Talent Acquisition Workstream Lead (People and Finance Service Transformation (PFST) Programme)

University of Oxford; Oxford; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious university is seeking a Talent Acquisition Workstream Lead to design and deliver a modern recruitment service. The role involves leading service redesign, engaging with stakeholders, and utilizing AI solutions. The ideal candidate has strong expertise in recruitment processes and relationship management, and is adaptable to change. This position offers generous leave and a commitment to flexible working.

Benefits

38 days of annual leave

Generous family leave schemes

Hybrid and flexible working options

Excellent contributory pension scheme

Affordable commuting options

Access to cultural and sports clubs

Qualifications

• Demonstrated ability to lead service reviews and redesign activities with multiple stakeholder groups.
• Understanding of AI/automation opportunities in recruitment.
• Experience supporting high quality change programmes with user-centred solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead a comprehensive review and redesign of talent acquisition processes.
• Act as product owner, shaping a recruitment service with digital solutions.
• Engage widely with stakeholders to understand challenges.

Skills

Strong understanding of contemporary recruitment and onboarding processes

Strong planning, facilitation and problem-solving skills

Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills

Education

Educated to degree or equivalent relevant experience

Tools

Familiarity with HR technologies

Job description

Overview

Please note: This opportunity is open to internal candidates within the University only. As the Talent Acquisition Workstream Lead, you will be at the forefront of designing and delivering the University's future recruitment and onboarding service.

This is a high-profile role where you will:

• Lead a comprehensive review and redesign of talent acquisition processes, ensuring they are streamlined, inclusive and aligned with our future People Service Model.
• Act as product owner, shaping a recruitment service enabled by digital solutions, including AI and automation, to deliver a seamless experience for candidates and hiring managers.
• Engage widely with stakeholders across the University to understand challenges, build trust, and co-create a service that reflects our world-class ambition.
• Define and embed clear measures of success, ensuring the new service delivers efficiency, effectiveness and excellent user experiences.

This is an exciting opportunity to influence large-scale change at one of the world's most respected institutions, leaving a legacy of modern, user-centred talent acquisition that underpins our academic and professional excellence.

We are looking for an experienced professional to be seconded to the programme for an initial period of 12 months. You will need to be able to demonstrate:

• Strong understanding of contemporary recruitment and onboarding processes.
• Demonstrated ability to lead service reviews and redesign activities with multiple stakeholder groups.
• Strong planning, facilitation and problem-solving skills with the ability to adapt to ambiguity and evolving priorities.
• Familiarity with Talent Acquisition good practice and common metrics (e.g. cost-per-hire, time-to-hire) and approaches to service measurement.
• Understanding of AI or automation opportunities in recruitment, such as CV screening tools, chatbots or workflow automation, along with knowledge/experience of industry standard HR technologies.
• Experience supporting high quality change programmes with a focus on user-centred solutions.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills, along with a collaborative mindset and a willingness to listen/engage widely across diverse teams.
• Resilient, adaptable, and capable of working under pressure in a dynamic programme environment.
• Educated to degree or equivalent relevant experience.

PFST context: People and Finance Service Transformation (PFST) is a programme of work to improve, modernise and future-proof our People and Finance services. This will involve reimagining our ways of working and adopting new technologies to support us.

Talent Acquisition is the first workstream to launch under the People service transformation of the programme, and will design and deliver the future Talent Acquisition service at the University.

Benefits

• 38 days of annual leave (inclusive of public holidays) to support your wellbeing, with the option to purchase up to 10 extra days and additional leave after long service.
• One of the most generous family leave schemes in UK higher education, offering up to 26 weeks of full-pay maternity and adoption leave, plus 12 weeks of full-pay paternity/partner leave.
• A commitment to hybrid and flexible working to suit your lifestyle.
• An excellent contributory pension scheme.
• Affordable and sustainable commuting options, including a cycle loan scheme, discounted bus travel, and season ticket loans.
• Access to a vibrant community through our social, cultural, and sports clubs.