At NPL, we set the standards by which the world is measured. Our work underpins solutions to global challenges - from tackling climate change and advancing medical breakthroughs to enabling next-generation communications technology.
We are looking for a Talent Acquisition Specialist to join our team. This role is a 12 month fixed term contract based at NPL in Teddington, with hybrid working. You will typically be expected to be on-site 1 - 2 days per week, with increased on-site presence required in line with business needs during peak early careers activity (e.g. assessment centre periods). Occasional travel to regional locations to support assessment centres will also be required.
The Talent Acquisition team are critical to the future of NPL's success. You’ll enjoy a pivotal role in making sure we have the right people, with the right skills, in the right locations to deliver our vision.
As our Talent Acquisition Specialist – Early Careers, you will lead the attraction, assessment, and hiring of emerging talent across graduate and apprenticeship programmes. This is a split role, and given the cyclical nature of early careers recruitment, you will also partner with the business to deliver day-to-day hiring across a range of technical and functional roles, ensuring a varied and dynamic role.
Key Responsibilities
- Own the end-to-end graduate and apprenticeship recruitment lifecycle from campaign design and attraction strategy through to assessment, selection, offer management, and candidate engagement post-offer.
- Manage high-volume recruitment processes across multiple hiring campaigns, ensuring a seamless and engaging candidate experience.
- Design and execute attraction campaigns, including university engagement, careers fairs, digital campaigns and employer branding initiatives.
- Deliver assessment and selection activities – including screening, psychometric assessments, interviews and assessment centres.
- Support with general recruitment activity during off-peak periods, hiring across a range of technical and functional roles, partnering with hiring managers across the business to deliver high-quality hires
- Partner closely with stakeholders, providing expert advice on both early careers and experienced hiring approaches.
- Build relationships with external partners, including universities, training providers and early careers networks.
- Leverage data and market insights to continually improve hiring outcomes, attraction strategies and diversity pipelines.
To be successful in this role, you will have the following skills, experience, and qualifications:
Essential
- Proven experience delivering end-to-end recruitment, ideally including early careers (graduates/ apprenticeships).
- Experience working in an in-house recruitment environment, with strong stakeholder management skills.
- Experience managing both campaign-based (high-volume) and core hiring recruitment from technical to functional roles, with the ability to switch between the two seamlessly.
- Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Confidence engaging early careers talent, with a focus on delivering a positive, supportive and inclusive candidate experience.
- Experience using Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and maintaining high-quality data.
- A collaborative, flexible approach and strong relationship-building skills.
We actively recruit citizens of all backgrounds, but the nature of our work in specific departments means that nationality, residency and security requirements can be more tightly defined than others. You will be asked about this throughout the recruitment process. To work at NPL, you will need to obtain BPSS security clearance.
Please note: Applications will be reviewed, and interviews conducted throughout the duration of this advert therefore we may at any time bring the closing date forward. We encourage all interested applicants to apply as soon as practical.
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL) is a world-leading centre of excellence that provides cutting-edge measurement science, engineering and technology to underpin prosperity and quality of life in the UK. Find out more about what it is like working here - The measure of us - Overview
NPL and DSIT have strong commitments to diversity and equality of opportunity, and welcome applications from candidates irrespective of their background, gender, race, sexual orientation, religion, or age, providing they meet the required criteria. Applications from women, disabled and black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates in particular are encouraged. All disabled candidates (as defined by the Equality Act 2010) who satisfy the minimum criteria for the role will be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme.
At NPL, we believe our success is a result of the diversity and talent of our people. We strive to nurture and respect individuals to ensure everyone feels valued by treating everyone on the basis of their own individual merits and abilities regardless of their own or perceived identity, as part of our commitment to diversity & inclusion, we ensure we’re creating an environment where all our colleagues feel supported and welcome. More about this on our Diversity & Inclusion page.
We are committed to the health and well-being of our employees. Flexible working and social activities are embedded in our culture to create a positive work-life balance, along with a broad range of rewards, benefits and recognition. Our values are at the heart of what we do, and they shape the way we interact, develop our people and celebrate success. To ensure everyone has an equal chance, we’re always willing to make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process. If you would like to discuss, please contact us.
