Talent Acquisition Partner (16 month FTC)

We’re looking for an experienced Talent Acquisition Partner to join us on a 16-month fixed-term contract in Manchester, covering a period of absence. This is a delivery-focused role, supporting fast-paced, business-critical hiring across a broad range of teams.

You’ll take ownership of the full recruitment process—using direct sourcing, referrals, and agency support where needed—to find and secure the highest quality talent. The roles you’ll be hiring for span investment, risk, technology, compliance, and operations, so experience in financial services, investment management or capital markets, is a distinct advantage.

We’re looking for someone who is client-focused, with a strong commitment to understanding the needs of hiring managers and delivering great outcomes. You’ll be expected to take ownership of vacancies from brief to offer, ensuring timely delivery, build and manage strong talent pipelines across multiple sourcing channels, partner with stakeholders at all levels, to offer credible, practical advice and guidance. You will also support and/or lead on wider HR, people and talent initiatives, such as process improvements, diversity hiring, early careers, EVP and candidate onboarding projects.

This role is best suited to someone who’s hands-on, commercially minded, and confident working in a fast-moving, complex environment. If you’re delivery-driven, great with stakeholders, and passionate about recruiting we’d love to hear from you.

• Partner with hiring managers to understand their recruitment needs and run targeted direct sourcing campaigns for permanent roles in IT, Finance, Governance, Risk & Legal, IT & PMO.
• Manage the full recruitment process, from sourcing and screening to coordinating interviews and guiding candidates through to offer stage.
• Use a variety of sourcing methods, including job boards, social media, networking events, and employee referrals to build pipeline, find and engage top talent, including passive candidates.
• Ensure a great experience for both candidates and hiring managers, providing clear communication, timely feedback, and a smooth hiring process.
• Support and/or lead on wider HR, people and talent initiatives, such as process improvements, diversity hiring, early careers, EVP and candidate onboarding projects.
• Build and maintain a strong talent pipeline, keeping in touch with potential candidates and networking within the industry.
• Work with the HRDs and Business Leaders to develop and implement creative and effective recruitment strategies to attract a diverse high-quality talent pool.
• Keep hiring managers, HR Business Partners, and the Talent Team updated with regular recruitment reports and insights.
• Help improve recruitment processes by working with the Talent Acquisition team to streamline workflows, enhance ATS usage, and make better use of data and technology.
• Support and coach hiring managers to ensure they feel confident conducting fair, effective interviews and making strong hiring decisions.

• Extensive recruitment experience in an in-house, internal, or RPO role, with a strong track record of hiring top talent across financial services, including Governance, Risk & Compliance, Legal, IT & PMO, Finance & Accounting, and Technology, and Investment.
• Strong direct recruiting capability with the ability to use sound judgment of when to outsource roles to third-party suppliers to get the best results.
• Solid experience of recruiting for financial services, with a particular focus on the Northwest, with knowledge of market trends, key talent pools, industry terminology, and regulatory requirements.
• Great communication and relationship-building skills, you’re confident working with people at all levels, from candidates to senior stakeholders.
• Approachable, professional, and easy to work with.
• Pragmatic, with strong problem-solving abilities, quick to find solutions, whether that means adjusting sourcing strategies, expanding talent pools, or trying new ways to engage candidates.
• As a subject matter expert in talent acquisition, bring deep knowledge of best practices across the hiring lifecycle, including compliance with employment legislation and regulatory requirements, right-to-work regulations, and diversity and inclusion standards.
• Ability to work at pace without compromising on quality, able to manage multiple roles at once.
• A strong sense of professionalism and integrity, ensuring every candidate has a positive experience and that recruitment decisions are fair and well thought out.
• Comfortable using recruitment tools and systems, including ATS platforms, and open to using data to improve hiring processes.