Talent Acquisition Partner - Engineering

Royal Caribbean Group; Weybridge; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading cruise line company in the UK seeks an experienced Talent Acquisition Partner. This role will oversee the full-cycle recruitment for shipboard positions, particularly in engineering and skilled trades. The ideal candidate will have at least 2 years of experience in high-volume recruitment, strong sourcing strategies, and excellent communication skills. This position ensures a seamless candidate experience while meeting the hiring goals effectively.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years’ experience in recruiting for Engineers and skilled trade professionals.
• Experience with high volume roles in engineering or technical specialisms preferred.
• Strong knowledge of proactive talent pooling techniques.

Responsibilities

• Manage end-to-end recruitment for shipboard marine business units.
• Collaborate with hiring managers to define job requirements.
• Implement proactive sourcing tactics to attract candidates.

Skills

Recruiting for Engineers

Experience with skilled trades

Strong sourcing strategies

Communication skills

Stakeholder management

Tools

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

Social media recruiting tools

Smartsheets

Job description

Position Summary

The Talent Acquisition Partner will play a critical role in identifying, attracting, and hiring top talent to join our global shipboard marine operations. Areas of recruitment will include engineering, skilled trade and security.

This role focuses on the full-cycle recruitment process, ensuring a seamless candidate experience while meeting the hiring targets for shipboard positions. You will partner closely with hiring managers and operational leaders to deliver a pipeline of highly qualified talent across various departments.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Full-Cycle Recruitment & Candidate Management

• Manage end-to-end recruitment for assigned shipboard Marine business units, including sourcing, screening, interviewing, and offer management
• Develop and execute effective sourcing strategies to build a diverse pipeline for both current and future hiring needs
• Identify and engage talent through multiple channels, including direct sourcing, professional networks, referrals, and talent pools
• Review and assess candidates using competency-based interviewing techniques to ensure alignment with shipboard role requirements
• Ensure timely communication with candidates throughout the hiring process, from initial contact to onboarding
• Collaborate with hiring managers to define job requirements, desired competencies, and selection criteria for each open requisition

Stakeholder Collaboration & Hiring Strategy

• Work closely with operational leaders and hiring managers to understand workforce plans, talent needs, and shipboard schedules
• Provide talent market insights and recruitment trend analysis to hiring leaders, ensuring alignment between recruitment strategies and business goals
• Manage stakeholder expectations by clearly defining hiring timelines, processes, and deliverables
• Coordinate and support hiring events, both virtually and on-site, as needed to meet talent acquisition goals

Strategic Recruitment & Process Optimisation

• In this role, the ability to navigate complex job requirements is critical, as it involves mastering the intricate landscape of licensing, certifications, and compliance for marine professionals, technical specialists, and skilled trade professionals
• The Recruiter must have a deep understanding of international maritime regulations, including STCW, SOLAS, and MLC, as well as the specific certification requirements for a wide range of shipboard roles
• Operating in a high-volume hiring environment, the team collectively manages 200-400 hires per month, with each recruiter responsible for a book of business ranging from 20-60 hires
• Success in this role hinges on balancing regulatory compliance with the operational urgency of crew deployment, ensuring every hire meets the highest industry standards while optimising efficiency in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment

Sourcing & Talent Pool Management

• Implement proactive sourcing tactics to attract passive talent, leveraging Boolean searches, social media, professional networks, and referrals
• Build and maintain gap talent pools to ensure coverage for hard-to-fill and high-volume shipboard roles
• Continuously evaluate and adjust sourcing strategies based on market trends and operational hiring demands

Candidate Assessment & Selection

• Conduct structured interviews to evaluate candidates for technical competency, cultural fit, and adaptability to shipboard life
• Provide hiring recommendations based on candidate assessments, including professional background, qualifications, and competencies
• Ensure job descriptions, role expectations, and shipboard lifestyle details are clearly communicated to candidates
• Support hiring managers with interview coordination and candidate selection where needed

Data-Driven Recruitment Management

• Utilise recruitment dashboards and reports to track hiring metrics, productivity, and candidate conversion rates
• Prepare recruitment status reports, talent search summaries, and candidate pipeline overviews for leadership review
• Monitor recruitment data for accuracy and ensure all candidate activity is properly documented in the Applicant Tracking System (ATS)

Compliance & Process Excellence

• Ensure recruitment activities comply with international labour standards and maritime employment regulations (e.g., MLC)
• Adhere to standard operating procedures (SOPs) and maintain detailed records for all candidate interactions and hiring decisions
• Mitigate legal risks by staying informed of market-specific employment laws and ensuring compliance in all recruitment activities

Employer Branding & Candidate Experience

• Act as an ambassador for the company’s employer brand, emphasising the unique benefits and career growth opportunities within shipboard roles
• Ensure a positive candidate experience by providing timely feedback, clear communication, and professionalism throughout the hiring process

Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum of 2 years’ experience recruiting for Engineers and skilled trade professionals i.e Electricians, Mechanics, Plumbers etc.
• Experience recruiting for high volume roles within engineering, technical specialisms or skilled trade
• Experience recruiting for marine, or cruise industry preferred
• Strong knowledge of sourcing strategies, talent mapping, and proactive talent pooling techniques
• Experience with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS), job boards, and social media recruiting tools. Smartsheets a plus
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills