Head of Talent Acquisition

A well-established and market leading UK-based organisation is seeking an experienced and driven Senior Talent Acquisition Manager to develop, lead and evolve its national recruitment strategy. This is a pivotal role within the HR leadership team, overseeing talent acquisition delivery and innovation across multiple UK locations. This is a rare opportunity to create and lead a modern, inclusive, and high-impact TA function in a purpose-led, growth-focused organisation. You will have the space to shape strategy, elevate employer brand, and build a recruitment strategy that is fit for the future.

The Opportunity

• Own and lead the full Talent Acquisition strategy for the UK, aligning it to wider HR and organisational goals.
• Develop and embed scalable, future-fit recruitment frameworks that ensure consistency, compliance, and quality across all hiring activity.
• Craft and evolve a compelling Employee Value Proposition (EVP) that resonates with key talent segments and differentiates the organisation in the market.
• Partner with business leaders to forecast hiring needs and proactively shape the talent pipeline.
• Lead, coach, and inspire a team of Talent Acquisition professionals, driving high performance and one consistent voice across the candidate journey.
• Shape and refine sourcing strategies, building robust talent pools for critical roles.
• Create assessment tools for all levels of the organisation.
• Oversee recruitment marketing and employer branding initiatives, working closely with internal communications and marketing.
• Continuously evaluate and improve recruitment processes and tools for efficiency, inclusion, and a seamless candidate experience.
• Act as a trusted advisor on all things talent attraction, bringing market insights, trends, and benchmarking to the table.
• Own the TA budget and define make-or-buy strategies; manage agency partnerships and external suppliers.
• Create meaningful partnerships with 3rd party recruitment providers.
• Embed equity, diversity & inclusion across all hiring practices, from attraction to selection.

What You’ll Bring

• Degree-educated, with professional HR/Talent certifications (CIPD Level 7 or equivalent desirable).
• Proven experience leading talent acquisition functions in fast-paced, multi-site environments (FMCG, engineering, retail, hospitality, manufacturing, logistics or similar sectors).
• Strong track record of building and owning full-cycle TA strategies that drive business outcomes.
• Experience in managing external contracts for contingent workforce.
• Strong leadership and coaching skills.
• Influential stakeholder management skills.
• Experience of developing hiring tools which identify high potential talent.
• Deep experience developing recruitment processes and scalable frameworks.
• A passion for storytelling and EVP development that brings an employer brand to life.
• Strong data fluency – using insights to measure and enhance performance and candidate experience.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Experience with DE&I initiatives embedded across the hiring lifecycle.
• Strategic mindset with a hands-on, pragmatic leadership style.
• Track record in project and change management, including leading TA transformation programmes.
• Qualified in SHL interviewing (A+B).

Internal & External Collaboration

You will work closely with:

• Senior HR and business leadership.
• Functional heads across all departments.
• Marketing and communications.
• External recruitment partners, job boards, and sourcing tech providers.