Head of Talent Engagement, Onboarding & Mobility; Internal

To find out more about the role, please contact Samantha Penn, Associate Director, Talent and Engagement, by email

We're looking for a strategic, collaborative and people-focused leader who is passionate about creating exceptional colleague experiences. You'll bring:

• Significant experience developing talent, workforce or people strategies within a complex organisation.
• A strong track record of partnering with senior leaders to influence workforce planning, organisational capability and talent decisions.
• Experience designing and delivering innovative approaches to talent attraction, employer branding or onboarding.
• The ability to balance strategic thinking with hands‑on delivery, driving continuous improvement across the employee lifecycle.
• Experience building strong partnerships across People & Culture functions and working with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, influencing and relationship management skills.
• A collaborative, inclusive and values-led approach, with a passion for helping people and organisations thrive.,
  
  Experience with in Higher Education (HE), fundraising or mission/purpose-led organisations would be advantageous, but is not essential. We're pleased to accept applications from individuals who possess transferable skills and experience drawn from sectors outside of HE.

  We are UCL: a diverse community with the freedom to challenge and think differently. The world urgently needs solutions to diverse problems. UCL was founded 200 years ago on the generosity of a collective of people who believed in an institution that could drive forward those solutions. The world needed collective support then, and it needs it again now., Shape how exceptional people join, grow and thrive at one of the world's leading universities.

This is more than a talent role. It's an opportunity to shape the entire colleague journey across UCL Advancement - from workforce planning and attracting exceptional talent, through onboarding, career development and internal mobility. Working as a member of the Talent & Engagement Leadership Team, you'll partner with senior leaders across Advancement to build organisational capability, strengthen succession planning and create outstanding experiences for candidates and colleagues alike.

You'll influence how we attract, welcome and retain exceptional people, developing innovative approaches to employer branding, onboarding and career mobility while ensuring our people practices are inclusive, forward-thinking and aligned with UCL's strategic ambitions.

• Develop and embed a strategic workforce planning approach that supports future organisational capability and succession planning.
• Create innovative talent engagement and employer branding initiatives that position UCL Advancement as an employer of choice.
• Design and continuously improve a sector‑leading onboarding experience that helps new colleagues feel connected, supported and successful from day one.
• Lead the development of internal mobility opportunities, enabling colleagues to build rewarding careers across UCL Advancement.
• Partner with senior leaders and UCL's central People & Culture teams to deliver strategic workforce initiatives and recruitment best practice.
• Support the successful recruitment, relocation and integration of international colleagues through effective global mobility processes.
• Drive continuous improvement across the candidate and new starter experience, ensuring every interaction reflects UCL's values and ambitions.

Please note, this role is open for applications from internal UCL staff only. Please note, this role is offered on a hybrid working basis with currently a minimum of 20% onsite…