Talent Acquisition Team Leader

Post Title: Talent Acquisition Team Leader
Department: Human Resources
Line Manager: Head of Recruitment
Salary Grade: £31,236-£37,694, Grade 6
Location: Hybrid, Canary Wharf, London

Job Purpose
The Talent Acquisition Lead supervises the day-to-day delivery of a professional, inclusive and data-informed recruitment service across academic and professional services. The role provides specialist advice on recruitment, attraction and selection, works with the Head of Recruitment and stakeholders to support recruitment planning and attraction activity, and ensures a high-quality experience for candidates and Hiring Managers. The postholder leads the Talent Acquisition team, supports the effective use of recruitment systems and data, and contributes to the continuous improvement of recruitment processes and practices.

• Lead the operational delivery of the end-to-end Talent Acquisition service across academic and professional services recruitment across multiple sites, ensuring vacancies are progressed efficiently, consistently and in line with organisational requirements.
• Provide specialist recruitment advice, guidance and coaching to Hiring Managers and senior stakeholders on attraction, shortlisting, structured interviewing, selection and appointment, promoting fair, evidence based and inclusive decision making, in line with established best practiceand escalating policy, compliance or approval exceptions where required.
• Work with the Head of Recruitment to develop recruitment plans and attraction approaches, using recruitment data, staffing requirements and market insight to identify recruitment priorities, risks and future hiring needs. Contribute to the development of talent pools, candidate pipelines, and identify targeted sourcing strategies to support recruitment activity.
• Line manage and develop the Talent Acquisition team, including workload allocation, performance oversight, one to one support, capability development, training and continuous professional development, ensuring the team delivers a consistent and high-quality service.
• Work with the Head of Recruitment to develop and optimise the use of the Applicant Tracking System (Pinpoint) and associated recruitment processes, workflows, templates, automation and reporting, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, candidate experience, compliance and data quality.
• Monitor and analyse key recruitment performance measures, time to fill, time to hire, and candidate and Hiring Manager experience. Producing reports, dashboards and recommendations for the Head of Recruitment and senior stakeholders. Identify areas of potential process improvements and champion their implementation.
• Support the Head of Recruitment with the development and promotion of the organisation's employer brand and Employee Value Proposition through recruitment marketing, careers content, social and professional channels, talent engagement activity and relevant sector networks, ensuring attraction activity reflects organisational values and culture.
• Ensure recruitment activity is delivered in accordance with equality, diversity and inclusion principles, data protection requirements, Right to Work and relevant employment and immigration requirements, maintaining appropriate controls and supporting recruitment compliance and audit readiness.
• Lead recruitment-related training and events and maintain awareness of labour market trends, recruitment technology and sector best practice to support service improvement and attraction activity.

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, and the post holder may be required to complete other duties in line with the role of Talent Acquisition Lead.

Qualifications and Experience
Essential
• Recent experience of managing end to end recruitment campaigns within an in house or agency recruitment environment.
• Demonstrable experience of using market knowledge and recruitment data to inform resourcing decisions and recommendations.
• Experience of using an Applicant Tracking System or equivalent recruitment databases/systems, including reporting and process improvement

Desirable
• Experience of recruitment within Higher Education, education or another complex multi site organisation, including academic recruitment.
• Experience of employer branding, talent pipeline development or recruitment marketing initiatives.
• Experience using Pinpoint ATS
• Line management experience

Skills and Knowledge:
Essential
• Strong knowledge of Talent Acquisition best practice, attraction strategies, structured selection and inclusive recruitment principles.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to identify trends, risks and opportunities and present clear recommendations.
• Excellent stakeholder management, influencing, coaching and communication skills, with the credibility to provide specialist advice across different levels of the organisation.
• Strong IT skills, including strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Applicant Tracking Systems to support reporting on key metrics, system efficiency and informed decision making.
• Sound understanding of recruitment compliance, data protection, equality and diversity requirements and Right to Work responsibilities relevant to recruitment.

Desirable
• Knowledge of UK immigration and sponsorship requirements relevant to recruitment.
• Knowledge of Higher Education recruitment markets and academic workforce challenges.
• Awareness of emerging recruitment technologies, including the appropriate use of AI and automation within Talent Acquisition.

Personal Qualities
Essential
• Demonstrates initiative, accountability, discretion and a continuous improvement/solutions focussed mindset.
• Strong prioritisation skills, with the ability to balance immediate recruitment delivery with longer term workforce needs.
• Credible, collaborative and confident in influencing stakeholders, constructively challenging where necessary and managing expectations effectively.
• Highly organised, adaptable and resilient, with the ability to maintain quality and sound judgement across competing priorities and periods of high recruitment demand.
• Committed to delivering an inclusive, professional and positive experience for candidates, Hiring Managers and colleagues.

Special Conditions
Some travel to other organisational sites may be required. Flexibility may also be required during peak recruitment and student intake periods, including occasional recruitment events or activity outside the usual working pattern in line with business needs.