Talent Acquisition Specialist - Life Sciences

The Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT) Oxford's purpose is to have a global impact by fundamentally reimagining the way science and technology translate into end-to-end solutions and delivering these solutions in programmes and platforms that respond to humanity's most challenging problems.

EIT Oxford will ensure scientific discoveries and pioneering science are turned into products for the benefit of society that can have high-impact worldwide and, over time, be commercialised to ensure long-term sustainability.

Led by a faculty of world experts, EIT Oxford seeks to solve the world's most challenging problems across four high-risk, high-reward, high-impact humane endeavours: health and medical science; food security and sustainable agriculture; climate change and clean energy; and government innovation in an era of artificial intelligence.

EIT Oxford is investing significant resources in a new world-class research and development facility in the Oxford Science Park. Set for completion in 2027, the state-of-the-art campus includes 300,000 sq ft of research laboratories, an oncology and preventative care clinic, and educational and meeting spaces. Together, they create the perfect environment for EIT Oxford experts to take ground-breaking ideas from research to broad implementation. The new facility will further EIT's current partnership with the University of Oxford and become the new home for Ellison Scholars.

EIT Oxford is committed to cultivating a community where excellence is achieved through collaboration, trust, innovation and tenacity. We foster an environment where everyone's experience and expertise are valued. We are curious and resilient in our efforts to drive long-term, sustainable innovation to meet humanity's most enduring challenges.

At EIT Oxford, we're looking for a dynamic Talent Acquisition Specialist (Life Sciences) to join our growing HR & Talent function. In this critical role, you'll take ownership of the full recruitment lifecycle—partnering closely with hiring managers across a range of programmes and functions, shaping sourcing strategies, and championing best practices. You'll play a central role in enhancing our employer brand, elevating the candidate experience, and helping scale our talent strategy to support the continued growth and success of EIT Oxford. If you thrive in fast-paced, agile environments and want to make a real impact—we'd love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead end-to-end recruitment across a diverse range of roles and levels
• Partner with programme teams to deliver tailored, specialist recruitment solutions
• Develop and deliver compelling employer branding and recruitment marketing initiatives
• Design and implement scalable recruitment processes and tools to streamline hiring
• Build multi-channel sourcing strategies to attract both active and passive candidates
• Provide expert guidance and upskilling support to hiring managers on best practice
• Collaborate with leadership to align recruitment strategies with organisational goals
• Champion diversity, equity and inclusion in all hiring processes

Requirements

Essential Skills, Qualifications & Experience:

• Demonstrable experience in talent acquisition at a similar level, ideally in a fast-growing, start-up or scale-up environment
• Proven experience recruiting within Life Sciences (Biotech, Pharma etc.) or similar technical industries
• Strong end-to-end recruitment skills, from job brief to offer stage
• Experience sourcing talent across Oxfordshire and surrounding regions, with knowledge of local hiring trends and salary benchmarks
• Solid understanding of UK employment law and compliant hiring practices
• Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, able to build trusted relationships
• Strategic mindset with a proactive, solutions-focused approach
• Comfortable working at pace, managing multiple projects and adapting to shifting priorities
• Resilient, tenacious and enthusiastic with a passion for people and talent

Desirable Skills, Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in HR, Business, Psychology, or a related field (or qualified by experience)
• Familiarity with local talent pipelines, including graduates from Oxford University and regional networks
• Existing connections in UK life sciences and tech recruitment communities
• Experience using modern recruitment tools, platforms, and applicant tracking systems
• Knowledge of employer branding tactics and social media recruitment strategies
• Exposure to designing or delivering inclusive hiring initiatives

Benefits

We offer the following salary and benefits:

• Salary: £40,000 - £55,000 (depending on experience) + travel allowance + bonus
• Enhanced holiday pay
• Pension
• Life Assurance
• Income Protection
• Private Medical Insurance
• Hospital Cash Plan
• Therapy Services
• Perk Box
• Electric Car Scheme

Why work for EIT:

At the Ellison Institute, we believe a collaborative, inclusive team is key to our success. We are building a supportive environment where creative risks are encouraged, and everyone feels heard. Valuing emotional intelligence, empathy, respect, and resilience, we encourage people to be curious and to have a shared commitment to excellence. Join us and make an impact!

Terms of Appointment:

• You must have the right to work permanently in the UK with a willingness to travel as necessary
• You will live in, or within easy commuting distance of, Oxford
• During peak periods, some longer hours may be required and some working across multiple time zones due to the global nature of the programme