.

backend/inbox/models.py

@@ -214,8 +214,10 @@ class Inbox(SQLModel, table=True):
         return or_(Users.name.ilike(pattern), Users.email.ilike(pattern))
 
     @classmethod
-    async def get_candidate_profile(cls,session:AsyncSession,user_id:uuid.UUID|None=None,limit:int=10,offset:int=0,search:str|None=None):
+    async def get_candidate_profile(cls,session:AsyncSession,user_id:uuid.UUID|None=None,limit:int=10,offset:int=0,search:str|None=None,job_post_ids=None):
         try:
+            if job_post_ids is not None and not list(job_post_ids):
+                return []
             options=[selectinload(cls.messages)]
             if user_id:
                 options.extend([
@@ -234,6 +236,11 @@ class Inbox(SQLModel, table=True):
                 qry = qry.where(cls.user_id == user_id)
             if search:
                 qry = qry.where(cls._candidate_search_filter(search))
+            if job_post_ids is not None:
+                qry = (
+                    qry.join(Inbox_Messages, cls.message_id == Inbox_Messages.id)
+                    .where(Inbox_Messages.assigned_job_post_id.in_(list(job_post_ids)))
+                )
             # Most-recent-first is the list contract; id breaks ties so a page
             # boundary can't drop or repeat a row when created_at collides.
             qry = qry.order_by(cls.created_at.desc(), cls.id.desc())
@@ -247,9 +254,11 @@ class Inbox(SQLModel, table=True):
             raise HTTPException(status_code=500,detail=str(e))
 
     @classmethod
-    async def count_candidate_profiles(cls,session:AsyncSession,user_id:uuid.UUID|None=None,search:str|None=None):
+    async def count_candidate_profiles(cls,session:AsyncSession,user_id:uuid.UUID|None=None,search:str|None=None,job_post_ids=None):
         """Result-set size for the same predicate get_candidate_profile pages over."""
         try:
+            if job_post_ids is not None and not list(job_post_ids):
+                return 0
             qry = (
                 select(func.count())
                 .select_from(cls)
@@ -261,6 +270,11 @@ class Inbox(SQLModel, table=True):
                 qry = qry.where(cls.user_id == user_id)
             if search:
                 qry = qry.where(cls._candidate_search_filter(search))
+            if job_post_ids is not None:
+                qry = (
+                    qry.join(Inbox_Messages, cls.message_id == Inbox_Messages.id)
+                    .where(Inbox_Messages.assigned_job_post_id.in_(list(job_post_ids)))
+                )
             result = await session.execute(qry)
             return result.scalar_one()
         except Exception as e:

backend/job/app.py

@@ -957,7 +957,9 @@ async def fetch_candidate(
         )
 
 
-        total=await service.count_candidates(user_id=user_id,search=search) if isinstance(data,list) else 1
+        total=await service.count_candidates(
+            user_id=user_id,search=search,current_user=current_user,assigned_job_post_id=assigned_job_post_id,
+        ) if isinstance(data,list) else 1
         return JSONResponse(content={"data":data,"total":total,"status_code":200})
     except HTTPException:
         raise

backend/job/candidate/models.py

@@ -390,16 +390,20 @@ class Manual_UPLOAD_CANDIDATE(SQLModel, table=True):
         return result.scalars().first()
 
     @classmethod
-    async def list_for_talent_pool(cls, session: AsyncSession, *, limit=100, offset=0, search=None):
+    async def list_for_talent_pool(cls, session: AsyncSession, *, limit=100, offset=0, search=None, job_post_ids=None):
         """Newest applications with a user + job for Talent Pool (manual / form)."""
         from users.models import Users
 
+        if job_post_ids is not None and not list(job_post_ids):
+            return []
         statement = (
             select(cls)
             .join(Users, cls.user_id == Users.id)
             .where(cls.user_id.is_not(None), cls.job_post_id.is_not(None))
             .order_by(cls.created_at.desc())
         )
+        if job_post_ids is not None:
+            statement = statement.where(cls.job_post_id.in_(list(job_post_ids)))
         if search:
             like = f"%{search.strip()}%"
             statement = statement.where(

backend/job/candidate/views.py

@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ from job.history.views import HistoryRecorder
 from job.notes.serializers import serialize_note
 from job.candidate.plugins import extract_candidate_email
 from users.models import Users
-from users.permissions import is_hiring_manager
+from users.permissions import is_hiring_manager,sees_all_candidates
 from employment_agent.plugins import parse_phone
 
 load_dotenv()
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ MANUAL_UPLOAD_TO_ADDRESS=os.getenv(
     "MANUAL_UPLOAD_TO_ADDRESS","manual-cv-upload@hr-ats.local"
 )
 MANAGER_SCOPE_DETAIL="You can only access candidates allocated to jobs opened from your requisitions"
+CREATOR_SCOPE_DETAIL="You can only access candidates allocated to jobs you created"
 
 
 async def assigned_job_ids_for_user(session,user_id):
@@ -77,15 +78,48 @@ async def job_id_for_application(session,inbox_id=None,manual_id=None):
     return None,None
 
