At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead recruitment for senior roles and build talent strategies to drive growth.
- Company: Join Standard Life, a leader in retirement solutions with over 200 years of experience.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous leave, private medical cover, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Embrace a culture of inclusivity and flexibility while advancing your career.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping the future of talent acquisition in financial services.
- Qualifications: Experience in talent acquisition within investment management or financial services is essential.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 70000 £ per year.
Job Type: Permanent
Location: London / Edinburgh / Birmingham
Flexible working: All roles are open to part-time, job-share and other types of flexibility. We will discuss what is important to you and balancing this with business requirements during the recruitment process.
Closing Date: 18th September 2026
Salary and benefits: £50,000 - £70,000 plus an indicative bonus range of 16-32%, private medical cover, 38 days annual leave, excellent pension, 12x salary life assurance, career breaks, income protection, 3x volunteering days and much more.
Who are we? We’re Standard Life, a retirement specialist focused entirely on retirement savings and income. We champion the belief that everyone’s journey to and through retirement can be better, and for more than 200 years, we’ve been helping our customers plan and prepare for their financial futures.
The role: At Standard Life, Talent Acquisition plays a critical role in enabling the growth and success of our Retirement Solutions & Asset Management business. We are looking for an experienced Senior Talent Acquisition Partner to act as a trusted adviser to senior leaders, building talent strategies that ensure we can attract, engage and hire the specialist capabilities required to deliver our ambitious growth agenda.
This is a highly visible business partnering role supporting leaders across Asset Management, Investments, Distribution, Operations and Corporate Functions within the Retirement Solutions & Asset Management business. You will be responsible for leading senior and specialist recruitment activity, providing market insight, influencing hiring decisions and proactively identifying talent pipelines for future capability needs.
What you’ll be doing:
- Partner with senior business leaders, HR Business Partners and Reward colleagues to understand workforce plans, future capability requirements and hiring priorities.
- Lead the end-to-end recruitment process for senior, specialist and business-critical roles across Retirement Solutions & Asset Management.
- Develop and execute talent acquisition strategies that support current hiring needs while building pipelines for future growth.
- Utilise market intelligence, competitor mapping and talent insights to influence workforce and hiring decisions.
- Proactively identify and engage passive talent through direct sourcing, networking and market mapping activity.
- Act as a trusted adviser to hiring managers on assessment, selection, market conditions, candidate availability and best practice recruitment approaches.
- Champion inclusive hiring practices and ensure diverse talent pipelines across all recruitment activity.
- Use recruitment data and market insight to challenge thinking, improve decision-making and drive better hiring outcomes.
- Enhance Standard Life's employer brand within the asset management, investment and retirement sectors.
- Contribute to Talent Acquisition projects and initiatives that improve capability, candidate experience, technology and ways of working across the function.
What are we looking for? We are seeking an experienced Talent Acquisition professional who combines strong delivery credentials with commercial awareness and genuine credibility within the investment and asset management market. The successful candidate will likely come from either:
- An in-house Talent Acquisition team within an Asset Manager, Investment Manager, Wealth Manager or Financial Services organisation.
- A specialist search, executive search or RPO environment focused on investment management, asset management or broader financial services recruitment.
- Proven Talent Acquisition experience within an Asset Manager, Investment Manager, Wealth Manager or broader Financial Services organisation.
- Demonstrable success recruiting across investment and non-investment functions, including Front Office, Distribution, Risk, Operations and Corporate Functions.
- Strong direct sourcing, market mapping and passive candidate engagement expertise.
- Experience partnering with senior stakeholders and influencing hiring decisions through market insight and talent intelligence.
- Track record of managing multiple complex recruitment processes while delivering exceptional candidate and hiring manager experiences.
We want to hire the whole version of you. We are committed to ensuring that everyone feels accepted and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. If your experience looks different from what we’ve advertised and you believe that you can bring value to the role, we’d love to hear from you. If you require any adjustments to the recruitment process, please let us know so we can help you to be at your best.
We’re reviewing applications as they come in and may close this role before the closing date, so apply early to avoid missing out.
