BUSINESS FUNCTION: People

GRADE: ML1/SB2

SALARY: £41,800 per annum 

ROLE TYPE: Hybrid - flexible to travel across the Northern network

HOURS: 37 per week

Do you thrive on connecting great talent with great opportunities?

If you’re nodding your head, we’re excited to invite you to join our team as a Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist. In this role, you’ll be at the heart of our Talent Acquisition Team, driving our recruitment efforts and shaping the future of our workforce.

The Talent Acquisition Team is redefining how we attract and retain talent across Northern, and as the Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist, you’ll be the go-to person for recruiting top talent for all roles across Northern. You’ll manage the entire recruitment process, from creating detailed job postings to conducting interviews and advising hiring managers. This is your chance to make a real impact and help us find the right people to keep Northern moving forward.

Here’s what you’ll be doing:

•  Leading Volume Recruitment Campaigns – Managing multiple recruitment campaigns, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness in high-demand hiring areas.
•  Advising Hiring Managers: You’ll work closely with hiring managers to understand their needs, develop effective recruitment strategies, and provide expert guidance throughout the hiring process.
•  Managing Assessment Centres – Confidently setting up and running assessment centres across the Northern network, ensuring smooth operations and high-quality candidate selection.
•  Designing Selection Processes: You’ll create tailored recruitment processes, including shortlisting criteria, interview questions, and online assessments, to ensure we find the best candidates.
•  Improving Recruitment Practices: You’ll continuously review and refine our recruitment processes, implementing improvements to enhance efficiency and candidate experience.
•  Championing Diversity and Inclusion: You’ll play a key role in promoting a fair and objective recruitment process, helping us build a diverse and inclusive workforce.
• Ensuring a High Degree of Visibility – Building strong relationships with hiring managers and acting as a key contact across the business.

About you:

You’re an essential figure in the talent acquisition world, known for your efficiency and precision in recruitment duties. Your collaborative attitude ensures that you support all levels effectively. Beyond just providing basic assistance, you boost operational efficiency and smooth out the recruitment process with your excellent administrative and communication skills. Your flexibility makes you excellent at managing core recruitment activities.

We’re also looking for the following:

• Experience of working in a Recruitment Advisory/specialist capacity, including managing high workloads, multiple campaigns, proactive attraction and designing selection processes.
• Adaptable to challenges, remain solutions-focused, and effectively manage competing priorities.
• Strong team player and a good all-round communicator with solid verbal and written skills.
• Confidently communicate effectively with different stakeholders and build good working relationships.
• Comfortable with travelling to attend in-person recruitment events across the Northern network.
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• IT literate, able to use Word/Excel with strong attention to detail.

Join us and be part of a team committed to making a difference. Apply now to embark on a fulfilling career journey with Northern.

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 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.
• 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 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.