 
+async def owned_job_ids_for_candidate_scope(session,current_user):
+    """Job ids this user may see, or None when the list is unscoped.
+
+    Hiring manager → requisition / assigned-manager jobs.
+    candidates.manage or admin → None (all applications).
+    Otherwise → job_posts.created_by = this user. Never role_id.
+    """
+    if is_hiring_manager(current_user):
+        return await JobPosts.ids_for_manager(session,current_user.get("id"))
+    if sees_all_candidates(current_user):
+        return None
+    return await JobPosts.ids_for_creator(session,current_user.get("id"))
+
+
+async def job_post_ids_for_candidate_list(session,current_user,assigned_job_post_id=None):
+    """None = unscoped list. [] = nothing visible. Else UUID list for the query."""
+    owned=await owned_job_ids_for_candidate_scope(session,current_user)
+    requested=JobPosts._as_uuid(assigned_job_post_id) if assigned_job_post_id is not None else None
+    if owned is None:
+        return [requested] if requested else None
+    if requested is not None:
+        return [requested] if requested in set(owned) else []
+    return list(owned)
+
+
+def _scope_detail(current_user):
+    if is_hiring_manager(current_user):
+        return MANAGER_SCOPE_DETAIL
+    return CREATOR_SCOPE_DETAIL
+
+
 async def assert_manager_candidate_access(
     session,current_user,*,user_id=None,job_post_id=None,inbox_id=None,manual_id=None,
 ):
-    """Hiring managers may only touch applications on jobs they own."""
-    if not is_hiring_manager(current_user):
+    """Row access: hiring-manager jobs, unscoped (manage/admin), or jobs this user created."""
+    if not is_hiring_manager(current_user) and sees_all_candidates(current_user):
         return
-    owned=set(await JobPosts.ids_for_manager(session,current_user.get("id")))
+    owned=await owned_job_ids_for_candidate_scope(session,current_user)
+    owned=set(owned or [])
+    detail=_scope_detail(current_user)
     if not owned:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=403,detail=MANAGER_SCOPE_DETAIL)
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=403,detail=detail)
     job_id=JobPosts._as_uuid(job_post_id) if job_post_id is not None else None
     uid=user_id
     if job_id is None and (inbox_id is not None or manual_id is not None):
@@ -94,9 +128,9 @@ async def assert_manager_candidate_access(
         candidate_jobs=await assigned_job_ids_for_user(session,uid)
         if candidate_jobs & owned:
             return
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=403,detail=MANAGER_SCOPE_DETAIL)
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=403,detail=detail)
     if job_id is None or job_id not in owned:
-        raise HTTPException(status_code=403,detail=MANAGER_SCOPE_DETAIL)
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=403,detail=detail)
 
