Talent Partner

Southwark Council; Greater London; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

None

Job summary

Southwark Council’s People & Organisational Development service is recruiting a hands-on Talent Partner to lead end-to-end recruitment and improve how recruitment is delivered across the council. You’ll work with hiring managers to design campaigns, attract candidates and ensure fair, high-quality processes.

The role focuses on using data and insight to strengthen outcomes, support internal talent, and deliver a consistent recruitment approach within a diverse, fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering end‑to‑end recruitment and advising managers on recruitment processes and best practice.
• Experience designing and delivering attraction campaigns, including sourcing candidates for hard-to-fill or specialist roles.
• The ability to manage multiple recruitment campaigns at pace, staying organised and meeting deadlines.
• Confidence using recruitment data and insight to track progress, identify issues and improve performance.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence, challenge appropriately and work collaboratively.

Responsibilities

• Managing end‑to‑end recruitment campaigns, from vacancy approval through to offer, ensuring timelines and standards are met
• Working with hiring managers to design recruitment approaches, including advertising, assessment and selection methods
• Leading attraction activity, including writing job adverts, running campaigns and using direct sourcing to reach suitable candidates
• Supporting redeployment and internal candidates, helping to match talent to opportunities and promote internal movement
• Providing advice, guidance and challenge to managers, while maintaining accurate data, compliance and a positive candidate experience

Skills

End-to-end recruitment

Campaign design

Direct sourcing

Stakeholder management

Data-driven insights

Job description

Why Southwark?

At Southwark Council, our People & Organisational Development service plays a key role in shaping a high-performing, inclusive workforce that delivers for our communities.

Our Resourcing team sits at the heart of this, leading how we attract, recruit and retain talent across a diverse and complex organisation. From frontline services to senior leadership roles, we support hiring managers to bring in the right people, at the right time, in the right way. We’re transforming how recruitment is delivered - with a strong focus on quality, consistency, workforce planning and reducing reliance on agency spend. Alongside this, we’re building a more proactive, insight-led approach to attraction and developing internal talent pipelines to support long‑term organisational success.

What You’ll Be Doing

This is a hands‑on, delivery-focused role where you’ll manage recruitment activity from start to finish. You’ll work closely with hiring managers to understand their needs, shape campaigns, and ensure the right approach is taken to attract and assess candidates. Alongside delivery, you’ll contribute to improving how recruitment works across the council. That means using data, market insight and experience to strengthen outcomes, support internal talent, and ensure a consistent, fair and high-quality approach.

Key Responsibilities Include

• Managing end‑to‑end recruitment campaigns, from vacancy approval through to offer, ensuring timelines and standards are met
• Working with hiring managers to design recruitment approaches, including advertising, assessment and selection methods
• Leading attraction activity, including writing job adverts, running campaigns and using direct sourcing to reach suitable candidates
• Supporting redeployment and internal candidates, helping to match talent to opportunities and promote internal movement
• Providing advice, guidance and challenge to managers, while maintaining accurate data, compliance and a positive candidate experience

What We’re Looking For

You’ll be someone who is confident delivering recruitment in a fast‑paced environment, with the ability to manage competing priorities without losing focus on quality. You understand the importance of getting recruitment right and take a practical, organised approach to delivery. You’ll also be comfortable working with managers at different levels, offering clear advice and building trust. You’re able to use data and insight to guide your work, and you’re committed to fair and inclusive recruitment practices that support better outcomes.

We’re Looking For Someone Who Has

• Experience delivering end‑to‑end recruitment and advising managers on recruitment processes and best practice
• Experience designing and delivering attraction campaigns, including sourcing candidates for hard‑to‑fill or specialist roles
• The ability to manage multiple recruitment campaigns at pace, staying organised and meeting deadlines
• Confidence using recruitment data and insight to track progress, identify issues and improve performance
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence, challenge appropriately and work collaboratively

The role is 36 hours per week, Monday to Friday, and is based at 160 Tooley Street, London, SE1 2QH.

For detailed qualifications and requirements, please review the job description and person specification located at the bottom of the advert.

Contact Information

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Joe Toner via email at [e-mail]

Important Information

Southwark Council will only contact candidates through official recruitment channels. We will never request passport details, proof of address, National Insurance details, bank details or payment during the application stage. These checks are completed only after an offer of employment has been made. If you are unsure whether a communication is genuine, please contact [e-mail] before sharing personal information.

Additional Information

Please note that we are unable to accept applications from individuals who require visa sponsorship.

This vacancy is subject to the council’s redeployment arrangements. Eligible redeployees will be considered first, and the vacancy may be withdrawn if a suitable redeployee is appointed.

Our Values And Behaviours

At Southwark, our REACH values are at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to being Resident‑focused, Empowering, Accountable, Collaborative and Honest, in how we work with colleagues, residents, partners and communities. We welcome applications from people who share these values and are passionate about making a positive difference to our borough.

To learn more about our REACH values and behaviours, please visit: About Southwark – Southwark

Benefits And More Information

https://jobs.southwark.gov.uk/why-us/

Recruitment Timeline

• Shortlisting date/s: Week commencing 30 th November 2026
• Interview date/s: Week commencing 7 th December 2026

The closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. We strongly advise you to complete your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

We are an organisation who is passionate about our people and understands that richness of diversity is a requirement to provide the best possible services to our communities. This is demonstrated through our council‑wide ambitious commitment to tackle racial inequality in our communities and workforce through our Southwark Stands Together initiative . We particularly welcome applications from members of the black, Asian and ethnic minority communities to increase representation at senior management level in the Council.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme

As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you’ll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role, and identify with one of the below criteria:

• Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
• Are currently in care, or have previously been in care
• If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long‑term health condition

Attachments

• Job Description and Person Specification - Talent Partner