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- Tasks: Lead and innovate recruitment strategies for a dynamic operational workforce across the UK.
- Company: Join a leading organisation shaping the future of transport and operations.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career development, and a chance to make a real impact.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of talent acquisition, driving change and building future teams.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in high-volume recruitment and strong stakeholder engagement skills.
- Other info: Fast-paced environment with opportunities for growth and innovation.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
We are seeking an experienced and forward‐thinking Head of Talent Acquisition – Operations to lead the design, delivery and continuous improvement of our operational recruitment strategy across the UK. This role will oversee a team of Talent Acquisition Business Partners supporting large‐scale, fast‐paced operational workforces across Bus, Rail and Operational functions. You will shape the attraction and hiring strategy for volume and specialist roles, drive innovation through technology and data‐led decision making, and ensure we provide an exceptional candidate and hiring manager experience at every stage. This is a high‐impact leadership role at the centre of our operational success, ensuring we hire the talent we need today while building sustainable pipelines for the future.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership
- Develop and deliver the UK Operations Talent Acquisition strategy aligned to business growth, workforce planning and operational priorities.
- Lead, coach and develop a team of TA Business Partners to deliver a proactive, value‐adding recruitment service across the UK.
- Partner with senior operations leaders to understand future capability needs and create multi‐channel recruitment and talent pipeline solutions.
- Champion continuous improvement, innovation and modernisation of recruitment practices and solutions.
- Operational Excellence
- Oversee end‐to‐end delivery of recruitment across large, complex operational environments, ensuring performance against KPIs including time‐to‐hire, quality of hire and candidate experience.
- Ensure all activity is compliant with employment law, best practice recruitment standards and internal governance requirements.
- Lead the optimisation and utilisation of assessment platforms, digital scheduling tools, screening solutions and workforce analytics.
- Stakeholder Engagement & Influence
- Build strong, trusted relationships with operational, HR and leadership teams across the UK.
- Provide expert advice on market conditions, hiring challenges and effective talent strategies, influencing key decision makers.
- Act as the senior escalation point for complex, high‐volume or critical recruitment needs.
- Represent Talent Acquisition at operational leadership meetings, immersing yourself into the operation and their teams.
- Attraction, Branding & Market Positioning
- Drive the development of targeted attraction campaigns for operational roles including Drivers, Engineers and Operational functions.
- Work closely with Employer Brand and Communications to ensure consistent storytelling and promotion of our employee value proposition across the UK.
- Identify opportunities to expand talent pools through alternative routes, partnerships, community initiatives and early careers pathways.
- Data, Insight & Performance Management
- Use recruitment analytics to provide insight, reporting and recommendations that improve performance and drive strategic decisions.
- Monitor TA operational metrics and lead regular performance reviews with the TA Business Partner team.
- Track labour market trends to proactively address current and emerging hiring challenges.
- Work closely with the HR Business Partnering team on retention data and pay & benchmarking initiatives.
Essential Skills & Experience
- Proven experience leading Talent Acquisition teams within large, complex, multi‐site operational environments (transport, logistics, retail, healthcare or similar).
- Strong understanding of high‐volume and specialist recruitment, including assessment design, selection methodologies and candidate engagement techniques.
- Demonstrable experience building and delivering recruitment strategies that improve efficiency, quality and diversity.
- Ability to build strong stakeholder relationships and influence at senior level.
- Highly data‐driven, comfortable working with metrics and translating insight into action.
- Strong people leadership capability with a passion for developing teams.
- Excellent communication skills and the ability to operate in a fast‐paced environment managing multiple priorities.
- Knowledge of Employer Branding, digital attraction channels and market‐leading recruitment technology.
Desirable
- Experience within the transport sector (Bus or Rail) or comparable regulated environments.
- Experience working across unionised environments.
- Experience with Workday – our ATS/HRIS.
Head of Talent Acquisition - Operations in Southport employer: Arriva Group
Contact Detail:
Arriva Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Talent Acquisition - Operations in Southport
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their operational needs and think about how your skills can help them achieve their goals. Tailor your responses to show you’re the perfect fit for their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or use online resources to get comfortable with common questions. The more you practice, the more confident you’ll feel when it’s time to shine in front of the hiring managers.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities waiting for you, and applying directly can sometimes give you an edge. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Talent Acquisition - Operations in Southport
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Head of Talent Acquisition role. Highlight your experience in leading recruitment strategies and managing teams, especially in operational environments. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about talent acquisition and how you can drive innovation in our recruitment processes. Be sure to mention any specific achievements that demonstrate your impact.
Showcase Your Data Skills: Since we’re all about data-driven decisions, make sure to highlight your experience with recruitment analytics. Share examples of how you've used data to improve hiring processes or solve challenges in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Arriva Group
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you thoroughly understand the role of Head of Talent Acquisition – Operations. Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities and how they align with the company's operational goals. Be ready to discuss your experience in leading recruitment strategies, especially in high-volume environments.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
This role is all about leadership, so be prepared to share specific examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past. Highlight your coaching and development strategies for Talent Acquisition Business Partners and how you've driven performance against KPIs.
✨Data-Driven Decision Making
Since the job requires a strong focus on data and analytics, come equipped with examples of how you've used recruitment metrics to inform your strategies. Discuss any tools or platforms you've optimised and how they've improved hiring processes.
✨Build Relationships
Emphasise your ability to build strong relationships with stakeholders. Prepare to talk about how you've partnered with senior leaders to understand their needs and how you've influenced decision-making in previous roles. This will show that you can effectively engage with various teams across the organisation.