Senior Talent Acquisition Partner in Cambridge

Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent

Location: Cambridge, UK

Join Nu Quantum - Shaping the Future of Technology. At Nu Quantum, we are building the networking infrastructure that will unlock the full potential of quantum computing. Born out of the Cavendish Laboratory, our mission is to accelerate the development of scalable quantum systems through world-leading quantum networking technology.

As we scale, Talent Acquisition is becoming one of the most critical levers in our success. Helping shape not just who we hire, but how Cambridge becomes a centre for quantum talent. We’re looking for Senior Talent Acquisition Partners who enjoy complexity and want to help build something meaningful. This is a chance to help shape a forward-thinking, high-impact TA function inside one of the UK’s most exciting deep-tech companies.

The Role: Reporting to the Director of Talent Acquisition, you will partner closely with hiring managers and senior leaders to solve complex hiring challenges across highly specialised technical and operational disciplines. You’ll help shape hiring strategy, influence decisions, and build high-quality talent pipelines, all while ensuring a high standard of candidate hiring journey. This is a hands-on role where no two weeks look the same. You’ll flex between strategic partnering, sourcing, process improvement, and delivery. Alongside core hiring delivery, you’ll contribute to broader initiatives across employer branding, university engagement, diversity, talent pipelines, and continuous improvement of how we hire.

About You: You don’t need to tick every box. We’re more interested in how you think, how you work with people, and where you bring impact. You are likely someone who:

• Enjoys solving complex, ambiguous hiring challenges
• Builds strong, trusted relationships with candidates and stakeholders
• Is confident in challenging assumptions and influencing hiring decisions
• Balances pace with quality and long-term hiring outcomes
• Is naturally curious and adaptable in how you approach hiring problems
• Understands that great hiring starts with deeply understanding teams and capability needs
• Thrives in environments that are scaling and evolving
• Brings energy, judgement, accountability and attention to detail to your work
• Takes pride in delivering a thoughtful, high-quality candidate experience

We are particularly interested in people with depth in one or more of the following areas:

• Deep-tech, scientific, engineering, or quantum hiring
• Strategic sourcing and candidate pipeline development
• Hiring manager coaching and interview design
• Employer branding and external talent engagement
• Scaling recruitment in fast-growth environments
• University, internship, or early-career hiring
• Global or International hiring experience
• Best in place candidate experience and recruitment operations excellence

Key Responsibilities:

• Talent Acquisition & Hiring Partnership: Lead end-to-end recruitment across technical and business functions. Partner with hiring managers to define role requirements and shape hiring strategies. Challenge assumptions and help refine what “great” looks like for each role. Deliver high-quality hiring outcomes, balancing speed, quality, and candidate experience. Act as a trusted advisor throughout the hiring process. Support capability building within hiring teams over time.
• Sourcing & Talent Pipelines: Build proactive pipelines for highly specialised and hard-to-find talent. Develop sourcing strategies across quantum, physics, engineering, software, and deep-tech domains. Identify and engage diverse and underrepresented talent pools. Build long-term relationships across candidate communities, universities, and research networks. Support early careers, internships, and graduate hiring activity.
• Employer Brand & External Engagement: Contribute to developing Nu Quantum’s employer brand in the market. Partner with Marketing and People teams on campaigns, content, and events. Help position Nu Quantum — and Cambridge — as a global destination for quantum talent. Represent Nu Quantum at relevant industry, academic, and networking events.
• Candidate Experience & Delivery Excellence: Deliver a high-quality, warm, and responsive candidate experience. Ensure clear communication and timely feedback throughout the hiring process. Partner with People Operations to ensure seamless onboarding handover. Maintain accurate ATS, recruitment, and hiring compliance data with high attention to detail. Continuously improve hiring workflows and candidate journeys. Support recruitment reporting and hiring insights to inform decision-making and planning.
• Collaboration & Team Contribution: Work as part of a high-performing, collaborative Talent Acquisition team. Share insight, sourcing approaches, and best practices. Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement and mutual support. Operate with autonomy, maturity, and strong judgement in a fast-moving environment.

Requirements:

• Essential Skills & Experience: Experience in technology, engineering, scientific, or specialist recruitment environments. Strong track record managing complex or niche hiring processes. Confident stakeholder management and ability to influence hiring decisions. Strong sourcing and candidate pipeline development capability. High attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple hiring processes simultaneously. Experience using ATS and recruitment tools effectively. Experience with international hiring, including knowledge of UK visa processes and hiring compliance. Understanding of recruitment compliance and employment law considerations. Commitment to inclusive hiring practices and candidate experience. Comfortable using technology and AI-enabled tools to improve sourcing, workflows, and hiring effectiveness.
• Desirable Experience: Exposure to deep-tech, quantum, scientific, or advanced engineering hiring. Experience hiring across European markets. Employer branding or recruitment marketing experience. University, graduate, or internship programme experience. Experience in high-growth or scaling environments. Multilingual capability.

Benefits:

Why Work with Us? At Nu Quantum, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where people of all identities, orientations, backgrounds, and experiences are empowered. We value diverse perspectives as a source of creativity and innovation and encourage applications from all backgrounds, including those from underrepresented and marginalised communities. Joining Nu Quantum means joining a team where you can grow professionally and be part of an inspiring mission to shape the future of technology.

• Refreshments, including fruit and beverages, are available in the office.
• Flexible working options.
• 28 days annual leave, inclusive of a 3-day company shutdown period + Bank Holidays (for England and Wales).
• Option to purchase up to 5 days' holiday per year.
• Access to the Cambridge Botanical Gardens.
• On-site gym membership.
• Cycle scheme.
• Private Medical and Dental Cover (With Vitality and Bupa).
• Enhanced paid family leave policies.
• Generous Employee Referral Scheme.
• 1 month paid Sabbatical after 4 years of service.
• Group Life Assurance (4 x salary).