue and moves to fix it quickly. He admits he is a poor poker player, but his instincts when things go wrong are sharp.
Client-ledBefore closing the laptop, Martin looks at what needs to happen first thing the next morning. He aims to be done by 6 to 6:30pm. On Fridays he wraps by 5:30 to drop his 15-year-old at football training and collect his wife from the station.
PersonalMartin's team
Martin leads two distinct teams. One focuses on building the rec hub's own talent pipeline. The other is responsible for delivering the work that goes out to clients. Together they span multiple countries and time zones, from San Francisco in the west to Chennai in the east.
What Martin thinks about the role
We asked Martin a few questions about working at the rec hub, what he enjoys, how he handles the tough moments, and what he wants talent partners to know.
Favourite thing about the rec hub?
"I love the variety right now. We are on a journey to look at what we sell and how we deliver those services, and that is really exciting. I really enjoy the people aspects of my role and hope to get the chance to do more of that this year."
How do you handle stressful moments?
"Probably not very well. I am a poor poker player and my face gives it away. I tend to just focus on what the issue is and how we can get things better quickly. Nothing is forever, and that includes the stressful moments."
What type of client do you enjoy most?
"I like them all. I am really proud of the work we have done with bigger enterprise accounts like Ericsson and Thoughtworks, but I have also loved the conversations with smaller companies like Zeroheight. The clients that understand what we do are by far the easiest to work with."
What do you want talent partners to know?
"It is going to sound cheesy but they really can influence the business we are now and going to be. No one should be afraid of putting themselves forward. Talent partners are the eyes and ears of the business and are incredibly valuable."
How do you structure your time?
"Time management is so tough. There is a mix of small tasks on a list, combined with just-do-it stuff like signing a contract. I am currently pulling together a bigger plan to look at how we do talent acquisition end to end. That has a proper plan behind it, which then breaks down into tasks for me and others. I also need to leave space for dealing with issues as they arise. Being able to respond quickly to client escalations is really important."
What Martin uses every day
Like most people in delivery roles, Martin's stack is built around communication, sourcing and tracking. He is also actively exploring where AI tools can save time and reduce manual effort across the team.
The brands the team supports
Martin's delivery team works across a diverse range of clients every day — from fast-growing scale-ups to global enterprises. These are some of the brands they are currently embedded with.
To see the other brands we support, visit our case studies page.
Want to work with brands like these?
As a talent partner at the rec hub, you get to work embedded within some of the world's most exciting businesses. If you are looking for a role where no two days look the same and the work actually matters, take a look at what we have open.
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