Talent Acquisition Partner - Support Functions - #1779735

BUSINESS FUNCTION: People

SALARY: Circa £60,000 per annum

ROLE TYPE: Hybrid

LOCATION: Leeds/York/Manchester

HOURS: 37 per week

Talent Acquisition Partner

People come to Northern for trains they can rely on, but behind the scenes, it takes brilliant people strategies to keep everything on track. As Talent Acquisition Partner for our support functions, you'd play a key role in shaping how we bring great people into Northern – from HR and Finance to Strategy, Digital and Commercial.

You'd act as the go-to person for all support function recruitment, from first brief to final offer, partnering closely with hiring managers and our wider People team. Whether it's advising on senior leadership roles or spearheading new hiring strategies, this is a role where your ideas and experience will make a visible impact.

What You'll Be Doing

• Taking ownership of all recruitment activity for our support functions, including Director and Executive level roles.
• Building trusted partnerships with senior stakeholders, creating a collaborative, candidate first hiring culture.
• Leading and coaching a high performing team to meet ambitious targets in a fast moving environment.
• Designing and implementing recruitment strategies, from process improvements to tech upgrades and enhanced assessment approaches.
• Creating succession plans and supporting team development.
• Acting as the subject matter expert on hiring for support functions, providing advice and insight across the People team.
• Driving direct sourcing efforts to reduce agency reliance, while building talent pipelines and communities.
• Ensuring a first class candidate experience, from inclusive attraction to meaningful feedback.
• Championing diversity, equity and inclusion in everything we do.
• Managing escalations and acting as a key point of contact for internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborating with Trade Unions on recruitment changes that impact our people.
  
  
  

About You

Strategic, curious and always two steps ahead – that's the mindset that sets you up for success in this role.

You'll bring:

• Deep experience in leading recruitment in a large, complex organisation.
• A track record of running strategic hiring projects from scratch.
• Strong business partnering skills with the confidence to influence at senior level.
• Experience coaching and developing recruitment teams.
• Knowledge of psychometric tools and how to use them well.
• Familiarity with workforce planning, succession, and using data to drive decision-making.
• A working understanding of recruitment related employment law.
• A flair for innovation, plus a good grasp of current recruitment tech and tools.
  
  
  

What’s in it for you?

At Northern, we don’t just value our people - we go the extra mile to support them. Here’s a taste of what you can look forward to:

• Free Travel: Unlimited free travel for you, your partner, and your dependents on Northern services. Plus up to 75% discount on other networks in the UK and Europe.
• Generous Pension Scheme: We top up your contributions by 1.5 times.
• Enhanced Family Benefits: We offer 9 months of full pay for maternity leave and 2 weeks for paternity leave.
• Electric Car Scheme: Lease a brand new electric or plugin hybrid car.
• Cycle to Work Scheme: Save up to 42% on a bike and spread the cost.
• Exclusive Discounts: From shopping to wellbeing, Northern Perks has you covered.
• Holiday Purchase Scheme: Buy up to 5 extra days of annual leave.
• Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 support for family, lifestyle, and more.
• Training and Career Development: We offer tailored training to our colleagues and opportunities to gain recognised qualifications. Plus enhanced career pathways no matter what part of the business you’re in.
• Recognition: We know how important it is to show how much we appreciate our people. That’s why we have our Northern Lights and Northern Sparks Awards, recognising and celebrating brilliance every day.
  
  
  

Why Northern?

We’re more than just a train operator. We’re the heartbeat of the North - connecting communities, creating opportunities, and driving sustainable growth. With 2,500 trains running daily, we’re on a mission to improve rail travel and enhance the customer experience while protecting the environment.

Back in 1825, the first passenger train set off in the North of England, after which rail quickly spread across the globe - and this year, we’re celebrating 200 years of the modern railway. As we look back on the historic events that led us here, we also look towards the future as we move into the era of Great British Rail. Join us at this pivotal moment in rail history and play your part in our journey.

A place for everyone

The best journeys happen when everyone feels welcome on board.

At Northern, we don’t just move people from A to B - we’re building a team where everyone feels they belong. Our talent team can make reasonable adjustments to the process if that’s something you need. We're also a Level 2 Disability Confident employer, so if you meet the minimum criteria for the role, we’ll always offer an interview.

We automate parts of our screening process to remove any unconscious bias and to make sure every application is treated fairly. All successful offers will be subject to a DBS check and a medical assessment.

No matter your background, experience, or whether you call it a bap, barm, or cob… there’s a place for you here in the railway.