Recruitment Officer – 12-month Maternity Cover

Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People; Loughborough; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A children's hospice organization in Loughborough is seeking a Recruitment Officer to enhance their recruitment processes and support inclusion and diversity in hiring. The role involves managing recruitment cycles, providing professional advice, and championing best practices. The ideal candidate will have experience in effective recruitment practices and a passion for improving the workplace culture. This is a fixed-term contract lasting 12 months, with excellent benefits.

Benefits

Free onsite parking

Healthcare Cashback plan

Life Assurance

27 days holiday plus bank holidays

Contributory pension scheme

Affordable meals

Free access to an employee assistance programme

Wellbeing support

Fun events and staff away days

Qualifications

• Proven experience designing and embedding effective, inclusive recruitment practices.
• Confident using and optimising an ATS.
• Strong knowledge of selection methods and interview techniques.
• Able to build strong, collaborative relationships across teams.
• Experienced in conducting and training others in competency‑based and assessment interviews.

Responsibilities

• Support the rollout of the new Applicant Tracking System, ensuring compliance and user-friendliness.
• Manage the end-to-end recruitment cycle, providing a people-focused service.
• Champion inclusion and diversity throughout all recruitment stages.
• Provide professional advice and support on all aspects of recruitment.
• Organise and deliver corporate induction for new starters.
• Continuously improve recruitment practices for alignment with best practices.
• Successfully recruit new Trustees ensuring transparency and inclusiveness.
• Represent the organization at careers events to promote vacancies.

Skills

Inclusive recruitment practices

Applicant Tracking System (ATS)

Selection methods

Relationship building

Competency-based interviews

Job description

This vacancy looks for a skilled recruitment professional for a fixed‑term opportunity where your work genuinely makes a difference. If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you.

Here at Rainbows Children’s Hospice, we provide specialist palliative care and end‑of‑life support to over 750 babies, children and young people living with life‑limiting conditions, as well as approximately 3,000 families, siblings and carers across the East Midlands. We brighten short lives and support families wherever they are.

We are looking for a passionate and proactive Recruitment Officer to join our friendly People Team on a 12‑month maternity cover contract. You will play a key role in attracting, engaging and onboarding the talented individuals who help make Rainbows a special place to work.

Location & Working Hours

Location: Onsite at Rainbows Hospice in Loughborough

Hours: 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm

Contract: Fixed Term until January 2027 (12 months)

Ideal start date: January 2026

About the Role

This is a varied and rewarding role where you’ll lead on delivering an exceptional recruitment experience, ensuring our hiring practices are inclusive, efficient, and reflective of Rainbows’ values.

• Support the rollout of the new Applicant Tracking System (Talos), ensuring it is compliant, efficient and user‑friendly, including delivering training to hiring managers.
• Manage the end‑to‑end recruitment cycle, leveraging technology to provide a seamless, people‑focused service.
• Champion inclusion and diversity throughout all stages of the recruitment and selection process.
• Provide professional advice and support to managers, employees and candidates on all aspects of recruitment.
• Organise and deliver Rainbows’ Corporate Induction for new starters, ensuring a positive onboarding experience.
• Continuously review, refresh and improve recruitment practices to ensure alignment with current best practice and organisational priorities.
• Successfully recruit new Trustees to the Board, ensuring a transparent and inclusive process.
• Represent Rainbows at careers events, promoting current vacancies and raising awareness of Rainbows as a charity and employer of choice.

Key Qualifications

• Proven experience designing and embedding effective, inclusive recruitment practices.
• Confident using and optimising an ATS.
• Strong knowledge of selection methods and interview techniques.
• Able to build strong, collaborative relationships across teams.
• Experienced in conducting and training others in competency‑based and assessment interviews.

Benefits

• Free onsite parking at the Hospice, Lark Rise, Loughborough.
• Eligibility to join blue light card discount scheme and Company Shop.
• Healthcare Cashback plan.
• Life Assurance.
• 27 days holiday plus bank holidays.
• Contributory pension scheme or Salary Sacrifice Pension Scheme.
• Affordable meals at the Hospice, Lark Rise, Loughborough.
• Free tea, coffee and fruit while at the Hospice.
• Free access to an employee assistance programme.
• Wellbeing support and access to Mental Health First Aiders.
• Unofficial benefits: Fun events, all staff away days, guest visitors.

For further information about this role and the responsibilities please contact Emma Burton, Recruitment Officer, at [e-mail].

To apply for the role please click ‘apply now’ to complete an online application form. If you require an alternative method of applying or would like to discuss reasonable adjustments further, please contact the Recruitment Team at [e-mail].

This role is subject to a Standard DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check and comprehensive pre‑employment screening, including employment referencing covering the past five years.

Please note: We reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications. We encourage candidates to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Equality, diversity & inclusion

Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People is committed to improving the quality of its services to all people, irrespective of race/ethnicity, disability, gender, religion or belief, age, or sexual orientation. Our objective is to deliver high quality services that are accessible, responsive and appropriate to meet the diverse needs of different groups and individuals. Unlawful discrimination and other forms of exclusion have no place within Rainbows Hospice.

We will continue to take action to ensure that staff and volunteers employed by Rainbows Hospice are culturally aware and treat every person with dignity, respect, and fairness, in a way that is sensitively responsive to differences and similarities.