Senior Talent Acquisition Consultant Strategic Projects

Grade 5 | £37,694 - £46,049 | 12-month fixed term

Edinburgh (Sighthill campus / hybrid)

Generous benefits including a 17.6% employer pension contribution and 41 days annual leave.

Shape the talent behind a major transformation programme. We are looking for a Senior Talent Acquisition Consultant to lead strategic recruitment across a high-profile, multi-institution transformation programme at Edinburgh Napier University. This is not a typical BAU recruitment role. You will work at the heart of a complex programme, partnering with senior leaders to attract and secure talent across specialist, senior and leadership roles that are critical not only to delivery, but to how the University and its partners respond to a changing and increasingly challenging Higher Education landscape.

At a time of significant change across the sector in Scotland, this programme represents an opportunity to think differently about how institutions operate, collaborate and build for the future. The roles you recruit into will directly support that ambition. You will take ownership of a portfolio of high-impact hires, operating with a high degree of autonomy to design and deliver tailored recruitment approaches that go beyond traditional methods. This includes leading end-to-end campaigns, delivering proactive sourcing, and building pipelines of talent in a competitive external market.

You will use market insight and data to influence decisions, advise on talent strategy and ensure the University is well positioned to attract high-quality candidates. A key part of the role is working closely with senior stakeholders including Heads of School, Directors and programme leads. You will act as a trusted advisor, shaping hiring approaches, challenging thinking where needed and bringing a clear external perspective on talent availability, expectations and risk.

This role operates as a senior lead within the Talent Acquisition function, with real scope to influence how recruitment is delivered in a complex and evolving environment. You will be managing multiple priorities, navigating competing demands and ensuring a consistently high standard of delivery across all activity.

We are looking for someone with significant experience in a senior Talent Acquisition or recruitment role, ideally within complex or transformation-led environments. You will bring strong capability in direct sourcing and market mapping, along with a track record of influencing senior stakeholders and delivering high-quality outcomes. Sound judgement and the ability to operate independently are essential. Experience in Higher Education or the public sector would be beneficial but is not required.

We would welcome interest from candidates seeking a part-time opportunity, where this aligns with the requirements of the role. If you are looking for a role where you can combine strategic recruitment expertise with the opportunity to contribute to the future direction of Higher Education in Scotland, we would love to hear from you.