Group Talent Acquisition Specialist

Job Introduction

Talent Acquisition Specialist 

Reports To: Group Talent Acquisition Manager

Location: Manchester City Centre, Office Based (Hybrid can be discussed, 1 day at home)

Job Type: Permanent, Full Time 

 Benefits: 28days holiday, rising to 32, birthday day off, wellness day off, employee assistance programme, perks and discounts app, pledge days, cycle to work scheme, life assurance, enhanced sick pay, reduced hours in school holidays + more.

At Operam Education Group, what drives us isn’t just growth — it’s impact.

Every internal hire across our group directly impacts how our business supports schools and delivers meaningful outcomes in education. As a colleague-focused organisation, we know that building the right teams internally is fundamental to delivering a sustainable, values-led service that continues to grow.

This is where you will add real value…

You’ll play a pivotal part in attracting, headhunting, and hiring people who share our values and believe in what we do  - recruiters who work collaboratively with schools to place outstanding teaching and support staff. Supporting multiple brands within our portfolio, you’ll also help shape our future growth as we expand into new territories, locations, and specialisms.

This isn’t a transactional recruitment role. It’s an opportunity to build teams with purpose, influence culture, and think creatively about how we find and engage the right talent. We encourage new ideas, fresh approaches, and recruiters who want to challenge the norm to make a genuine difference.

If you’re motivated by impact, care deeply about aligning values with talent, and want your work to mean something beyond filling roles this is where you can do your best work.

Key Responsibilities

•          Talent Sourcing & Headhunting: Identify, approach, and engage top recruitment talent, building strong relationships with active and passive candidates.

•          Pipeline Development: Maintain a proactive talent pipeline to meet current and future recruitment needs across the group portfolio.

•          Internal Stakeholder Partnership: Work closely with hiring managers and the Group Talent Acquisition Manager to understand business needs, workforce plans, and role requirements.

•          Recruitment Strategy Support: Provide market insights, candidate intelligence, and recommendations to support recruitment strategy and employer branding initiatives.

•          Candidate Experience: Deliver a positive, professional candidate experience throughout the recruitment process.

•          Market Networking: Build and maintain strong networks with recruitment professionals through events, industry forums, and other channels.

•          Recruitment Metrics & Reporting: Track and report on pipeline health, recruitment activity, and outcomes to support workforce planning.

•          Onboarding Support: Collaborate with stakeholders to ensure a smooth and engaging onboarding experience for new recruitment hires.

•          Branch Travel: Occasional travel to branch locations will be required. While having access to a car and a full driving licence is preferred, it is not a mandatory requirement.

Skills & Competencies

•          Proven experience in delivering recruitment results, gained through permanent 360/agency or internal/Rec2Rec recruitment experience.

•          Strong relationship-building and networking skills.

•          Commercial mindset and ability to understand business needs.

•          Proactive, self-motivated, and highly organized.

•          Strong communication and influencing skills.

•          Ability to work independently while supporting a broader recruitment strategy.

Qualifications

•          Demonstrable success in sourcing and hiring recruitment talent.

•          Experience in building and managing talent pipelines.

•          Knowledge of recruitment market trends, candidate sourcing techniques, and recruitment tools/ATS systems.

Click apply, and if your experience aligns, our Group Talent Acquisition Manage will be in touch to learn more about your career ambitions and share how joining Operam Education Group could be the next step for you.

As a proud member of Inclusive Employers, we are committed to creating a diverse, welcoming, and equitable workplace. We believe in providing a fair and transparent recruitment process, where every candidate is assessed solely on their skills, experience, and potential.

 If you require any reasonable adjustments during the application process or at any stage of the interview, please let us know. We are committed to making the necessary accommodations to support you fully.

Please note that all successful candidates will be required to provide proof of their right to work in the UK before commencing employment