Talent Acquisition Lead in Manchester

Talent Acquisition Lead in Manchester

Manchester Full-Time 35000 - 40000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Grayce

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead recruitment delivery and manage a team to ensure high-quality hiring outcomes.
  • Company: Join Grayce, a purpose-driven company transforming talent across the UK.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, employee assistance, and discounts at over 900 retailers.
  • Other info: Hybrid working model with excellent career growth opportunities.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by supporting emerging talent careers with top organisations.
  • Qualifications: Experience in recruitment and strong organisational skills are essential.

The predicted salary is between 35000 - 40000 £ per year.

Location: Manchester, office in the heart of the Northern Quarter

Hybrid Working: 3-days per week in office (Monday to Wednesday), 2-days from home

Salary: Up to £40,000

About Grayce

Grayce partners with some of the world’s most ambitious organisations to deliver meaningful transformation. For over a decade, we’ve driven impact by developing, deploying and supporting high‑performing talent across the UK and beyond. Joining Grayce means working for a company with a deeper purpose of supporting emerging talent careers and offers the opportunity to work in partnership with FTSE100 and FTSE250 organisations across multiple sectors.

Role Purpose

The Talent Acquisition Lead is responsible for leading recruitment delivery across the full talent pipeline, managing a team of Talent Officers and ensuring consistent, high-quality hiring outcomes aligned to business demand. This role provides operational leadership across the recruitment function, owning pipeline performance, overseeing end‑to‑end processes and acting as a key escalation point for complex hiring challenges. Working in close partnership with internal stakeholders, the Talent Acquisition Lead ensures recruitment activity is effectively prioritised, balancing pace, quality and candidate experience. The role plays a critical part in driving team performance, embedding consistency across processes and leading continuous improvement across the function.

About You

You are an experienced talent professional with a strong track record of delivering against hiring demand in a fast‑paced environment. You take ownership of recruitment delivery, balancing pace and quality across multiple priorities. You are confident supporting and guiding others, and are either already in a management role or ready to step into one. You remain hands‑on, with strong capability across sourcing, pipeline management and candidate assessment, and you build effective relationships with stakeholders while navigating challenges with confidence.

Responsibilities

  • Recruitment Delivery & Pipeline Management
    • Lead and oversee talent pipelines, ensuring a consistent, high-quality flow of candidates
    • Manage recruitment activity across the team in line with hiring demand and targets
    • Identify risks and take proactive action to maintain pipeline performance
    • Support interviews and hiring decisions where required
  • Attraction, Sourcing & Assessment
    • Partner with the Attraction Manager to deliver headhunting, advertising and sourcing strategies
    • Proactively source candidates using LinkedIn and other tools
    • Support the coordination and delivery of assessment centres
    • Line manage and develop Talent Officers through coaching and feedback
    • Set clear expectations around delivery, quality and performance
    • Build a high-performing, collaborative team environment
  • Stakeholder Management & Continuous Improvement
    • Act as an escalation point for complex recruitment or stakeholder challenges
    • Build strong relationships with hiring managers to align on priorities and expectations
    • Drive improvements across recruitment processes, pipeline effectiveness and candidate experience
    • Develop a strong understanding of the attributes that define successful hires

Qualifications & Experience

  • Experience in recruitment, talent acquisition or resource management
  • Strong experience managing recruitment pipelines and delivering against hiring targets
  • Strong organisational, problem‑solving and stakeholder management skills
  • Experience recruiting within consulting environments
  • Exposure to business change, data or technology roles

Benefits

  • 25 days annual leave, increasing annually up to 30 days
  • Employee Assistance Programme
  • Cash Plan (optical, dental, therapies and more)
  • Smart Spending – cashback and discounts at over 900 retailers

Talent Acquisition Lead in Manchester employer: Grayce

Grayce is an exceptional employer located in the vibrant Northern Quarter of Manchester, offering a hybrid working model that promotes work-life balance. With a commitment to developing emerging talent and partnering with prestigious FTSE100 and FTSE250 organisations, employees benefit from a supportive work culture, ample opportunities for professional growth, and a comprehensive benefits package including up to 30 days of annual leave and wellness programmes. Joining Grayce means being part of a purpose-driven team dedicated to meaningful transformation across various sectors.

Grayce

Contact Details:

Grayce Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Talent Acquisition Lead in Manchester

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 practising common questions and scenarios related to talent acquisition. Role-play with a friend or use mock interview tools. The more comfortable you are, the better you'll perform when it counts!

Tip Number 3

Showcase your skills through real-life examples. When discussing your experience, highlight specific achievements in recruitment delivery and pipeline management. This will help you stand out as a candidate who can deliver results.

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us.

We think you need these skills to ace Talent Acquisition Lead in Manchester

Recruitment Delivery
Talent Pipeline Management
Stakeholder Management
Sourcing Strategies
Candidate Assessment
Coaching and Development
Problem-Solving Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Talent Acquisition Lead role. Highlight your experience in managing recruitment pipelines and delivering against hiring targets, as these are key aspects of the job. 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 explain why you're passionate about talent acquisition and how you can contribute to our mission at Grayce. Be sure to mention any relevant experience in consulting environments or managing teams.

Showcase Your Stakeholder Management Skills:In your application, emphasise your ability to build strong relationships with hiring managers and navigate complex challenges. We value candidates who can demonstrate effective communication and problem-solving skills, so don’t hold back!

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website for the best chance of success. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. Good luck!

How to prepare for a job interview at Grayce

Know Your Stuff

Before the interview, dive deep into Grayce's mission and values. Understand their approach to talent acquisition and how they partner with FTSE100 and FTSE250 organisations. This knowledge will help you align your experience with their goals and show that you're genuinely interested in the role.

Showcase Your Leadership Skills

As a Talent Acquisition Lead, you'll be managing a team. Be ready to discuss your leadership style and provide examples of how you've successfully guided teams in the past. Highlight any experiences where you've improved recruitment processes or mentored others, as this will demonstrate your capability to drive team performance.

Prepare for Scenario Questions

Expect questions about handling complex hiring challenges or prioritising recruitment activities. Think of specific scenarios from your past where you navigated difficult situations or made tough decisions. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers clearly and effectively.

Build Rapport with Stakeholders

Since stakeholder management is key in this role, practice how you'll build relationships with hiring managers. Prepare to discuss how you would align on priorities and expectations. Showing that you can communicate effectively and understand their needs will set you apart as a candidate who can thrive in this environment.