 
 async def parse_linkedin_url_from_cv(resume_text) -> str | None:
@@ -789,21 +823,32 @@ class CandidateView:
         try:
             if not user_id and is_hiring_manager(current_user):
                 raise HTTPException(status_code=403,detail=MANAGER_SCOPE_DETAIL)
-            if user_id and is_hiring_manager(current_user):
+            if user_id:
                 await assert_manager_candidate_access(
                     self.session,current_user,user_id=user_id,
                 )
             detail=bool(user_id)
-            rows=await Inbox.get_candidate_profile(session=self.session,user_id=user_id,limit=limit,offset=offset,search=search)
+            list_job_ids=None
+            if not detail:
+                list_job_ids=await job_post_ids_for_candidate_list(
+                    self.session,current_user,assigned_job_post_id=assigned_job_post_id,
+                )
+                if list_job_ids is not None and not list_job_ids:
+                    return []
+            rows=await Inbox.get_candidate_profile(
+                session=self.session,user_id=user_id,limit=limit,offset=offset,search=search,
+                job_post_ids=list_job_ids,
+            )
             if detail:
                 records=rows if isinstance(rows,list) else ([rows] if rows else [])
-                if records and is_hiring_manager(current_user):
-                    owned=set(await JobPosts.ids_for_manager(self.session,current_user.get("id")))
+                owned=await owned_job_ids_for_candidate_scope(self.session,current_user)
+                if records and owned is not None:
+                    owned_set=set(owned)
                     kept=[]
                     for rec in records:
                         msg=getattr(rec,"messages",None)
                         jid=getattr(msg,"assigned_job_post_id",None) if msg is not None else None
-                        if jid and jid in owned:
+                        if jid and jid in owned_set:
                             kept.append(rec)
                     if kept:
                         return await self.attach_profile_detail(kept)
@@ -815,10 +860,10 @@ class CandidateView:
                 manual=await Manual_UPLOAD_CANDIDATE.get_by_user_id(self.session,user_id)
                 if not manual:
                     return []
-                if is_hiring_manager(current_user):
-                    owned=set(await JobPosts.ids_for_manager(self.session,current_user.get("id")))
-                    if not manual.job_post_id or manual.job_post_id not in owned:
-                        raise HTTPException(status_code=403,detail=MANAGER_SCOPE_DETAIL)
+                if owned is not None:
+                    owned_set=set(owned)
+                    if not manual.job_post_id or manual.job_post_id not in owned_set:
+                        raise HTTPException(status_code=403,detail=_scope_detail(current_user))
                 user=await Users.get_user_by_id(self.session,user_id)
                 job_post=None
                 if manual.job_post_id:
@@ -841,7 +886,7 @@ class CandidateView:
             if not isinstance(inbox_payloads,list):
                 inbox_payloads=[inbox_payloads] if inbox_payloads else []
             manual_rows=await Manual_UPLOAD_CANDIDATE.list_for_talent_pool(
-                self.session,limit=limit,offset=0,search=search,
+                self.session,limit=limit,offset=0,search=search,job_post_ids=list_job_ids,
             )
             seen={p.get("user_id") for p in inbox_payloads if p.get("user_id")}
             manual_payloads=[]
@@ -902,9 +947,16 @@ class CandidateView:
         except Exception as e:
             raise HTTPException(status_code=500,detail=str(e))
 
-    async def count_candidates(self,user_id=None,search=None):
+    async def count_candidates(self,user_id=None,search=None,current_user=None,assigned_job_post_id=None):
         try:
-            return await Inbox.count_candidate_profiles(session=self.session,user_id=user_id,search=search)
+            job_post_ids=None
+            if not user_id:
+                job_post_ids=await job_post_ids_for_candidate_list(
+                    self.session,current_user,assigned_job_post_id=assigned_job_post_id,
+                )
+            return await Inbox.count_candidate_profiles(
+                session=self.session,user_id=user_id,search=search,job_post_ids=job_post_ids,
+            )
         except HTTPException:
             raise
         except Exception as e:
@@ -914,6 +966,7 @@ class CandidateView:
         try:
             if not user_id:
                 raise HTTPException(status_code=400,detail="user_id is required")
+            await assert_manager_candidate_access(self.session,current_user,user_id=user_id)
             fields={k:v for k,v in (payload or {}).items() if k in ("favorite","rating") and v is not None}
             if not fields:
                 raise HTTPException(status_code=400,detail="favorite or rating is required")

backend/job/job_post/models.py

@@ -481,6 +481,21 @@ class JobPosts(SQLModel, table=True):
                 out.append(row_id)
         return out
 
+    @classmethod
+    async def ids_for_creator(cls, session: AsyncSession, user_id):
+        """Job posts this user created. Recruiter Candidates scope (when they
+        lack candidates.manage) follows job_posts.created_by, not role_id."""
+        uid = cls._as_uuid(user_id)
+        if uid is None:
+            return []
+        result = await session.execute(
+            select(cls.id).where(
+                cls.created_by == uid,
+                cls.is_deleted == False,  # noqa: E712
+            )
+        )
+        return list(result.scalars().all())
+
     @classmethod
     async def count_open_reqs_by_hiring_managers(cls, session: AsyncSession, user_ids):
         """Open requisitions per hiring manager, keyed by users.id."""

backend/role/app.py

@@ -48,6 +48,11 @@ class RolePermissionTagsUpdate(BaseModel):
     is_active: bool | None = None
 
 
+class RoleMatrixUpdate(BaseModel):
+    """Exact tag ids for one role. Saved onto that role's overlay bundle."""
+    permission_tags: list[int]
+
+
 @router.get("/roles/fetch")
 async def fetch_roles(
     current_user: dict = Depends(require_permission(PermissionTag.RBAC_USERS_VIEW)),
@@ -174,6 +179,23 @@ async def update_permission(
     except Exception as e:
         raise HTTPException(status_code=500,detail=str(e))
 
