Strategic Talent Acquisition Business Lead

AXA UK; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

AXA UK is seeking an experienced Talent Acquisition Business Lead to partner with senior business leaders across units. You will set and drive the Talent Acquisition strategy to align with organisational priorities, workforce challenges, and future talent needs.

This role requires strategic workforce planning, cross-functional collaboration, data-driven decisions, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion while enabling flexible hybrid work.

Qualifications

• Experience in talent acquisition across multiple business units.
• Proven ability to partner with senior leaders and HR teams.
• Familiarity with recruitment platforms such as iCIMS or Workday.
• Ability to translate insights into workforce strategy.
• Knowledge of legal compliance and diversity/inclusion best practices.
• Experience in employer branding and improving candidate experience.

Responsibilities

• Partner with senior leaders and HR teams to understand priorities and talent needs.
• Provide strategic talent acquisition expertise to influence workforce planning.
• Lead cross-functional talent initiatives supporting transformation and growth.
• Deliver market intelligence and labour landscape insights for decisions.
• Facilitate strategic workforce planning conversations, identifying risks and opportunities.
• Use data and insights to shape hiring strategies that boost capability and diversity.
• Promote an enterprise-wide approach to talent acquisition aligned with objectives.
• Collaborate with HR to deliver integrated workforce solutions and inclusion initiatives.

Skills

Talent Acquisition

Stakeholder Management

Strategic Workforce Planning

ATS Expertise

Employer Branding

Diversity & Inclusion

Labour Market Insights

Relationship Building

Tools

iCIMS

Workday

Job description

About AXA

AXA is a global leader in insurance and financial services, dedicated to helping customers protect what matters most to them. As the sixth-largest insurance company in the world, we provide a wide range of services, including health, car, home, and business insurance. We support millions of customers worldwide, helping them navigate life's uncertainties with confidence.

Job Overview

We're seeking strategic and experienced Talent Acquisition Business Leads to partner with senior business leaders across assigned business units. In this role, you will drive the organisation’s Talent Acquisition strategy, ensuring it aligns with organisational priorities, workforce challenges, and future talent needs. You'll act as a trusted advisor, leveraging market insights and workforce data to support sustainable growth and organisational transformation.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with senior leaders and HR teams to understand organisational priorities and talent requirements.
• Provide strategic talent acquisition expertise to influence workforce planning and organisational decision-making.
• Lead cross-functional talent initiatives that support transformation, growth, and capability development.
• Deliver market intelligence, industry trends, and labour landscape insights to inform strategic decisions.
• Facilitate strategic workforce planning conversations, identifying potential talent risks and opportunities.
• Use data and insights to shape hiring strategies that enhance workforce capability and diversity.
• Promote a consistent, enterprise-wide approach to talent acquisition aligned with business objectives.
• Collaborate with various HR functions to deliver integrated workforce solutions supporting organisational success.
• Support diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Work Arrangements

At AXA we work smart, empowering our people to balance their time between home and the office in a way that works best for them, their team and our customers. You'll work at least two days a week (40%) away from home, moving to three days a week (60%) from December 2026. Away from home means attending the office, visiting clients or attending industry events. We’re also happy to consider flexible working arrangements, which you can discuss with Talent Acquisition.

We know that some candidates may be discouraged from applying if they don't meet every requirement. If you’re excited by this job and the prospect of working at AXA but you’re not sure you tick every box, we’d still encourage you to apply.

Your Skills & Experience

• Proven experience in talent acquisition within a multi-business or cross-functional environment.
• Strong track record of partnering with senior leaders and HR teams to understand strategic talent needs.
• Familiarity with ATS and recruitment platforms such as iCIMS, Workday, or similar tools.
• Demonstrable ability to create strategic recommendations supporting organisational growth and transformation.
• Knowledge of legal compliance, diversity & inclusion best practices in recruitment.
• Experience in employer branding initiatives and enhancing candidate experience.
• Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building skills across diverse teams.
• Strong network within relevant industries and labour markets.

As a precondition of employment for this role, you must be eligible and authorised to work in the United Kingdom.