Talent Engagement Specialist

Opencast; Newcastle upon Tyne; Hybrid; GBP 34,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

7% employer pension contribution

Share options

Discretionary bonus

25 days holiday

Job summary

Opencast is a purpose-driven digital and technology consultancy. We are looking for a Talent Engagement Specialist to own the end-to-end hiring journey, building diverse pipelines and telling the Opencast story across job families.

You’ll lead direct sourcing, talent pooling and relationship-building to attract top talent, while guiding new starters and contractors through onboarding and progression within our growing business.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in talent acquisition or people operations, ideally in technology or high-growth organisations.
• Experience using ATS and sourcing platforms to build diverse pipelines.
• Clear communicator with ability to build lasting candidate relationships.
• Good understanding of competency-based interviewing and fair hiring practices.
• Ability to use recruitment data to improve time-to-hire and quality of hire.
• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills with multitasking ability.
• Understanding contractor hiring practices including IR35 and agency management is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain Opencast’s talent network and diverse pipelines across the UK.
• Support end-to-end recruitment delivery across permanent and contingent roles.
• Apply knowledge of IR35 to carry out accurate determinations and oversee timesheets.
• Implement robust assessment processes and manage the full candidate journey.
• Create job adverts and candidate content with the Marketing team.
• Manage relationships with recruitment agencies and partners.
• Stay informed on recruitment legislation and market trends.
• Support onboarding for new starters and contractors.

Skills

Talent acquisition

ATS platforms

Candidate experience

Interviewing

Data & metrics

Stakeholder management

IR35 knowledge

Agency management

Tools

Applicant tracking systems

Sourcing platforms

Job description

Ready for a new challenge?

Are you looking for work that makes a difference? Do you want to work with people who learn and grow together?

If so, Opencast could be the place for you. Opencast is a purpose-driven digital and technology consultancy, making life better through the power of people and technology. We're ambitious, inclusive, and growing fast. We're proud of our collaborative culture and our mission to deliver better work for our clients, making a bigger impact on society. We value trust, empowerment, and doing the right thing for our people and clients.

The role

As a Talent Engagement Specialist , you'll ensure every candidate - whether a future permanent employee, partner or contractor associate - has the best possible experience, owning and elevating the end-to-end hiring journey to make it smooth and inclusive. Through creative direct sourcing, talent pooling and relationship building, you'll attract new talent, develop diverse pipelines and build strong networks, while authentically telling the Opencast story across our job families and translating workforce plans into practical hiring strategies that align with the needs of our growing business.

Beyond recruitment, your goal is to make life at Opencast the best it can be for our new starters and contractors alike - getting to know your talent community well, guiding people through the recruitment process and onboarding, and supporting them as they settle into and progress through their journey with us.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain Opencast’s talent network and diverse pipelines - including our contingent workforce - proactively identifying talent across the UK through direct outreach, networking, referrals and events, in line with our hiring strategy
• Support end-to-end recruitment delivery across permanent and contingent hiring, partnering with Talent Engagement Partners, our Contingent Workforce Manager and hiring managers to plan and deliver against forecast and workforce plans
• Apply knowledge of IR35 to carry out accurate determinations, manage contractual arrangements and oversee timesheet processes for contingent engagements
• Implement robust, values-led assessment processes - reviewing applications, conducting interviews and managing the full candidate journey to ensure clear communication, timely feedback, accurate system records and the proactive removal of bottlenecks
• Build our direct hiring capability, creating job adverts and candidate content with our Marketing team
• Build and manage relationships with recruitment agencies and partners, ensuring smooth, compliant submissions and strong performance
• Maintain deep knowledge of the external market through events, networking and representing Opencast at meet-ups and open days, staying current with recruitment legislation
• Support new starters and contractors through onboarding, ensuring a smooth, positive transition into Opencast

Essential experience

• Previous experience in talent acquisition, recruitment or people operations, ideally within technology or high-growth organisations
• Confidence using applicant tracking systems and sourcing platforms to build, nurture and maintain diverse talent pipelines
• Clear, thoughtful communicator with the ability to build positive, lasting relationships with candidates, delivering an inclusive, high-quality candidate experience and contributing to employer brand activity
• Good understanding of competency-based interviewing, fair hiring practices and recruitment compliance
• Comfortable using recruitment data and metrics to improve engagement, time to hire and quality of hire
• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple roles, engagement types and priorities effectively
• Collaborative and resilient team player who works well with hiring managers, contributes positively to the wider team, and brings an open mindset to feedback and continuous learning
• Experience or understanding of contractor hiring practices, including IR35 and agency management, is desirable

This role will be suitable if you

• Love working with people, build rapport quickly, and are a great listener
• Are curious, solutions-focused and persistent in finding answers
• Can handle sensitive information and challenging conversations with empathy
• Value a positive, inclusive culture with flexibility and autonomy
• Are looking for a chance to make a real impact - for our clients, our business and society

Salary

£34,000 - £40,000 per annum

What we offer

A competitive package including a 7% employer pension contribution, share options, and a discretionary bonus. You'll also benefit from 25 days' holiday and access to 3 annual "life happens" days to support unexpected situations.

We provide wellbeing support, ongoing professional development, volunteering opportunities, and the chance to be part of a genuinely supportive team.

Where you’ll work

This role requires regular on-site attendance at our HQ, hub offices and other business locations, alongside the flexibility to work from home. Travel may be required as part of the role and applicants should be able to travel when needed to support business activities and team collaboration.

We include you

We welcome candidates from all identities, attributes, ways of thinking and backgrounds to thrive in a career at Opencast. Our aim is for the diversity of our people to be reflected in the solutions we deliver, to help create a fairer society for all.

Interview

Interviews will be conducted via Microsoft Teams. We're happy to make adjustments to support your needs.