Recruitment Lead

Coast and Vale Learning Trust; Swindon; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 46,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Local Government Pension Scheme

Cycle to Work

Employee assistance programme

Job summary

The White Horse Federation in Swindon is seeking a Recruitment Lead to join our Central Professional Services team on a fixed-term maternity cover. Based on our Swindon Central Office, you will lead a team of Recruitment Officers and drive end-to-end recruitment across 41 schools and central functions.

We are looking for an experienced professional with strong leadership, stakeholder management and a proactive approach to high-volume recruitment within a complex multi-site organisation.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Recruitment Officers, providing day-to-day guidance, support, coaching and performance management to ensure a high-quality recruitment service.
• Oversee end-to-end recruitment activity across all schools and Central Office functions, ensuring vacancies are filled efficiently and in line with safer recruitment requirements.
• Manage and continuously improve the Applicant Tracking System (ATS), ensuring recruitment data is accurate, compliant and up to date.
• Monitor recruitment metrics and performance, producing regular reports and insights for Senior Leaders to support workforce planning and recruitment strategies.
• Develop and implement attraction strategies to increase candidate quality, diversity and application volumes across a wide range of roles.
• Build strong relationships with Headteachers, School Leaders and hiring managers, providing expert recruitment advice and guidance throughout the recruitment process.
• Oversee all advertising activity, ensuring vacancies are effectively promoted through appropriate job boards, social media channels and recruitment campaigns.
• Ensure compliance with statutory guidance, employment legislation, safeguarding requirements and safer recruitment practices.
• Manage recruitment administration processes, including offer documentation, onboarding and pre-employment checks, ensuring an excellent candidate experience.
• Lead recruitment projects and initiatives aimed at improving recruitment efficiency, candidate engagement and employer branding.
• Work closely with HR and Operations colleagues to support organisational workforce planning and staffing requirements.
• Manage recruitment-related inboxes and enquiries, ensuring prompt and professional responses to schools, candidates and stakeholders.
• Support and develop Recruitment Officers through training, mentoring and regular performance reviews.
• Ensure recruitment records and documentation are maintained accurately and in accordance with GDPR and data protection requirements.
• Identify trends, risks and opportunities in recruitment activity and make recommendations to improve attraction, retention and recruitment outcomes across the Trust.

Job description

Please note that applications will be reviewed as received and should a suitable candidate be identified, we may close the vacancy early. Therefore, early application is encouraged.

Hours: Full time 37 hours per week, all year round.

Actual Salary: £41,177.45-£45,529.48

Contract: Maternity Cover, Fixed Term for the maximum of 12 months.

Start: October 2026

About the role:

The White Horse Federation is a Multi-Academy Trust of 30 schools in Swindon, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire, committed to providing the very best education for our students.

Our Recruitment Team is a key part of the Central Professional Services function, delivering a high-quality and strategic recruitment service across our network of 41 schools and Central Office teams. We are currently recruiting for a Recruitment Lead to join our team on a fixed term basis. This is an on-site role predominantly based at our Central Office in Swindon, where you will lead and develop a team of Recruitment Officers.

The Recruitment Lead will be responsible for overseeing end-to-end recruitment activity across all schools and Central Office functions, ensuring a consistent, efficient and candidate-focused approach to talent acquisition. The role will provide leadership and support to the Recruitment Officers, manage recruitment processes and campaigns, monitor recruitment performance, and drive continuous improvement in attraction and hiring practices. This position would be ideal for an experienced recruitment professional with strong team leadership skills, a proactive approach to stakeholder management, and experience of managing high-volume recruitment within a complex, multi-site organisation.

You will be:

• Lead and manage the Recruitment Officers, providing day-to-day guidance, support, coaching and performance management to ensure a high-quality recruitment service.
• Oversee end-to-end recruitment activity across all schools and Central Office functions, ensuring vacancies are filled efficiently and in line with safer recruitment requirements.
• Manage and continuously improve the Applicant Tracking System (ATS), ensuring recruitment data is accurate, compliant and up to date.
• Monitor recruitment metrics and performance, producing regular reports and insights for Senior Leaders to support workforce planning and recruitment strategies.
• Develop and implement attraction strategies to increase candidate quality, diversity and application volumes across a wide range of roles.
• Build strong relationships with Headteachers, School Leaders and hiring managers, providing expert recruitment advice and guidance throughout the recruitment process.
• Oversee all advertising activity, ensuring vacancies are effectively promoted through appropriate job boards, social media channels and recruitment campaigns.
• Ensure compliance with statutory guidance, employment legislation, safeguarding requirements and safer recruitment practices.
• Manage recruitment administration processes, including offer documentation, onboarding and pre-employment checks, ensuring an excellent candidate experience.
• Lead recruitment projects and initiatives aimed at improving recruitment efficiency, candidate engagement and employer branding.
• Work closely with HR and Operations colleagues to support organisational workforce planning and staffing requirements.
• Manage recruitment-related inboxes and enquiries, ensuring prompt and professional responses to schools, candidates and stakeholders.
• Support and develop Recruitment Officers through training, mentoring and regular performance reviews.
• Ensure recruitment records and documentation are maintained accurately and in accordance with GDPR and data protection requirements.
• Identify trends, risks and opportunities in recruitment activity and make recommendations to improve attraction, retention and recruitment outcomes across the Trust.

We can offer you:

• A busy and varied role where no two days are the same!
• A friendly, supportive team who are committed to providing a high-quality service.
• The opportunity to join a forward-thinking Trust with high aspirations for students, staff and school improvement.
• Exciting and relevant CPD and career development opportunities.
• A range of employee benefits including Local Government Pension Scheme, Cycle to Work scheme and employee assistance programme.
• We are looking for a candidate who:
• Has organisational skills and an ability to multi-task successfully.
• Competent in Microsoft Office, Outlook and Teams.
• Can communicate effectively.

The Advantages of joining our Federation

In addition, our employees reap the rewards of a competitive benefits package, including:

• Employee Assistance programme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Menopause support network

Discounts, save money on holidays, clothing and much more:

• Discounts for Teachers - All staff within the Trust can take advantage of the discounts
• Blue Light Discount
• Eye Care Voucher

Development

Access to up-to-date training on safeguarding and child protection to ensure staff are fully supported in their roles, including ongoing updates on statutory safeguarding guidance and legislation.

CPD Programme

Supportive leadership team to help you reach your full potential

Pension / Leave and Service

• Excellent Pension Scheme*
• Employer contributions above national standards
• Enhanced family-friendly policies, including maternity, paternity, adoption, and shared parental leave
• An additional White Horse concessionary day’s leave per year

The White Horse Federation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. If successful for this role, you will be expected to apply for a disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service before an appointment is confirmed. Please note that references will be sought on shortlisted candidates before the interview.

The White Horse Federation values uniqueness and recognises the benefit of having a diverse workforce. We value the contributions of all staff from a wide range of backgrounds and we are committed to building an inclusive workplace that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. At The White Horse Federation, we believe that everyone should be treated with fairness and respect and share a commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at all of our schools. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and operate a fair recruitment process, free from discrimination against protected characteristics, in line with the Equality Act 2010.