Talent Acquisition Partner

Purpose of the role

The Talent Acquisition Partner provides operational, hands-on recruitment and administrative support across the college. The role manages the end-to-end recruitment process for teaching, support and operational staff, ensuring timely recruitment, excellent candidate experience, and full compliance with safer recruitment requirements. The role also plays a key part in onboarding new starters — preparing paperwork, coordinating pre-employment checks, and supporting the induction process.

Recruitment Administration & Coordination

• Draft, update and post job adverts across the college website, job boards, and social platforms.
• Manage applications, shortlist candidates, and coordinate interview scheduling with hiring managers.
• Prepare interview packs, arrange interview rooms, manage candidate communication, and ensure a professional, timely process.
• Support hiring managers with drafting or updating job descriptions and person specifications.
• Maintain accurate data within the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) or recruitment spreadsheets.
• Ensure all recruitment activity complies with safer recruitment and DBS requirements.

Candidate Management

• Act as the first point of contact for applicants, responding to queries promptly and professionally.
• Conduct initial screening where appropriate and coordinate follow-up interviews or assessments.
• Manage timely communication to all candidates, ensuring a positive experience throughout the process.

Onboarding & Pre-Employment Checks

• Issue offer letters, contracts of employment, and new starter paperwork.
• Collect and check required documentation (, proof of address, right to work, qualifications, overseas checks, etc.).
• Coordinate DBS checks, references and other statutory safer recruitment checks.
• Maintain accurate onboarding records and ensure new starter files are complete before start dates.
• Liaise with Payroll, IT and line managers to ensure a smooth onboarding process.
• Host new starter inductions, including welcome briefings, HR presentations, policy overviews, and initial compliance training.
• Support the wider HR team to ensure probation reviews are scheduled and tracked.

General HR Administration

• Maintain and update recruitment and HR trackers, logs, and records.
• Support wider HR initiatives as needed (e.g., open days, recruitment fairs, HR events).
• Assist with generating recruitment reporting metrics for the Head of HR.
• Provide administrative support to the HR team during peak periods (e.g., start of academic year, compliance audits, Ofsted/ISI inspections).

Collaborative Working

• Work collaboratively with external agencies in the best interests of the College
• Work collaboratively to build strong working relationships within the College, ensuring a visible and supportive presence.

General Responsibilities

• Attend weekly common room briefings
• Maintain high standards of professionalism and confidentiality at all times
• Role model and visibly promote the College values and behaviours
• Ensure high standards in respect of health and safety, equality, diversity and inclusion, safeguarding and child protection
• Be flexible to assist with the rapidly changing work requirements
• Maintain an awareness of changing external requirements and ensure that the HR service responds to changes in context
• Keep up to date and relevant in respect of HR best practice