Talent Acquisition Manager

REPORTS TO:
Head of HR (Finance Director in interim)

DEPARTMENT:
Human Resources

The Talent Acquisition Manager will develop and implement Phoenix ME’s end-to-end recruitment strategy across the UK and European business. The role holder will act as a partner to the SLT and operational teams to establish robust hiring processes, fully utilise the ATS, and ensure a consistent, high-quality candidate experience. The role holder is responsible for attracting, selecting, and retaining top talent, with a focus on cost-effective hiring, reducing agency dependence, promoting internal mobility, and leveraging employee referrals.

Recruitment Strategy & Workforce Planning

• Develop and implement a comprehensive recruitment strategy aligned with organisational goals and workforce planning needs.
• Partner with the SLT to forecast hiring needs across the UK and European business and identify vacancies.
• Conduct benchmarking against industry competitors to ensure competitive hiring practices and compensation.
• Promote internal mobility by identifying existing employees for open roles and succession planning opportunities.
• Build and maintain proactive talent pipelines for critical and hard-to-fill roles to reduce time-to-hire.
  End-to-End Recruitment

• Own and manage the end-to-end recruitment process, including job description development, candidate sourcing, screening, interviewing, evaluation, and offer negotiation.
• Establish scoring matrices, structured interview guides, and consistent selection criteria to standardise hiring decisions.
• Ensure all new hires meet role-specific qualifications, certifications, and compliance requirements.
• Oversee contractor and self-employed engagement in line with IR35 legislation.
• Manage recruitment across multiple European jurisdictions, adapting processes to local market and regulatory requirements.
  Cost-Effective Talent Acquisition

• Reduce agency dependence by building strong internal recruitment capabilities and proactive sourcing strategies.
• Leverage employee referral programmes, industry networks (e.g. Linked In), and headhunting initiatives to secure high-calibre candidates.
• Manage the preferred supplier list (PSL) of recruitment agencies, ensuring compliance with contractual criteria and fee efficiency.
• Track and reduce cost per hire through data-driven insights.
  Recruitment Process & Systems

• Implement, maintain, and optimise the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to manage recruitment workflows and track key metrics.
• Create and manage job advertisements across relevant platforms.
• Build Phoenix ME’s recruitment processes from scratch, including the establishment of our hiring manager cohort.
• Coach and guide hiring managers on recruitment best practices, interview techniques, and decision-making processes.
• Contribute to the HR board report, reporting on KPIs such as time-to-fill, cost per hire, source of hire, and quality of hire.
  Candidate Experience

• Promote Phoenix ME as an employer of choice through recruitment engagement initiatives and branding activities.
• Ensure a consistent and positive candidate experience throughout the recruitment lifecycle, from initial contact to onboarding.
• Monitor recruitment analytics to continually improve candidate sourcing, engagement, and selection strategies.
  Contractor & Compliance Oversight

• Oversee recruitment and monitoring of contractors and self-employed personnel, ensuring compliance with IR35 and other relevant employment regulations.
• Maintain records to ensure alignment with legal, operational, and safety standards.
  Stakeholder Engagement

• Build and maintain relationships with external recruiters, industry contacts, and professional networks.
• Collaborate with SLT and operational teams to establish sign-off processes, approve hiring decisions, and drive workforce efficiency.
• Advise on market trends, candidate availability, and recruitment cost management strategies.

Professional HR or Recruitment qualifications such as CIPD Level 5/7 or equivalent.

Extensive experience working in recruitment in the Construction industry.

Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, able to influence SLT and…