National Highways
Early Talent Advisor
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Early Talent Advisor
Early Talent Advisor
About the Role
We’re looking for an Early Talent Advisor to join our Early Talent Team in a 12-month fixed-term contract at National Highways.
In this role, you will play a key part in designing, developing, and managing early talent programmes, ensuring the critical skills our business needs are supported. You'll help nurture and retain future talent across the organisation while driving workforce growth and long-term capability.
You’ll work closely with colleagues across HR and the wider business, delivering impactful early talent programmes, including our graduate and apprenticeship schemes. By serving as a vital link between emerging professionals and the business, you’ll ensure these initiatives deliver for both the organisation and future talent.
Daily responsibilities include managing programmes on the ground, acting as a subject matter expert, coordinating projects, working with external suppliers, and supporting colleagues across the business. Additionally, you'll analyse data, measure programme effectiveness, and continuously improve early careers offerings.
Work pattern: Hybrid (minimum 2 days/week at Snowhill, Birmingham office).
Key Responsibilities
- Design and manage early talent programmes focused on attracting, retaining, and developing talent, including graduates, apprenticeships, internships, and work experience.
- Oversee end-to-end early talent programmes daily, acting as the subject matter expert in your area.
- Coordinate with third-party suppliers to deliver early talent initiatives, ensuring KPI alignment and successful execution.
- Develop internal/external communications, guidance, and initiatives that support the early talent strategy.
- Support employees and line managers with the early talent process.
- Ensure data integrity, update all data sources, address errors, manage reporting, and collaborate with HR to design new analytics.
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About You
To succeed in this role, you will need:
- Proven experience managing end-to-end early talent programmes (e.g., graduates, apprenticeships, internships) in a large, multi-site employer.
- Extensive knowledge of apprenticeship programmes and levy-funded training, including administration and coordination.
- Stakeholder management expertise, with demonstrated ability to build strong relationships across teams and external partners.
- Project coordination experience, ensuring successful delivery of early talent initiatives with external suppliers.
- Highly organised, proactive, and solutions-focused, with strong attention to detail and multitasking skills to deliver exceptional experiences for learners and stakeholders.
About National Highways
Here at National Highways, we manage and improve England’s motorways and major A-roads, ensuring safer, smoother, and more reliable journeys for customers. Guided by our core values—passion, integrity, safety, teamwork, and ownership—we support our people to thrive.
Our HR Directorate offers comprehensive services to empower employees and achieve organisational objectives. We are dedicated to fostering an inclusive, motivating, and high-performing culture aligned with our People Strategy, driving long-term resilience.
Salary & Employment
External applicants will be offered a starting salary at the lower pay scale, while current employees follow an established pay policy. If successful, employment is subject to standard pre-employment checks, including:
- Right to work verification
- 3-year employment history references
- DBS criminal record check
- Social media and adverse journalism evaluation
- Driving licence check (if applicable)
- Fit-to-work questionnaire and (if necessary) medical check
- Qualification/membership verification (if relevant)
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Why Join National Highways?
We champion a connected, inclusive culture where teamwork, safety, and development lead to high performance. If you prioritise accountability, ownership, and integrity while supporting colleagues creatively, you’ll excel at National Highways.
Flexible & Sustainable Working
A hybrid approach enables flexibility (up to 60% remote work). We accommodate part-time offers, job shares, and flexible start/finish times. Discuss requirements at the interview stage.
Benefits Package
✅ Base salary + performance bonus ✅ Contributory pension (up to 10% employer contribution) ✅ Annual leave (26 days rising to 31 + Bank Holidays) ✅ Hybrid working + flexible hours ✅ Life assurance (4x annual salary) ✅ Full health and wellbeing support, including:
- Access to an Employee Assistance Programme (24/7); mental health first aiders and a wellbeing app
- Occupational health services and flu vaccines
- Cycle-to-work scheme
- Career development investment via learning, mentoring, coaching, and on-the-job experience
🌟 Work-Life Support ✔ Family-friendly benefits (extended maternity/adoption leave, shared parental leave, holiday play schemes) ✔ Financial support (collaborative discount on groceries, travel, leisure, and savings programmes) ✔ Community leave (3 days/year) for volunteering
Prospective employees are encouraged to apply from underrepresented backgrounds to enhance diversity and inclusion.
"Your journey with National Highways begins when we connect with you. Let’s drive positive change together."
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