+@router.put("/roles/matrix/update")
+async def update_role_matrix(
+    payload: RoleMatrixUpdate,
+    current_user: dict = Depends(require_permission(PermissionTag.RBAC_USERS_EDIT)),
+    record_id: int = Query(...),
+    session: AsyncSession = Depends(get_session),
+):
+    try:
+        service=Role(session=session)
+        data=await service.set_role_matrix(record_id,payload.permission_tags)
+        return JSONResponse(content={"data":data,"status_code":200})
+    except HTTPException:
+        raise
+    except Exception as e:
+        raise HTTPException(status_code=500,detail=str(e))
+
+
 @router.put("/roles/permission-tags/update")
 async def update_role_permission_tags(
     payload: RolePermissionTagsUpdate,

backend/role/views.py

@@ -81,6 +81,46 @@ class Role:
         updated = await Roles.update_role(self.session, int(record_id), fields)
         return await self._role_payload(updated)
 
+    async def set_role_matrix(self, record_id, permission_tags):
+        """Write the Access Control grid onto one overlay bundle for this role.
+
+        Shared system bundles are not mutated. The role then points at that
+        overlay only, so a ticked cell is the grant and an unticked cell is not.
+        """
+        role = await Roles.get_role_by_id(self.session, int(record_id))
+        if not role or role.is_deleted:
+            raise HTTPException(status_code=404, detail="Role not found")
+        tag_ids = sorted({int(i) for i in (permission_tags or [])})
+        found = await PermissionTags.get_permission_tags_by_ids(self.session, tag_ids)
+        unknown = sorted(set(tag_ids) - {t.id for t in found})
+        if unknown:
+            raise HTTPException(
+                status_code=422,
+                detail=f"Unknown or inactive permission tag ids: {unknown}",
+            )
+        overlay_name = f"role_{role.id}_matrix"
+        bundle = await Permissions.get_permission_by_name(self.session, overlay_name)
+        if bundle is None:
+            bundle = await Permissions.insert_permission(
+                self.session,
+                {
+                    "name": overlay_name,
+                    "description": f"Access Control matrix for {role.role_name}",
+                    "permission_tags": tag_ids,
+                    "is_system": False,
+                    "is_active": True,
+                    "is_deleted": False,
+                },
+            )
+        else:
+            await Permissions.update_permission(
+                self.session, int(bundle.id), {"permission_tags": tag_ids},
+            )
+        updated = await Roles.update_role(
+            self.session, int(record_id), {"permissions": [int(bundle.id)]},
+        )
+        return await self._role_payload(updated)
+
     async def delete_role(self, record_id):
         role = await Roles.get_role_by_id(self.session, int(record_id))
         if not role or role.is_deleted:

backend/users/permissions.py

@@ -234,6 +234,19 @@ def is_admin(current_user: dict | None) -> bool:
     return PermissionTag.REQUISITIONS_MANAGE.value in granted
 
 
+def sees_all_candidates(current_user: dict | None) -> bool:
+    """Unscoped Candidates list: admins, or any role granted candidates.manage.
+
+    Absence of that tag (with candidates.view) scopes the list to jobs the
+    user created. Do not key this off role_id — a custom role must be able
+    to opt in through Access Control.
+    """
+    if is_admin(current_user):
+        return True
+    granted = (current_user or {}).get("permissions") or []
+    return PermissionTag.CANDIDATES_MANAGE.value in granted
+
+
 def has_permission(
     granted: set[str] | list[str] | tuple[str, ...],
     *required: PermissionTag,

frontend/src/api/candidates.js

@@ -1,16 +1,4 @@
-/* ============================================================
-   candidates.js — candidate endpoints (backend/job/app.py).
 
