Head of Recruitment and Onboarding

Our client’s purpose is simple: they change young lives for the better. They provide high-quality care, education, and support to children and young people across the UK — and their people make that possible.

Due to continued growth, our client is seeking an exceptional Head of Recruitment & Onboarding to lead their frontline recruitment strategy and ensure they attract, hire, and onboard the right talent at pace, scale, and quality. This is a pivotal leadership role within the People function. You will drive the strategy and delivery of high-volume recruitment across frontline care, education, and support roles, ensuring ambitious growth and revenue targets are met in a competitive market — without compromising on quality or compliance.

Leading a dedicated team of recruiters and onboarding specialists, you will be accountable for delivering a seamless, efficient, and candidate-focused journey from application through to start date. Your impact will directly enable sustainable growth and ensure outstanding support continues to be delivered to children and young people in their care.

• Develop and deliver strategic recruitment plans aligned to operational demand and growth targets
• Lead, coach, and inspire a high-performing recruitment and onboarding team
• Partner closely with Operational Managers to forecast workforce needs and tailor recruitment strategies
• Reduce reliance on third-party agencies through direct sourcing and internal recruitment initiatives

• Lead and streamline onboarding processes to reduce time-to-hire
• Ensure candidates move efficiently from application to compliant start
• Embed continuous improvement across systems, processes, and reporting
• Own and optimise the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and screening platforms

• Develop workforce engagement strategies, including bank and overtime utilisation
• Design retention initiatives to improve colleague satisfaction and reduce attrition
• Create a positive, candidate-centric experience that strengthens employer reputation

• Ensure full compliance with safer recruitment practices and regulatory standards
• Oversee enhanced DBS and reference processes
• Maintain robust recruitment systems that are consistently applied across the organisation

• Position the organisation as an employer of choice in the care and education sector
• Develop innovative recruitment campaigns across digital and offline channels
• Represent the organisation at recruitment events across the UK

• Deliver monthly management information reports with clear, actionable insights
• Track KPIs including time-to-hire, vacancy fill rate, and workforce utilisation
• Manage the recruitment budget to ensure cost-effective delivery
• Align recruitment performance with commercial and operational objectives

You are a strategic leader who thrives in high-volume environments and understand the urgency and complexity of frontline recruitment within care or education settings.

• Significant leadership experience in high-volume recruitment
• Experience with in care, education, or similarly regulated sectors
• Proven track record of improving onboarding processes and reducing time-to-hire
• Strong understanding of compliance and safer recruitment requirements
• Data-driven decision-making capability with advanced reporting skills
• Experience with ATS, HRIS, and screening systems
• Demonstrable success in recruitment marketing and employer branding
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills

• CIPD, REC, or equivalent professional qualification

£70,000 salary plus 10% performance-related bonus

Remote working within reasonable travelling distance of a UK regional hub

A senior leadership role with genuine organisational impact

The opportunity to shape and modernise recruitment strategy at scale

A mission-driven organisation where your work directly supports children and young people

A collaborative People & Culture function committed to continuous improvement

Our client is committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion and expects all colleagues to actively challenge discrimination in any form. They are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to enhanced DBS checks and satisfactory references.

If you are a commercially minded recruitment leader who can deliver pace, quality, and innovation in a challenging market, we would love to hear from you. Apply today to discuss this opportunity in confidence.