Talent Acquisition Coordinator

WORKING WITH US

The founder and sponsor of the Harris Federation, Lord Harris of Peckham, opened our first school in 1990. We have, over the past thirty years, implemented ideas and initiatives that have transformed the opportunities of pupils from working class and disadvantaged backgrounds. Harris academies are widely recognised as a force for social mobility. We are immensely proud of the role that our alumni are now beginning to play in the world and of what we believe our current generation of pupils will go on to achieve. We now have over 50 schools educating more than 40,000 young people across London and Essex, and employ over 5,000 staff across our academies and head office. With the majority of our academies located in areas of high socioeconomic disadvantage, a high-quality education is key to the futures of the pupils we serve. As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff. Our work will impact many generations to come, and our staff come from all backgrounds and walks of life, coming together to inspire young minds. We promote an inclusive culture that embraces the valuable and enriching contribution that all of our community make. We continue to be proactive in uplifting and supporting all voices at Harris.

ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY

Join the Harris Federation at an exciting time of growth and play a meaningful role in shaping the future of education across London. As a Talent Acquisition Coordinator, you’ll be at the heart of our recruitment activity - connecting exceptional people with roles that genuinely change young people's lives. Working across our 55 academies and central teams, you’ll coordinate an engaging, high touch recruitment experience from end to end. That means building trusted relationships with hiring managers and HR teams, developing talent pipelines for current and future needs, launching targeted campaigns across multiple channels, and ensuring every candidate has an experience they'll remember for the right reasons. This is a varied, fast moving role that suits someone who is organised and people focused, comfortable managing multiple priorities, and genuinely motivated by the idea that great hiring can drive real social impact. If you’re passionate about attracting diverse talent and want your work to matter beyond a filled vacancy, we’d love to hear from you. We are looking for somebody is able to start in September, or sooner depending on availability.

MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

As a key member of the Talent Acquisition Team, the Talent Acquisition Coordinator plays a vital role in shaping the future of Harris Federation by helping us attract exceptional people to our academies and central services. You will support the delivery of impactful recruitment strategies while championing an exceptional candidate experience from first contact to appointment. Your responsibilities will include:

• Recruitment and Selection
  • Build effective relationships across all our academies and head office teams, gaining an in depth understanding of the competences and skills required throughout the Federation.
  • Develop collaborative working relationships with academy Senior Leadership and HR teams to promote safeguarding and ensure a highly efficient and robust selection processes.
  • Support academies to identify recruitment needs, plan effectively and action effective recruitment campaigns to meet their requirements.
  • Provide support and guidance to hiring managers during the recruitment process.
• Strategic Recruitment and Talent Network
  • Build and maintain talent pools of skilled educators and non‑teaching staff, while nurturing talent pipelines to support future roles.
  • Develop talent pipelines and nurture talent in line with workforce planning and recruitment demands.
  • Attend local professional networking events and university careers fairs.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are looking for a highly motivated talent professional who is energised by building exceptional teams and inspiring workplaces, and who has the instinct and determination to spot and attract the very best people for our academies. We would like to hear from you if you have:

• Previous experience in building and developing relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Excellent communication, writing skills and attention to detail
• The ability to problem solve and create innovative solutions to hiring challenges
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to multitask in a fast‑paced environment
• A proactive and resilient approach to challenges
• A desire to learn and constantly review what 'best practice' looks like

APPLYING FOR THIS POSITION

If you would like to discuss the opportunity further, or if you have any questions, please contact us via email to arrange a conversation. Before applying please ensure you download the job pack from our careers website, this will help with completing your application. Please note that we only accept applications submitted online before the closing date. When applying, you will have the option to import your CV or use a LinkedIn profile which will auto populate the online application. A reminder to check your junk mail for our email communications and add us to your safe senders list to ensure all future email communication is received.

OUR VISION & VALUES

Our vision, from the start, has been to provide the structure and services needed for our schools to amount to more than the sum of their parts, and to free‑up our teachers and leaders to focus on one thing and one thing only: the outstanding education of all their pupils. Our young people and communities are at the heart of everything we do. Our core mission has always been to close the educational gap between young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers. Our ambition is one where every child in London, no matter their background, has equal access to high quality education, giving them the same opportunities and potential to succeed. We know there are many challenges facing our young people and the communities we serve, and that’s why we need determined people like you to help us tackle those inequalities. Whilst each of our academies has their own unique cultures and values; as a whole Federation, we have four core values which are central to successfully achieving our vision: Excellence, Collaboration, Support, and Innovation. We are proud of our values because they guide us in how we work allowing us to achieve the best possible outcomes for our young people, communities, and colleagues.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Safeguarding Notice
The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

Equal Opportunities
The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

The successful individual will:

• Have the opportunity to shape the future of education by securing the best talent for our academies
• Have the opportunity to work in a highly supportive and collaborative environment
• Have the opportunity to be creative and work in a team where ideas are valued and put into practice
• Have the opportunity to work with 55 amazing academies and engage with a large network of educators and senior leaders.

You will also have access to a variety of benefits, support programmes and initiatives including:

• Excellent opportunities for continuous professional development and career progression
• Pension scheme (Local Government Pension Scheme) with generous employer contribution
• 26 days’ annual leave (inclusive of our Christmas Eve closure day) plus bank holidays, rising to 27 days after 2 years’ service, or equivalent for staff on term time contracts
• Harris Wellbeing Cash Plan including cover for routine and specialist healthcare
• Employee Assistance Programme for free and confidential advice
• Cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme
• Wide range of shopping, leisure, and travel discounts
• 20% off at Tapi Carpets, exclusive to Harris employees
• Interest‑free ICT and season ticket loans

For most non‑teaching staff based at our Head Office in East Croydon, we also offer lifestyle friendly working arrangements including flexible start and end times, and hybrid working with two days from home and three days on site.