-   Two data families share this module:
-   - ATS scoring (persisted `candidates` table): listJobs, listCandidates,
-     getCandidate, scoreUploads, scoreInbox, toCandidateView.
-   - Candidate profiles (inbox -> users -> roles join): list, getByUserId,
-     toRows.
-
-   Same conventions as inbox.js: one named export per endpoint, no hooks,
-   camelCase params mapped to snake_case at the call boundary, and every
-   function returns the parsed {data, total, status_code} envelope.
-   ============================================================ */
 
 import { downloadFile, fetchBlobUrl, request } from '../lib/apiClient'
 import { toDate } from '../lib/format'
@@ -163,25 +151,7 @@ export function toCandidateView(row) {
   }
 }
 
-/**
- * Candidate USER accounts — `users` rows filtered by role, not the scored
- * `candidates` table. Needs candidates.view.
- *
- * role_id 8 is the seeded `candidate` role (id 4 is hiring_manager, the signup
- * default). We send it explicitly so a missing param cannot list the wrong people.
- *
- * This route:
- *  - it returns `{data, status_code}` with NO `total` on the list; use
- *    GET /candidate/fetch/users/count (once on page open) for the pager total;
- *  - `top`/`skip` page the list; the Candidates screen sends the user's page
- *    size as `top` and `(page-1)*top` as `skip`;
- *  - `assigned_job_post_id` keeps only users assigned to that job post
- *    (`inbox_messages.assigned_job_post_id`). Omit it for All Jobs.
- *  - it accepts a `search` query param but never forwards it to the service
- *    layer (`get_users(role_id=, top=, skip=)`), so searching is a no-op
- *    server-side. Filtering stays client-side on the fetched page until that
- *    is fixed.
- */
+
 export function listCandidateUsers({ roleId = 8, top = 10, skip = 0, assignedJobPostId } = {}) {
   return request('/candidate/fetch/users', {
     params: { role_id: roleId, top, skip, assigned_job_post_id: assignedJobPostId },
@@ -195,14 +165,7 @@ export function countCandidateUsers({ roleId = 8, search, assignedJobPostId } =
   })
 }
 
-/**
- * `users` row -> the row shape the Candidates table renders.
- *
- * A user account carries identity only. Everything the ATS produces
- * (score, matched skills, critique, the job it was scored against) lives in the
- * `candidates` table keyed by job_id + content hash, with no user_id to join on, so
- * those fields are null here by construction rather than by omission.
- */
+
 export function toCandidateUserView(row) {
   return {
     id: row.id,
@@ -279,48 +242,19 @@ export function toApplicationListView(row) {
   }
 }
 
-/**
- * Candidate profiles — the `inbox -> users -> roles` join, restricted server-side
- * to role_name == CANDIDATE (backend/inbox/models.py:get_candidate_profile).
- *
- * Permissioned with require_permission(CANDIDATES_VIEW), so a caller without the
- * tag gets a 403.
- *
- * `search` is an ilike over users.name / users.email only — it does NOT reach
- * the résumé text or the suggested job titles.
- *
- * `assignedJobPostId` maps to `assigned_job_post_id` and keeps only people
- * assigned to that job. Empty / omitted is All Jobs.
- */
+
 export function list({ search, limit, offset, assignedJobPostId } = {}) {
   return request('/candidate/fetch', {
     params: { search, limit, offset, assigned_job_post_id: assignedJobPostId },
   })
 }
 
-/**
- * One candidate by users.id.
- *
- * Passing user_id switches the endpoint into DETAIL mode
- * (backend/job/candidate/views.py:get_candidate), which is a different and much
- * larger payload than the list rows: résumé text, the AI match verdict, phone,
- * education, source, documents, favorite/rating, and the four child collections
- * — interviews, activity, feedback, notes — flattened across every inbox row the
- * candidate owns.
- *
- * NOTE the asymmetric response: get_candidate_profile returns a BARE OBJECT
- * rather than a one-element list when user_id matches exactly one row
- * (backend/inbox/models.py:68-70). Callers must normalise — see toRows().
- */
+
 export function getByUserId(userId) {
   return request('/candidate/fetch', { params: { user_id: userId } })
 }
 
-/**
- * Candidates allocated to jobs this hiring manager owns — requisitions they
- * created (or are assigned on) → linked job posts → applications.
- * Needs candidates.view. Server-scoped; recruiters should not use this.
- */
+
 export function listForManager({ limit = 50, offset = 0 } = {}) {
   return request('/candidate/manager/fetch', { params: { limit, offset } })
 }
@@ -331,11 +265,7 @@ export function toRows(res) {
   return res?.data ? [res.data] : []
 }
 
