Talent Acquisition Specialist (12 month Fixed Term Contract) in London

This is a fixed term contract opportunity (up to 12 months) based at NPL in Teddington, with hybrid working you'll be based on-site once a week. At NPL, we set the standards by which the world is measured. Our work underpins solutions to global challenges - from tackling climate change and advancing medical breakthroughs to enabling next‑generation communications technology. The Talent Acquisition team are critical to the future of NPL's success. Working closely across the People Team and wider NPL, you’ll be key in making sure we have the right people, with the right skills, in the right locations to deliver our vision. As our Talent Acquisition Specialist, you’ll lead the recruitment for our world‑leading Time & Frequency department. This is an exceptional opportunity to work with the global authority in precision timing. Backed by a government investment of £180 million in the National Timing Centre (NTC) programme, we are building a world‑first capability - requiring exceptional talent to drive cutting‑edge innovation.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive the full‑cycle (360) recruiting process - to attract top talent to NPL; managing job postings, candidate relationships, interview arrangements and offer management.
• Partner with hiring managers – be our strategic expert on recruitment plans and attraction methods to deliver high‑quality candidate pipelines.
• Track / manage several recruitment processes - maintaining pace, organisation, and process adherence in a fast‑paced environment.
• Work closely with external suppliers - acting as the primary point of contact to manage agency relationships and ensure alignment with recruitment plans and delivery expectations.
• Deliver thoughtful feedback to candidates and hiring managers, alike - ensuring a nurturing and engaging experience at every recruitment touchpoint.
• Maintain awareness of market trends and ensure recruitment activity aligns with internal processes and relevant guidelines.

Qualifications and Experience

• Proven experience delivering full‑cycle (360) recruitment - from role design, through advertising, candidate screening, and offer closing.
• Experience of in‑house recruitment - proven experience in combining pace with a credible, consultative approach to engaging senior business leadership.
• Demonstrated capability in direct sourcing, proactive headhunting and passive candidate engagement for hard‑to‑fill, niche, and specialist roles.
• Strong organisational skills with experience managing multiple recruitment processes - in a fast‑paced environment while maintaining high standards of quality and attention to detail.
• Demonstrable success in managing both candidate and hiring manager relationships, with the ability to influence decisions and build credible, professional relationships at all levels.
• Experience and knowledge of using Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and accurate data management.
• A strong team player.

Security and Clearance

We actively recruit citizens of all backgrounds, but the nature of our work in specific departments means that nationality, residency and security requirements can be more tightly defined than others. You will be asked about this throughout the recruitment process. To work at NPL, you will need to obtain BPSS security clearance. However, to work in this role in the Time and Frequency department, you will need to have an SC clearance with no restrictions, or you must have the ability to obtain an SC clearance.