Senior Talent Acquisition Partner employer: Standard Life (previously Phoenix Group)
At Standard Life, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and flexible work environment that prioritises employee well-being and growth. With competitive salaries starting from £33,500, generous benefits including 38 days of annual leave, private medical cover, and opportunities for career development, our London and Edinburgh offices foster a culture of collaboration and innovation. We believe in empowering our employees to thrive both personally and professionally, making it a rewarding place to build a meaningful career.
Contact Details:
Standard Life (previously Phoenix Group) Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Talent Acquisition Partner
✨Dive into the Talent Acquisition Community
Get involved with communities specifically aimed at talent acquisition and recruitment. Follow popular forums, like the HR and recruitment threads on LinkedIn Groups or join Talent Acquisition Meetups in your area. Networking with fellow recruiters and industry experts can lead to hidden job opportunities and insider tips!
✨Show Off Your Expertise at Recruitment Events
Attend recruitment fairs and industry conferences where companies, including Standard Life (previously Phoenix Group), often showcase their hiring needs. Not only can you meet potential employers face-to-face, but you can also demonstrate your passion and knowledge about the field. Make sure you've got some thoughtful questions ready to impress!
✨Leverage Your University Connections
If you’re a recent grad or still connected to your university, tap into their career services. Many universities have exclusive job boards and connections with companies eager to hire fresh talent in recruitment roles. Plus, you never know who might be able to put in a good word for you at places like Standard Life (previously Phoenix Group)!
✨Tailor Your Digital Footprint
Make sure your online presence reflects your passion for talent acquisition. Share articles, join discussions, and post about trends in recruiting to establish yourself as a knowledgeable candidate. Recruiters often check candidates out online, so use platforms like LinkedIn to showcase your insights and enthusiasm for discovering the right talent!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Talent Acquisition Partner
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Passion for Talent Acquisition:In your cover letter, let your passion for recruiting shine through! Talk about what drew you to talent acquisition. Share experiences where you helped others find their dream jobs or any times you've been involved in hiring processes – it’ll show us at Standard Life (previously Phoenix Group) that you're genuinely invested in the field.
Highlight Relevant Skills and Certifications:Make sure your CV includes any relevant skills or certifications related to recruiting. Mentioning your knowledge of applicant tracking systems, personality assessments, or even any HR-related qualifications can set you apart. This way, we can see straight away that you're not just any candidate but one with the necessary tools for talent acquisition.
Tailor Your CV for the Job:When applying for Senior Talent Acquisition Partner at Standard Life (previously Phoenix Group), tailor your CV to reflect the job description. Highlight previous experiences in recruitment, candidate sourcing, or employee engagement that align with what we’re after. Personalisation shows we’re not just another checkbox on your job applications!
Bring Your Unique Perspective:In your cover letter, don't hesitate to share your unique perspective on what makes a good recruiter. Whether it's building strong candidate relationships or your approach to diversity in hiring, your insights can resonate well with our team. We love a fresh take, so let it shine!
How to prepare for a job interview at Standard Life (previously Phoenix Group)
✨Know Your Sourcing Strategies
In the talent acquisition world, it’s all about knowing the best sourcing strategies. Be prepared to discuss specific techniques you’ve used to find and attract top talent, whether that’s through social media, networking events, or innovative outreach methods. Bring examples that showcase your capability!
✨Value of Employer Branding
Employer branding is a huge part of recruitment, so be ready to chat about how you’ve contributed to building an attractive company image. Think about how you’d pitch Standard Life (previously Phoenix Group) to potential candidates and maintain a consistent brand image across platforms.
✨Demonstrate Your Interviewing Skills
Since this is a full-time gig, hiring managers will want to see your interviewing prowess. Prepare for mock interview scenarios where you might need to assess candidates' cultural fit and skill set. Practise asking competency-based questions to demonstrate your systematic approach.
✨Engage with Data and Metrics
Being data-driven is key in talent acquisition! Expect to discuss how you’ve used recruiting metrics to refine your strategies. Familiarise yourself with common KPIs, like time-to-fill and candidate satisfaction scores, and be ready to back up your insights with data!
