Director of Talent Acquisition - The University of Manchester : Job Details

Job Title: Director of Talent Acquisition

Location: Oxford Road, Manchester (hybrid)

Salary: Competitive

Job type: Full Time, Permanent. 35 hours per week

Closing date: 05/03/2025

The University of Manchester is a member of the prestigious Russell Group and one of the largest single-site universities in the UK. With an annual turnover in excess of £1.35 billion, it is home to more than 46,000 students, over 13,000 staff and has a significant ongoing programme of capital investment across the campus estate. The University's vision is to be recognised globally for the excellence of its people, research, learning and innovation, and for the benefits they bring to society and the environment.

This is an exciting time to join as the University as it develops its ambitious Manchester 2035 strategy and initiates a new People Strategy.

Role Description:

To lead and shape the strategic direction and priorities of talent acquisition at The University of Manchester.

Key Responsibilities & Accountabilities:

• Developing the University's talent acquisition strategy and framework that meets the needs of the University, including responsibility for developing and implementing effective talent acquisition plans, sourcing and attracting top-tier candidates, and building a strong talent pipeline.
• Creating and implementing talent acquisition strategies for leadership, mid-career and graduate/apprenticeship hiring
• Working in conjunction with the Director of Organisational Effectiveness and Culture to ensure optimum target operating models and resource models
• Designing and driving the adoption of consistent recruiting, interviewing and hiring practices that support a strong candidate experience
• Partnering with leaders and people partners within the organization to track the ongoing hiring needs of their business
• Managing end-to-end recruitment for senior roles
• Defining and driving the team to meet and exceed hiring benchmarks relating to time to fill, cost per hire, diversity hiring, and hiring manager and candidate satisfaction
• Lead and support the overarching People Strategy as a member of the People Executive Board
• Defining and leading projects focused on continuous improvement
• Staying up to date with industry trends, best practices, and emerging recruitment technologies, incorporating innovative approaches into our talent acquisition efforts.
• Lead and develop the TA team to drive an excellent cost-effective service to the University
• Review our employer brand externally and drive improvements.
• Identify hiring manager development needs and ensure all selection is completed in a non-biased manner
• Drive cost savings from internal recruitment service offerings, and rationalising of resource types
• You will build and sustain relationships both internally and across the sector, acting as an influential voice within People Directorate and across the organisation as well as being a key leader within the People team.
• Establishing annual plans of performance deliverables and continuous improvement plans for teams and regular progress review against established KPIs.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

• Experience of leading and delivering a successful TA service within large and complex organisation.
• Experience in a wider People function including TA, employer brand, inclusive recruitment.
• A successful history of operating at a strategic level.
• Experience of Target Operating Models, and developing organisations in terms of capability, behaviours, values, and performance.
• Excellent people leadership and management skills with evidence of developing high performing teams.
• Educated to Degree level and CIPD qualified or equivalent.
• A successful track record of reducing cost through effective resourcing models.
• Able to demonstrate a high level of credibility to manage relationships with stakeholders at different levels.
• Able to balance operational delivery with strategic planning.
• Sound budget and financial management.
• Able to demonstrate an understanding of, and interest in, the opportunities and challenges faced by the Higher Education sector.
• Committed to the University's vision, strategy and values, including those relating to equality, diversity and inclusion.

What you will get in return:

• Fantastic market leading Pension scheme
• Excellent employee health and wellbeing services including an Employee Assistance Programme
• Exceptional starting annual leave entitlement, plus bank holidays
• Additional paid closure over the Christmas period
• Local and national discounts at a range of major retailers

As an equal opportunity employer, we support an inclusive working environment and welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender expression, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments are made on merit.

Please note that we are unable to respond to enquiries, accept CVs or applications from Recruitment Agencies.

Any CV's submitted by a recruitment agency will be considered a gift.

Please click APPLY to be redirected to our website to complete an application form.

Candidates with the relevant experience or job titles of; Talent Acquisition Director, Recruitment Director, Resourcing Director, Talent Director, may also be considered for this role.