Freelance Talent Coordinator (Part-Time)

Emperor; Greater London; Remote; GBP 21,000 - 41,000; Part time

Job summary

Emperor is an employee-owned corporate communications and creative agency with more than 240 partners, specialising in reporting, brand, digital, employee engagement, change and sustainability. We are looking for a proactive Freelance Talent Coordinator to join our People Team on a part-time five-month contract.

The role supports end-to-end engagement of freelance and contingent talent across our global business, working with hiring managers, the Talent Acquisition Partner, Resource Management,

Qualifications

• Experience in recruitment, talent acquisition or contingent workforce management.
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent organisational and administrative skills.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Experience using recruitment systems.
• Understanding of contractor engagement and compliance requirements.
• Strong commercial awareness with experience negotiating contractor and freelance rates.
• Ability to balance hiring manager requirements, budget considerations and candidate expectations to achieve successful outcomes.
• Experience conducting IR35 assessments.
• Knowledge of Employer of Record (EOR) solutions and contingent workforce models.

Responsibilities

• Source and engage freelance talent across key disciplines including Client Services, Design, Production, Strategy, Content, Artwork and Digital.
• Build and maintain talent pools across the UK, Middle East and other international markets.
• Negotiate freelance rates and engagement terms, balancing commercial objectives with market competitiveness.
• Provide guidance to hiring managers on market rates, availability trends and cost-effective talent solutions.
• Build and maintain an understanding of freelance rate benchmarks across disciplines, regions and specialist skillsets.
• Proactively identify and approach talent through LinkedIn, referrals, talent communities and direct networking.
• Conduct screening interviews to assess skills, suitability, availability and rate expectations.
• Present shortlisted candidates to hiring managers with clear recommendations.
• Manage freelance recruitment activity from brief through to engagement.
• Coordinate freelance engagements from approval through to assignment commencement.
• Support the preparation and administration of freelance agreements and extensions.
• Support the People team to conduct and document IR35 assessments for UK contractor engagements.
• Ensure contractor and freelancer records are maintained accurately and compliantly.
• Work with the People Team and Finance to ensure engagements follow company policies and governance requirements.
• Monitor contract end dates and proactively coordinate extensions where required.
• Support onboarding and compliance processes through internal systems and platforms.
• Provide ad-hoc support to business initiatives focused on profitability, utilisation and resource optimisation.
• Support the engagement of international freelancers and contingent workers.
• Assist hiring managers in identifying the most appropriate engagement route, including freelance, contractor and Employer of Record (EOR) solutions.
• Liaise with approved EOR providers and external partners where required.
• Support compliance with local engagement requirements in partnership with the People Team and external advisors.

Skills

Recruitment

Talent acquisition

Stakeholder management

Organisation

IR35 assessments

Contractor engagement

ATS / workforce systems

Negotiation

Sourcing

UK compliance

Tools

ATS

HRIS

Job description

Emperor is for your great ambitions. We're an employee-owned corporate communications and creative agency with more than 240 partners specialising in reporting, brand, digital, employee engagement, change and sustainability.

We want to be the agency of choice for ambitious talent. So, we’re looking for brilliant people who actively want to create great things with us. Our culture is one where you’re free to do, learn and achieve better. We welcome every partner to experience a sense of belonging; whoever you are, wherever you’re working from, whatever your role. Our values guide how we work every day, with each other, our clients, and suppliers. And with our friendly inclusive environment, effort and empathy, we make the feeling real.

The Role

We're looking for a proactive and highly organised Freelance Talent Coordinator to join our People Team on a part-time basis for five months.

This role is responsible for supporting the end-to-end engagement of freelance and contingent talent across our global business. Working closely with hiring managers, the Talent Acquisition Partner, Resource Management, Finance and the People Team, you'll help ensure we can access the right talent quickly, compliantly and cost-effectively.

The role combines freelance recruitment and sourcing with contractor compliance, onboarding and stakeholder coordination. You'll be responsible for building talent pipelines across multiple regions, negotiating freelance rates and engagement terms, and ensuring engagements are structured appropriately through freelance, contractor or Employer of Record (EOR) arrangements where required. This role will also include working on permanent roles when freelance isn't as busy.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys building relationships, solving resourcing challenges and ensuring a smooth experience for both hiring managers and freelancers.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A 5-MONTH PART-TIME CONTRACT

Key Responsibilities

Freelance Recruitment

• Source and engage freelance talent across key disciplines including Client Services, Design, Production, Strategy, Content, Artwork and Digital.
• Build and maintain talent pools across the UK, Middle East and other international markets.
• Negotiate freelance rates and engagement terms, balancing commercial objectives with market competitiveness.
• Provide guidance to hiring managers on market rates, availability trends and cost-effective talent solutions.
• Build and maintain an understanding of freelance rate benchmarks across disciplines, regions and specialist skillsets.
• Proactively identify and approach talent through LinkedIn, referrals, talent communities and direct networking.
• Conduct screening interviews to assess skills, suitability, availability and rate expectations.
• Present shortlisted candidates to hiring managers with clear recommendations.
• Manage freelance recruitment activity from brief through to engagement.

Compliance

• Coordinate freelance engagements from approval through to assignment commencement.
• Support the preparation and administration of freelance agreements and extensions.
• Support the People team to conduct and document IR35 assessments for UK contractor engagements.
• Ensure contractor and freelancer records are maintained accurately and compliantly.
• Work with the People Team and Finance to ensure engagements follow company policies and governance requirements.
• Monitor contract end dates and proactively coordinate extensions where required.
• Support onboarding and compliance processes through internal systems and platforms.
• Provide ad-hoc support to business initiatives focused on profitability, utilisation and resource optimisation.

Employer Of Record (EOR) Coordination

• Support the engagement of international freelancers and contingent workers.
• Assist hiring managers in identifying the most appropriate engagement route, including freelance, contractor and Employer of Record (EOR) solutions.
• Liaise with approved EOR providers and external partners where required.
• Support compliance with local engagement requirements in partnership with the People Team and external advisors.

Skills & Experience

• Experience in recruitment, talent acquisition, resource coordination or contingent workforce management.
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• Excellent organisational and administrative skills.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Experience using recruitment, ATS or workforce management systems.
• Understanding of contractor engagement and compliance requirements.
• Strong commercial awareness with experience negotiating contractor and freelance rates.
• Ability to balance hiring manager requirements, budget considerations and candidate expectations to achieve successful outcomes.
• Experience conducting IR35 assessments.
• Knowledge of Employer of Record (EOR) solutions and contingent workforce models.

As an employer, we are committed to ensuring the representation of people from all backgrounds regardless of their gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, race, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, disability status, or any other aspect which makes them unique. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds to apply and would encourage you to let us know if there are steps we can take to ensure that your recruitment process enables you to present yourself in a way that makes you comfortable.