Head of Talent Acquisition

Global University Systems; England; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading higher education institution is seeking a Head of Talent Acquisition to drive recruitment strategies across its College Division brands in London. This full-time role involves leading a team to optimize hiring processes, enhance candidate experience, and support high-volume recruitment cycles. Candidates should possess a data-driven mindset, strong leadership skills, and expertise in ATS implementation. The position operates in a hybrid model with three days in the office, offering an opportunity for impactful change and growth within the organization.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in transforming TA teams into high-performing teams.
• Expertise in implementation and adoption of ATS.
• Strong background in high-volume environments.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end recruitment strategy for College Division brands.
• Lead and inspire the TA team to drive high-impact recruitment.
• Collaborate on employer branding initiatives.

Skills

Team leadership

High-volume recruitment

Data-driven decision making

Stakeholder engagement

Talent pooling

Commercial mindset

Tools

TeamTailor

Job description

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Global University Systems provided pay range

This range is provided by Global University Systems. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

Head of Talent Acquisition

Location: London (Hybrid – 3 days in office/on campus)

Reporting to: Head of Global Talent

Are you a charismatic, people-first leader who thrives on building high-performing teams and shaping exceptional recruitment strategies? Do you have a passion for innovation and the ability to turn Talent Acquisition into a true business driver? If so, this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact.

About the Role

As Head of Talent Acquisition, you’ll own the end-to-end recruitment strategy for our College Division brands (London College of Contemporary Arts, London College of Contemporary Music, The Language Gallery etc) & FutureLearn, leading a talented team (6) and partnering with senior leadership to deliver best-in-class hiring outcomes. This is a highly commercial role where you’ll balance strategic vision with hands-on delivery, ensuring we meet high-volume hiring peaks while building proactive talent pipelines for future growth.

What You’ll Do

• Lead & Inspire: Transform our TA team into a proactive, high-impact function with a stellar internal reputation.
• Drive Innovation: Champion the implementation and full adoption of our new ATS TeamTailor, using it as a change agent to revolutionize how we work, measure success, and tackle bottlenecks.
• Strategic Impact: Design and deliver recruitment strategies for high-volume hiring cycles around student intake, embedding workforce planning, succession strategies, and talent pooling.
• Partner at the Top: Act as the go-to TA expert for senior leadership, providing insights, challenging blockers, and driving best-in-class innovative practices.
• Shape Our Brand: Collaborate on EVP and employer branding initiatives to attract diverse, top-tier talent and elevate the candidate experience.
• Data-Driven Decisions: Use analytics and insights to optimize processes, identify challenges, and deliver measurable improvements.
• Set the Standard: Establish clear SLAs and KPIs that streamline workflows, elevate team performance, and showcase our impact across the business.
• Elevate Hiring Excellence: Upskill hiring managers through dynamic training, bite-sized content, and practical tools, enhancing candidate experience, ensuring fair assessment, and embedding a culture that champions our EVP and brand.

What We’re Looking For

• A natural team nurturer and leader with proven experience turning TA teams into high-performing, commercially aligned powerhouses.
• Expertise in ATS implementation and adoption (TeamTailor experience is a big plus).
• Strong background in high-volume recruitment environments, with proven proactive methodologies like talent pooling and succession planning.
• Data-driven mindset with a passion for continuous improvement and innovation.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement skills and a commitment to inclusive hiring practices.
• A sharp commercial mindset with a track record of reducing agency spend, accelerating time-to-hire, and enabling hiring managers to focus on their core roles.
• Curiosity and a forward-thinking approach to human-centric AI tools and innovative processes that advance TA functions aligned with evolving business needs.

Seniority level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Human Resources

Industries

Higher Education

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