-/**
- * Assigned job-post ids only. `job_posts` / suggested_job_post_ids are
- * matcher hints, not an assignment — the Candidates / Talent Pool job
- * filter must not treat a suggestion as a link.
- */
+
 export function jobIdsOf(row) {
   if (!row || typeof row !== 'object') return []
   const ids = []

frontend/src/api/roles.js

@@ -34,3 +34,12 @@ export function listPermissionTags() {
 export function updatePermissionTags(body) {
   return request('/roles/permission-tags/update', { method: 'PUT', body })
 }
+
+/** Access Control grid save — PUT onto a per-role overlay bundle. */
+export function updateRoleMatrix(recordId, permissionTags) {
+  return request('/roles/matrix/update', {
+    method: 'PUT',
+    params: { record_id: recordId },
+    body: { permission_tags: permissionTags },
+  })
+}

frontend/src/auth/permissions.js

@@ -48,3 +48,17 @@ export function isHiringManager(user) {
   const name = (user?.role_name || '').trim().toLowerCase()
   return name === HIRING_MANAGER_ROLE || name === 'manager'
 }
+
+const ADMIN_ROLES = new Set(['system_administrator', 'hr_administrator', 'admin'])
+
+export function isAdmin(user) {
+  const name = (user?.role_name || '').trim().toLowerCase()
+  if (ADMIN_ROLES.has(name)) return true
+  return (user?.permissions || []).includes('requisitions.manage')
+}
+
+/** Unscoped Candidates list — matches backend sees_all_candidates. */
+export function seesAllCandidates(user) {
+  if (isAdmin(user)) return true
+  return (user?.permissions || []).includes('candidates.manage')
+}

frontend/src/screens/Candidates.jsx

@@ -3,9 +3,11 @@
 
    Recruiter rows come from GET /candidate/fetch (inbox + manual), one row
    per application, so score / stage / job / recruiter have a source.
-   Hiring managers use GET /candidate/manager/fetch (jobs on their
-   requisitions). Adding a candidate still goes through CV Import or the
-   Add Candidate modal — both run the CV through persisted ATS scoring.
+   Without candidates.manage the server scopes that list to jobs the user
+   created (job_posts.created_by). Hiring managers use GET
+   /candidate/manager/fetch (jobs on their requisitions). Adding a candidate
+   still goes through CV Import or the Add Candidate modal — both run the CV
+   through persisted ATS scoring.
    ============================================================ */
 
 import { useCallback, useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from 'react'
@@ -18,7 +20,7 @@ import PageHeader from '../ui/PageHeader'
 import { Avatar, Badge, EmptyState, FieldError, Icon, ScoreChip, SkeletonRows } from '../ui/primitives'
 import { useToast } from '../ui/Toast'
 import { useAuth } from '../auth/AuthContext'
-import { isHiringManager } from '../auth/permissions'
+import { isHiringManager, seesAllCandidates } from '../auth/permissions'
 import CandidateProfile from './CandidateProfile'
 import { useJobTitles } from './ScoredCandidateProfile'
 import { qk } from '../lib/queryKeys'
@@ -64,11 +66,12 @@ async function fetchCandidates({ limit = DEFAULT_PAGE_SIZE, offset = 0, search,
   }
 }
 
-async function fetchJobs() {
+async function fetchJobs({ createdBy } = {}) {
   const res = await candidatesApi.listJobs()
   const rows = Array.isArray(res?.data) ? res.data : []
   return rows
     .filter((row) => row && row.id != null)
+    .filter((row) => !createdBy || String(row.created_by || '') === String(createdBy))
     .map((row) => ({
       id: String(row.id),
       title: typeof row.title === 'string' && row.title.trim() ? row.title : 'Untitled',
@@ -291,7 +294,9 @@ function RecruiterCandidates() {
   const qc = useQueryClient()
   const location = useLocation()
   const navigate = useNavigate()
+  const { user } = useAuth()
   const updateCandidates = useSeedMutation('candidates')
+  const unscoped = seesAllCandidates(user)
 
   const [q, setQ] = useState('')
   const [jobId, setJobId] = useState('')
@@ -325,7 +330,10 @@ function RecruiterCandidates() {
       assignedJobPostId: jobId || undefined,
     }),
   })
-  const jobsQuery = useQuery({ queryKey: qk.jobPosts.list(), queryFn: fetchJobs })
+  const jobsQuery = useQuery({
+    queryKey: qk.jobPosts.list({ createdBy: unscoped ? 'all' : (user?.id ?? null) }),
+    queryFn: () => fetchJobs({ createdBy: unscoped ? undefined : user?.id }),
+  })
   const candidates = useMemo(() => candidatesQuery.data?.rows ?? [], [candidatesQuery.data])
   const jobsById = useMemo(
     () => Object.fromEntries((jobsQuery.data ?? []).map((j) => [j.id, j])),
@@ -619,7 +627,9 @@ function RecruiterCandidates() {
                         <EmptyState title={candidates.length ? 'No matches' : 'No applications yet'}>
                           {candidates.length
                             ? 'Try a different search, job, stage, or band filter.'
-                            : 'Import a CV or add a candidate to see score, stage, and recruiter on this table.'}
+                            : unscoped
+                              ? 'Import a CV or add a candidate to see score, stage, and recruiter on this table.'
+                              : 'Candidates appear here when they are allocated to a job you created.'}
                         </EmptyState>
                       </td>
                     </tr>

