Talent Acquisition Manager - Education

Cognita; Greater London; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Cognita is seeking an experienced Talent Acquisition Manager - Education to lead recruitment for teaching, leadership and academic roles across its UK schools. You will partner with Heads, Principals and hiring managers, design proactive sourcing strategies, manage campaigns and ensure safeguarding and compliance in every step of the process.

The role offers a flexible hybrid arrangement with four days in London offices or schools and one day from home, and requires at least five years of

Qualifications

• Five+ years of full-cycle recruitment experience.
• Experience recruiting for teaching, leadership and academic roles is preferred.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end recruitment across Cognita's UK schools.
• Develop innovative sourcing strategies and manage recruitment campaigns.
• Ensure safeguarding, compliance and pre-employment checks are completed to standard.
• Provide recruitment reporting and workforce planning insights.

Skills

Full-cycle recruitment

Stakeholder management

Sourcing strategies

Onboarding & assessment

Education

Degree in HR/Business

HR qualification (CIPD or equivalent)

Tools

LinkedIn Recruiter

ATS platforms (Workday/ternary)

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 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.

The Closing Date for Applications is: Friday 16th October 2026

Cognita Schools is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. 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.