Manager, Recruiter

Role Purpose

The Manager, Recruiter holds full accountability for the end-to-end Associate Recruitment function, delivering a high-volume, process-driven recruitment operation that supports Pearson's assessment delivery.

The role operates with full autonomy and is responsible for:

• Managing recruitment delivery and team performance
• Leading stakeholder relationships
• Owning attraction strategy and advertising budget
• Driving the transformation of recruitment processes from a legacy, manual and spreadsheet-supported model to a scalable, system-driven platform.

The current recruitment model is delivered through a legacy web-based platform heavily supplemented by manual processing and Excel-based workflows. This role is critical in evolving that model into a more efficient and sustainable solution.

• Own the full Associate recruitment lifecycle, from attraction through to onboarding
• Ensure recruitment delivery aligns with assessment timelines and workforce demand
• Oversee high-volume application processing and onboarding activity
• Proactively identify and manage risks to delivery

• Lead and manage a geographically distributed team of Recruiters across the UK and the Philippines
• Set priorities and manage workload across high-volume, process-driven activity
• Ensure high standards of accuracy, consistency, and compliance
• Develop team capability in Excel, data handling, and recruitment processes

• Act as the operational owner of the recruitment component of the Associate Recruitment and Contracting platform (ARC2)
• Define business requirements based on current processes, pain points, and future needs
• Translate manual and Excel-based workflows into scalable system requirements
• Represent recruitment in design discussions, ensuring the platform reflects real operational use
• Lead:
  User acceptance testing (UAT)
• Process validation prior to go-live
• Implementation of new workflows
• Drive:
  Reduction of manual workarounds
• Elimination of duplicate data handling across systems and spreadsheets
• Adoption of the platform across the team
• Provide continuous feedback to improve system functionality post-launch

• Own the attraction strategy for Associate recruitment
• Manage relationships with advertisers and job boards
• Control and allocate advertising budget effectively
• Monitor performance of channels and optimise spend

• Lead relationships with stakeholders
• Translate demand into recruitment plans and timelines
• Provide clear updates on delivery progress and constraints
• Influence stakeholders on process improvements and realistic delivery expectations

• Own recruitment processes, ensuring they are efficient, consistent, and scalable
• Identify inefficiencies caused by current manual and spreadsheet-based activity
• Drive process improvements to simplify and standardise ways of working
• Ensure all processes remain audit-ready and compliant

• Oversee recruitment tracking and reporting across systems and Excel tools
• Analyse data to identify trends, risks, and bottlenecks
• Improve data visibility and reduce reliance on fragmented reporting
• Use data to inform operational and strategic decisions

• Ensure onboarding activity is completed accurately and within timelines
• Maintain oversight of Recruitment readiness for assessment delivery
• Work with internal teams to ensure smooth transition from recruitment to deployment

Essential

• Proven experience leading high-volume, process-driven recruitment or operations
• Strong experience managing teams in data-heavy environments
• Advanced Excel skills (complex tracking, data manipulation, reporting)
• Strong stakeholder management and communication capability
• Experience managing suppliers and/or budgets

Desirable

• Experience working with legacy systems or system transformation programmes
• Experience translating manual processes into system requirements
• Experience supporting or leading UAT and implementation activity
• Background in education, assessment, or contingent workforce models

• Ownership & Accountability:
  Full responsibility for delivery, performance, and outcomes
• Operational Excellence:
  Drives efficiency, accuracy, and scalability
• Stakeholder Leadership:
  Builds strong relationships and influences decisions
• People Leadership:
  Develops capability and performance in others
• Transformation & Change:
  Leads transition from manual to system-led ways of working

• Full ownership of Associate recruitment operations
• Leadership of a high-volume, process-driven recruitment team
• Accountability for transitioning recruitment from a manual/spreadsheet-supported model to a modern platform
• Direct impact on Pearson's assessment delivery capability

• Recruitment delivery against timelines and volume requirements
• Reduction in manual processing and spreadsheet dependency
• Successful adoption and…