frontend/src/screens/Rbac.jsx

@@ -7,13 +7,11 @@
    now come from GET /permission-tags/fetch, so a 105th tag appears here without
    a frontend change, and a renamed module cannot silently shift every column.
 
-   THE SAVE BUTTON IS STILL NOT A PER-CELL TOGGLE, AND THAT IS DELIBERATE. The
-   backend grants access through BUNDLES — `roles.permissions` is a list of
-   permission-bundle ids, and `effective_permissions` is the resolved union. An
-   arbitrary per-tag set is not expressible through PUT /roles/update, so the
-   matrix stays read-only and the editable thing is the bundle set, which is
-   what actually determines access. Editing bundles writes real permissions;
-   a per-cell grid would have to lie about what it saved.
+   Tick a cell to grant or revoke that module.action tag, then Save. Save
+   writes the exact set onto a per-role overlay bundle (PUT /roles/matrix/update)
+   so shared system bundles are not mutated. The Edit modal still assigns
+   named bundles; the next Save of this grid replaces the role's bundle list
+   with that overlay.
 
    Delete is soft server-side and refuses system roles (Role.delete_role), so
    the button is hidden on those rather than offered and rejected.
@@ -26,6 +24,7 @@ import Modal from '../ui/Modal'
 import PageHeader from '../ui/PageHeader'
 import { Badge, EmptyState, FieldError, Icon } from '../ui/primitives'
 import { useToast } from '../ui/Toast'
+import { useAuth } from '../auth/AuthContext'
 import { useFormState } from '../components/AuthLayout'
 import { qk } from '../lib/queryKeys'
 import { friendlyAuthError } from '../lib/errors'
@@ -45,11 +44,14 @@ function humanise(slug) {
 
 export default function Rbac() {
   const { toast } = useToast()
+  const { can } = useAuth()
   const qc = useQueryClient()
   const [selectedId, setSelectedId] = useState(null)
   const [creating, setCreating] = useState(false)
   const [editing, setEditing] = useState(null)
   const [confirmDelete, setConfirmDelete] = useState(null)
+  const [draft, setDraft] = useState(() => new Set())
+  const canEdit = can('rbac_users.edit')
 
   const rolesQuery = useQuery({
     queryKey: qk.roles.list(),
@@ -95,6 +97,38 @@ export default function Rbac() {
 
   const role = roles.find((r) => r.id === selectedId) ?? roles[0]
   const granted = useMemo(() => new Set(role?.effective_permissions ?? []), [role])
+  const grantKey = (role?.effective_permissions ?? []).slice().sort().join('\0')
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    setDraft(new Set(role?.effective_permissions ?? []))
+  }, [role?.id, grantKey])
+
+  const tagIdByName = useMemo(() => {
+    const map = new Map()
+    for (const t of tags) {
+      const name = t.tag_name || (t.module && t.action ? `${t.module}.${t.action}` : null)
+      if (name && t.id != null) map.set(name, t.id)
+    }
+    return map
+  }, [tags])
+
+  const dirty = useMemo(() => {
+    if (draft.size !== granted.size) return true
+    for (const tag of draft) {
+      if (!granted.has(tag)) return true
+    }
+    return false
+  }, [draft, granted])
+
+  const toggleTag = (tag) => {
+    if (!canEdit) return
+    setDraft((prev) => {
+      const next = new Set(prev)
+      if (next.has(tag)) next.delete(tag)
+      else next.add(tag)
+      return next
+    })
+  }
 
   const invalidate = () => qc.invalidateQueries({ queryKey: qk.roles.all() })
 
@@ -129,6 +163,27 @@ export default function Rbac() {
     onError: (err) => toast(friendlyAuthError(err, 'Could not delete the role.'), 'error'),
   })
 
