At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and innovate recruitment strategies to enhance candidate experiences.
- Company: Join Merlin Entertainments, a global leader in the entertainment industry.
- Benefits: Enjoy perks like free attraction tickets, performance bonuses, and ongoing training.
- Why this job: Shape the future of hiring while inspiring a dynamic team in a fun environment.
- Qualifications: Degree in HR or Business; experience in high-volume recruitment is essential.
- Other info: This hybrid role offers flexibility and the chance to make a real impact.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Step into a pivotal leadership role where you’ll transform how we hire at scale across Merlin’s dynamic attraction portfolio. As the Talent Acquisition Delivery Senior Manager, you’ll lead the development and delivery of a high-impact recruitment service within our UK-based People Shared Services model—driving operational excellence and delivering a seamless, world-class candidate experience.
You’ll play a central role in designing scalable processes, leveraging cutting-edge recruitment technology, and building strong partnerships across the business to help us attract, engage, and retain top talent. Your work will directly shape the way we hire across our B2-level roles and below, impacting the experience of thousands of candidates each year. This is a career-defining opportunity for an experienced recruitment leader ready to drive change, embed best practices, and inspire a team to deliver at pace.
Key Accountabilities
- Team Leadership: Inspire, develop, and manage a high-performing team of recruiters and specialists. Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning. Oversee onboarding, coaching, and performance management, ensuring alignment with shared services standards. Act as the key escalation point for complex queries across the recruitment delivery team.
- Service Delivery: Design and scale volume recruitment strategies that align with business priorities. Streamline sourcing, screening, and hiring processes to drive efficiency and consistency. Champion the candidate journey by ensuring every interaction reflects our employer brand. Partner with Employer Branding teams to position Merlin as a destination employer. Oversee recruitment tools and vendor relationships, maximizing ROI and performance. Lead strategic workforce planning and build pipelines for future talent needs. Drive internal mobility and succession strategies across key roles. Deliver robust recruitment data, insights, and reports to support decision-making. Continuously improve the recruitment tech stack, tracking the impact of updates and innovations.
- Collaboration & Stakeholder Engagement: Build strong relationships with hiring managers, People Business Partners, and senior stakeholders. Align with Center of Excellence on compliance, DEI, and policy integration. Collaborate with the Digital & Data team to optimize technology and user experience. Act as a trusted partner to leadership teams across our attractions and corporate functions.
Critical Interfaces
- Local Attraction People Teams – Align recruitment initiatives with local needs and drive seamless service delivery.
- Other Shared Services Teams – Identify cross-functional process enhancements to elevate the candidate and employee experience.
- Group COEs – Leverage enterprise-wide expertise to improve TA strategy and outcomes.
- VP of Ops / VP of People Business Partners – Collaborate on strategic hiring plans, escalations, and service optimization.
- Legal and Compliance – Ensure all recruitment processes meet local employment laws and regulations.
- Digital & Data – Shape future-ready systems and tech enhancements.
Qualifications & Experience
- Degree in HR, Business Administration, or similar; professional certifications (CIPD, SHRM, etc.) a plus.
- Demonstrated success leading high-volume and specialized recruitment in a shared services or centralized model.
- Deep knowledge of full-cycle recruitment, employer branding, and recruitment technology (e.g., iCIMS, SuccessFactors, Workday).
- Strong process improvement experience and the ability to implement scalable hiring solutions.
- Exceptional stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
- Proficiency in data analytics and recruitment reporting.
- Familiarity with compliance standards and DEI best practices in a multi-regional or global setting.
Leadership Behaviors
- Soulfully Curious: You seek out new ideas, ask insightful questions, and stay open to learning—bringing fresh energy and perspective to every challenge.
- Results Focused: You set clear goals, stay agile in execution, and take ownership to deliver impactful results.
- Extraordinary Teammate: You collaborate generously, celebrate others, and build strong relationships across teams and functions.
- Develops People: You’re a coach at heart—elevating others through feedback, mentorship, and by creating growth opportunities.
Benefits
Just Some of the Magic You’ll Enjoy:
- Merlin Magic Pass – Enjoy 20 complimentary tickets each year for you, your family, and friends to experience Merlin attractions around the world—rising to 40 after one year of service.
- ‘Enjoy the Ride’ Merlin Annual Passes – Receive 6 exclusive annual passes (1 for you and 5 to gift to loved ones), giving unlimited fun across our attractions.
- Performance-Based Company Bonus – Celebrate your achievements with potential annual bonuses aligned to performance.
- Private Pension Scheme – Plan for your future with our competitive pension offering.
- LEGO Perks – Receive 40% off LEGO online and 25% off in our on-site retail shops and restaurants.
- Learning & Development – Take your career further with ongoing training, development programs, and growth opportunities.
- And So Much More… – From wellness initiatives to team events, get ready to enjoy the perks of being part of the Merlin magic.
Talent Acquisition Delivery Senior Manager (Hybrid) employer: Merlin Entertainments
Contact Detail:
Merlin Entertainments Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Talent Acquisition Delivery Senior Manager (Hybrid)
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in talent acquisition and recruitment technology. Being knowledgeable about tools like iCIMS, SuccessFactors, or Workday can set you apart during discussions with hiring managers.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the HR and recruitment field, especially those who have experience in shared services models. Engaging with them can provide insights into best practices and may even lead to referrals.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and how you inspire teams. Highlight specific examples of how you've developed high-performing teams in previous roles, as this is crucial for the Talent Acquisition Delivery Senior Manager position.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your understanding of compliance and DEI best practices. Be ready to discuss how you've implemented these in past roles, as they are key components of the job description.
We think you need these skills to ace Talent Acquisition Delivery Senior Manager (Hybrid)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in talent acquisition and leadership. Use keywords from the job description, such as 'high-volume recruitment', 'stakeholder engagement', and 'process improvement' to demonstrate your fit for the role.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for transforming recruitment processes. Share specific examples of how you've successfully led teams or implemented scalable hiring solutions in previous roles, aligning with the key accountabilities mentioned in the job description.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Highlight your experience in inspiring and developing teams. Provide examples of how you've fostered a culture of collaboration and innovation, as well as any coaching or mentoring experiences that align with the leadership behaviours outlined in the job description.
Demonstrate Data Proficiency: Since the role requires proficiency in data analytics and recruitment reporting, include any relevant experience you have with recruitment technology and data-driven decision-making. Mention specific tools you've used and how they contributed to successful outcomes in your previous roles.
How to prepare for a job interview at Merlin Entertainments
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Talent Acquisition Delivery Senior Manager, you'll be expected to inspire and manage a high-performing team. Be prepared to discuss your leadership style, how you develop others, and examples of how you've fostered collaboration and innovation in previous roles.
✨Demonstrate Your Recruitment Expertise
Highlight your experience with high-volume recruitment and the use of recruitment technology. Be ready to share specific strategies you've implemented that improved efficiency and candidate experience, as well as your familiarity with tools like iCIMS or Workday.
✨Prepare for Stakeholder Engagement Questions
This role requires strong relationships with various stakeholders. Think of examples where you've successfully collaborated with hiring managers or senior leaders to align recruitment strategies with business needs, and be ready to discuss how you handle complex queries.
✨Emphasise Data-Driven Decision Making
Since the role involves delivering robust recruitment data and insights, be prepared to talk about your experience with data analytics in recruitment. Discuss how you've used data to inform decisions and improve processes in your previous roles.