Talent Acquisition Partner

Wigan & Leigh College; Wigan; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 43,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent educational institution in the UK is seeking a full-time Talent Acquisition Partner. In this role, you will lead the recruitment strategy, manage end-to-end recruitment processes, and enhance the employer brand. Applicants should have proven experience in full-cycle recruitment, strong stakeholder management skills, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion. This position offers a salary range of £41,531 - £42,767.

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing end-to-end recruitment processes in a complex organization.
• Strong understanding of employment legislation and recruitment marketing.

Responsibilities

• Lead recruitment campaigns aligned with workforce planning.
• Champion employer branding at events.
• Analyze recruitment metrics to inform decision-making.
• Collaborate on projects related to diversity and inclusion.

Skills

Full-cycle recruitment experience

Stakeholder management

Data-driven decision making

Understanding of safer recruitment practices

Communication skills

Diversity, equity, and inclusion commitment

Tools

Applicant tracking systems

HR data analysis tools

Job description

Talent Acquisition Partner

Full time, permanent £41,531 - £42,767

Lead our recruitment strategy. Shape our employer brand.

As Talent Acquisition Partner at Wigan & Leigh College, you'll lead our recruitment efforts and shape the future of our workforce. You'll partner with leaders across the college to attract, engage, and hire exceptional people who share our values and commitment to technical excellence.

Working alongside our HR team, you'll own the full recruitment lifecycle, drive continuous improvement, and use data‑driven insights to make us an employer of choice. This isn't HR happening in the background. It's strategic decision‑making that shapes who we are and who we become.

What you'll do

• Lead and manage end‑to‑end recruitment campaigns, ensuring alignment with our workforce planning and strategic goals across multiple sites.
• Develop and champion the College's branding as an employer of choice, representing us at careers fairs, networking events, and outreach opportunities to build brand awareness and talent pipelines.
• Partner with hiring managers to craft compelling, inclusive job adverts and role profiles that reflect our values and vision and attract top talent.
• Analyse recruitment metrics and trends to inform decision‑making, improve processes, and report on performance to senior stakeholders.
• Give expert guidance on recruitment strategy, market insights, and candidate engagement, acting as a trusted advisor to departments across college.
• Oversee our applicant tracking system, ensuring best use, training, and integration with other HR systems.
• Design and implement robust selection processes, including competency‑based interviews, assessments, and safeguarding‑compliant practices.
• Manage relationships with external recruitment partners and platforms, ensuring cost‑effective and consistent employer branding.
• Drive continuous improvement in recruitment and onboarding processes, enhancing our candidate experience and compliance.
• Collaborate with the wider HR team on strategic projects, including EDI initiatives, workforce planning, and employer branding.
• Support the HR team during our busiest periods and wider people strategy projects.

What you bring

• Proven experience in full‑cycle recruitment, ideally in a complex or multi‑site organisation.
• Strong understanding of safer recruitment practices and employment legislation. You don't just meet compliance, you think strategically about it.
• Experience with applicant tracking systems and HR data analysis. You're comfortable with technology and proactive about exploring new tools.
• Knowledge of recruitment marketing and employer branding. You know what attracts people.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills. You work well with hiring managers, candidates, and colleagues.
• A strategic mindset where you want to find the answers to questions. You see the big picture and deliver the detail.
• Strong analytical skills and confidence using data to drive decisions and improvements.
• A genuine commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in recruitment practices.

Why join us?

At Wigan & Leigh College, recruitment isn’t about bodies in chairs. Without our people we don’t exist – we simply can’t be the college for technical excellence. Because behind every great student experience is a team of talented, dedicated staff.

You’ll work at a place that truly cares about education and opportunity, for our students, our community, and our people. You’ll have real influence over who joins us and shape how we're seen as an employer across the North‑West. And you get to see those outcomes when the right people join, stay and grow with us.

We're committed to equality, diversity, and sustainability in every aspect of our work. Safeguarding is at the heart of everything we do, so you'll need an enhanced DBS check, reference and right to work checks as part of this role.

Apply now and help us build a team that makes learning happen.

Applications close 2nd December # TalentAcquisitionPartner #RecruitmentLeadership #CareersInEducation