+  const saveMatrix = useMutation({
+    mutationFn: ({ id, permissionTags }) => rolesApi.updateRoleMatrix(id, permissionTags),
+    onSuccess: (res) => {
+      const next = res?.data?.effective_permissions
+      if (Array.isArray(next)) setDraft(new Set(next))
+      invalidate()
+      toast('Permissions saved', 'success')
+    },
+    onError: (err) => toast(friendlyAuthError(err, 'Could not save permissions.'), 'error'),
+  })
+
+  const saveRoleMatrix = () => {
+    if (!role || !canEdit) return
+    const permissionTags = []
+    for (const name of draft) {
+      const id = tagIdByName.get(name)
+      if (id != null) permissionTags.push(id)
+    }
+    saveMatrix.mutate({ id: role.id, permissionTags })
+  }
+
   const totalTags = tags.length
 
   return (
@@ -226,12 +281,12 @@ export default function Rbac() {
 
                 <div className="card-body">
                   <p className="text-muted text-sm" style={{ marginBottom: 12 }}>
-                    <Icon name="lock" /> These are the role’s <b>resolved</b> permissions. Access is granted
-                    through bundles
+                    Tick a module action to grant it, then <b>Save</b>. Grants are stored on this
+                    role’s overlay bundle
                     {role.bundles?.length
-                      ? ` — ${role.bundles.map((b) => b.name ?? b).join(', ')}`
-                      : ' — none assigned yet'}
-                    . Edit the bundle set to change what this role can do.
+                      ? ` (currently ${role.bundles.map((b) => b.name ?? b).join(', ')})`
+                      : ''}
+                    . Shared system bundles are not rewritten.
                   </p>
 
                   {tagsQuery.isPending && (
@@ -245,6 +300,7 @@ export default function Rbac() {
                     </EmptyState>
                   )}
                   {tagsQuery.isSuccess && modules.length > 0 && (
+                    <>
                     <div className="table-wrap">
                       <table className="rbac-matrix">
                         <thead>
@@ -262,16 +318,20 @@ export default function Rbac() {
                                 if (!tagSet.has(tag)) {
                                   return <td key={action}><span className="text-muted">·</span></td>
                                 }
-                                const on = granted.has(tag)
+                                const on = draft.has(tag)
                                 return (
                                   <td key={action}>
-                                    <span
+                                    <button
+                                      type="button"
                                       className={`perm-check${on ? ' on' : ''}`}
                                       title={tag}
+                                      disabled={!canEdit || saveMatrix.isPending}
+                                      aria-pressed={on}
                                       aria-label={`${humanise(mod)} ${humanise(action)}: ${on ? 'granted' : 'not granted'}`}
+                                      onClick={() => toggleTag(tag)}
                                     >
                                       <Icon name="check" />
-                                    </span>
+                                    </button>
                                   </td>
                                 )
                               })}
@@ -280,6 +340,17 @@ export default function Rbac() {
                         </tbody>
                       </table>
                     </div>
+                    <div className="rbac-save">
+                      <button
+                        type="button"
+                        className="btn btn-primary"
+                        disabled={!canEdit || !dirty || saveMatrix.isPending}
+                        onClick={saveRoleMatrix}
+                      >
+                        <Icon name="check" /> {saveMatrix.isPending ? 'Saving…' : 'Save'}
+                      </button>
+                    </div>
+                    </>
                   )}
                 </div>
               </>

frontend/src/styles/styles.css

@@ -1320,10 +1320,12 @@ canvas { width: 100%; max-width: 100%; display: block; }
 .rbac-matrix th:first-child { text-align: left; padding-left: 16px; }
 .rbac-matrix td { padding: 10px 8px; border-bottom: 1px solid var(--border); text-align: center; }
 .rbac-matrix td:first-child { text-align: left; padding-left: 16px; font-weight: 600; }
-.perm-check { width: 22px; height: 22px; border-radius: 6px; border: 2px solid var(--border-strong); display: inline-grid; place-items: center; cursor: pointer; transition: .12s; }
+.perm-check { width: 22px; height: 22px; border-radius: 6px; border: 2px solid var(--border-strong); display: inline-grid; place-items: center; cursor: pointer; transition: .12s; background: transparent; padding: 0; font: inherit; color: inherit; }
 .perm-check.on { background: var(--primary); border-color: var(--primary); color: var(--primary-fg); }
 .perm-check.on svg { width: 13px; height: 13px; }
 .perm-check:not(.on) svg { display: none; }
+.perm-check:disabled { cursor: not-allowed; opacity: 0.55; }
+.rbac-save { display: flex; justify-content: flex-end; margin-top: 16px; }
 
 /* AI Assistant chat */
 .chat-wrap { display: flex; flex-direction: column; height: calc(100vh - 190px); height: calc(100dvh - 190px); }