Senior Manager - Executive Hiring & Talent Intelligence - S4 - Talent CoE - Strategic Talent - Milton Keynes - Unity Place

Banco Santander (Brasil); Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Santander UK is seeking a Senior Manager for Executive Hiring & Talent Intelligence based in Milton Keynes. You will lead end-to-end executive recruitment for ExCo-1 roles, and drive talent intelligence to inform succession, readiness and development decisions.

You will partner with senior stakeholders to shape strategy, governance, and a high-quality hiring experience while aligning external market insights with internal talent plans.

Qualifications

• Experience owning executive recruitment strategy, operating models and end-to-end senior hiring.
• Experience integrating executive market intelligence and talent mapping with succession planning and leadership assessment.
• Experience advising ExCo members and senior leaders, using evidence to influence hiring and talent decisions.
• Knowledge of governance in executive recruitment and regulatory considerations.

Skills

Executive recruitment strategy

Executive market intelligence

Stakeholder management

Governance

Job description

Senior Manager - Executive Hiring & Talent Intelligence | S4 | Talent CoE - Strategic Talent | Milton Keynes - Unity Place

Country: United Kingdom

IT STARTS HERE

Santander ( www.santander.com ) is evolving from a global, high-impact brand into a technology-driven organisation , and our people are at the heart of this journey. Together , we are driving a customer-centric transformation that values bold thinking, innovation , and the courage to challenge what's possible.

This is more than a strategic shift. It's a chance for driven professionals to grow, learn, and make a real difference .

Our mission is to contribute to help more people and businesses prosper . We embrace a strong risk culture and all our professionals at all levels are expected to take a proactive and responsible approach toward risk management.

Within Talent CoE - Strategic Talent, executive hiring connects to the wider talent and leadership ecosystem to strengthen succession resilience, diversity representation and long-term leadership capability.

THE DIFFERENCE YOU MAKE

Santander UK is looking for a Senior Manager - Executive Hiring & Talent Intelligence based out of our offices at Unity Place - Milton Keynes.

Help shape the leadership that will take Santander UK forward. You'll own the UK executive recruitment and onboarding model for ExCo-1 roles, combining high-quality hiring delivery with forward-looking talent intelligence. Working within Group frameworks, you'll set UK standards and connect external market insight with internal succession, readiness and development needs. This role has no people management responsibilities.

We're shaping the way we work through innovation, cutting-edge technology, collaboration and the freedom to explore new ideas. To succeed in this role, you will be responsible for:

• Own UK executive recruitment: set strategy and the operating model for ExCo-1 (SL and key S5) roles, directing end-to-end hiring from mandate definition through appointment.
• Lead sourcing and search partnerships: own direct and external search strategies, supplier selection and commercial performance, delivering an exceptional candidate and hiring-leader experience.
• Shape future-focused selection: challenge senior stakeholders on leadership requirements and govern structured, bias-mitigated assessments aligned to Group frameworks and future capabilities.
• Own onboarding and integration: set the UK framework, 30-60-90 day approach and first-year success measures, translating assessment insights into transition and early development plans.
• Connect talent intelligence and succession: integrate internal, Group and external talent insight to benchmark critical-role coverage, readiness, mobility, diversity and development needs.
• Build preparedness ahead of demand: develop executive relationships and market maps, translating competitor movements and emerging capability needs into clear recommendations for senior stakeholders.
• Balance an adaptable portfolio: agree strategic priorities with the Talent Director and the Strategic Talent Lead, deploying capacity between live hiring, proactive intelligence, relationships and succession insight.
• Set governance and drive improvement: own UK controls, service standards and performance insight; partner with Compliance on regulatory requirements; and improve hiring quality, inclusion and preparedness.

WHAT YOU'LL BRING

Our people are our greatest strength. Every individual contributes unique perspectives that make us stronger as a team and as an organisation. We're enabling teams to go beyond by valuing who they are and empowering what they bring.

The following requirements represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities essential for success in this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Professional Experience

• Experience owning executive recruitment strategy, operating models and end-to-end senior hiring, including direct sourcing and executive-search partner management. (Required)
• Experience integrating executive market intelligence and talent mapping with succession planning, talent reviews and leadership assessment. (Required)
• Experience advising and constructively challenging ExCo members and senior leaders, using evidence to influence executive hiring and talent decisions. (Required)
• Experience designing and delivering executive selection and onboarding approaches, with strong governance and continuous improvement. (Required)

Hard Skills

• Advanced market mapping, executive talent intelligence and comparative benchmarking, linked to strategic workforce planning and future capability needs. (Required)
• Knowledge of executive recruitment governance, including awareness of SMCR, FCA/PRA approvals and Fitness & Propriety requirements where applicable, working with Compliance. (Required)
• Ability to design and execute structured interviews and assessments, interpret talent data and develop meaningful recruitm