About This Role

Please note that applications will be reviewed as received and should a suitable candidate be identified, we may close the vacancy early. Therefore, early application is encouraged.

Hours: Full time 37 hours per week, all year round.

Actual Salary: £41,177.45-£45,529.48

Contract: Maternity Cover, Fixed Term for the maximum of 12 months.

Start: October 2026

About The Role

The White Horse Federation is a Multi-Academy Trust of 30 schools in Swindon, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire, committed to providing the very best education for our students.

Our Recruitment Team is a key part of the Central Professional Services function, delivering a high-quality and strategic recruitment service across our network of 41 schools and Central Office teams. We are currently recruiting for a Recruitment Lead to join our team on a fixed term basis. This is an on-site role predominantly based at our Central Office in Swindon, where you will lead and develop a team of Recruitment Officers.

The Recruitment Lead will be responsible for overseeing end-to-end recruitment activity across all schools and Central Office functions, ensuring a consistent, efficient and candidate-focused approach to talent acquisition. The role will provide leadership and support to the Recruitment Officers, manage recruitment processes and campaigns, monitor recruitment performance, and drive continuous improvement in attraction and hiring practices. This position would be ideal for an experienced recruitment professional with strong team leadership skills, a proactive approach to stakeholder management, and experience of managing high-volume recruitment within a complex, multi-site organisation.

You Will Be

• Lead and manage the Recruitment Officers, providing day-to-day guidance, support, coaching and performance management to ensure a high-quality recruitment service.
• Oversee end-to-end recruitment activity across all schools and Central Office functions, ensuring vacancies are filled efficiently and in line with safer recruitment requirements.
• Manage and continuously improve the Applicant Tracking System (ATS), ensuring recruitment data is accurate, compliant and up to date.
• Monitor recruitment metrics and performance, producing regular reports and insights for Senior Leaders to support workforce planning and recruitment strategies.
• Develop and implement attraction strategies to increase candidate quality, diversity and application volumes across a wide range of roles.
• Build strong relationships with Headteachers, School Leaders and hiring managers, providing expert recruitment advice and guidance throughout the recruitment process.
• Oversee all advertising activity, ensuring vacancies are effectively promoted through appropriate job boards, social media channels and recruitment campaigns.
• Ensure compliance with statutory guidance, employment legislation, safeguarding requirements and safer recruitment practices.
• Manage recruitment administration processes, including offer documentation, onboarding and pre-employment checks, ensuring an excellent candidate experience.
• Lead recruitment projects and initiatives aimed at improving recruitment efficiency, candidate engagement and employer branding.
• Work closely with HR and Operations colleagues to support organisational workforce planning and staffing requirements.
• Manage recruitment-related inboxes and enquiries, ensuring prompt and professional responses to schools, candidates and stakeholders.
• Support and develop Recruitment Officers through training, mentoring and regular performance reviews.
• Ensure recruitment records and documentation are maintained accurately and in accordance with GDPR and data protection requirements.
• Identify trends, risks and opportunities in recruitment activity and make recommendations to improve attraction, retention and recruitment outcomes across the Trust.