Talent Acquisition Manager - Education

Cognita Schools; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Cognita is seeking an experienced Talent Acquisition Manager - Education to attract and secure exceptional teaching and leadership professionals across Cognita's UK schools.

Working within a high-performing Talent Acquisition team, you will partner with Heads, Principals and hiring managers to understand workforce needs, develop sourcing strategies, and deliver a seamless recruitment journey from attraction through onboarding.

Qualifications

• At least five years' experience managing full-cycle recruitment.
• Experience sourcing high-quality candidates for teaching, leadership and academic positions.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage multiple vacancies across a diverse international region.
• Familiarity with international teacher recruitment, relocation and visa processes, safeguarding frameworks.
• Degree and HR qualification such as CIPD desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end recruitment across Cognita's UK schools.
• Develop innovative sourcing strategies and manage recruitment campaigns.
• Partner with Heads, Principals and hiring managers to understand workforce needs.
• Ensure safeguarding and pre-employment checks are completed and reported.

Skills

Full-cycle recruitment

Sourcing candidates

Stakeholder management

Candidate experience

Relationship building

Education

Degree

CIPD qualification

Tools

Applicant Tracking Systems

CV databases

Social media platforms

Job description

About Cognita

Cognita is a global leader in independent education. Founded in 2004, we are a growing community of 90 schools in 20 countries - in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East - serving more than 100,000 students. Each of our schools are proudly unique, however our collective purpose is to create an environment where everyone can, "Thrive in a rapidly evolving world".

About Cognita

Cognita is a global leader in independent education. Founded in 2004, we are a growing community of 90 schools in 20 countries - in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East - serving more than 100,000 students. Each of our schools are proudly unique, however our collective purpose is to create an environment where everyone can, "Thrive in a rapidly evolving world".

About the Role

As Talent Acquisition Manager - Education, you will play a pivotal role in attracting, engaging and securing exceptional teaching, leadership and education professionals across Cognita's schools in the UK. Working within a high-performing and fast-paced Talent Acquisition team, you will partner closely with Heads, Principals and hiring managers to understand workforce needs, develop innovative sourcing strategies, and deliver a seamless recruitment journey from attraction through to onboarding. You will proactively build and nurture talent pipelines, source high-calibre candidates through a variety of channels, manage recruitment campaigns and recruitment events, and provide expert guidance on recruitment best practice. Alongside delivering an outstanding candidate and stakeholder experience, you will ensure all safeguarding, compliance and pre-employment checks are completed to the highest standards, maintain accurate data within our applicant tracking system, support stakeholders with ATS training, and provide regular recruitment reporting and workforce planning insights. This is an exciting opportunity for a commercially minded and relationship-focused recruitment professional who thrives in a dynamic environment, enjoys thinking creatively, and is passionate about helping schools secure exceptional talent across a diverse international region.

Working Arrangement

4 days per week in the London office or schools, 1 day working from home.

Who We Are Looking For

We are seeking an experienced and proactive recruitment professional with at least five years' experience managing full-cycle recruitment and a proven track record of sourcing high-quality candidates for teaching, leadership and academic positions. You will be a confident relationship builder, capable of partnering with Heads, Principals and senior school leaders while providing an outstanding candidate experience throughout the recruitment journey. With strong organisational skills, you will be comfortable managing multiple vacancies and competing priorities across a diverse international region, using a range of sourcing tools, social media platforms, CV databases and applicant tracking systems to identify and engage talent. You will possess excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills, alongside sound judgement when handling sensitive safeguarding and candidate information. Experience within the education sector, particularly within an international or multi-site school group, would be highly advantageous, as would familiarity with international teacher recruitment, relocation and visa processes, teacher accreditation requirements and safeguarding frameworks across different countries. A degree and professional HR qualification, such as CIPD, are desirable, along with the ability to present recruitment data and market insights to senior stakeholders. Additional language skills relevant to the region would also be beneficial.

Closing Date for Applications is: Friday 16th October 2026

All appointments are subject to safer recruitment checks, including an enhanced DBS check. Our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy is available on the school website. Details on Recruitment of Ex-Offenders is included within the Application Guidance.

We are an equal opportunities employer committed to diversity and treating all employees with dignity and respect regardless of background.