Head of Recruitment & Onboarding
Salary: £70,000 + 10% Performance Bonus
Location: Remote, within travelling distance of Leeds (regular UK travel required)
About Us
At Horizon Care & Education, our purpose is simple: we change young lives for the better. We provide high-quality care, education, and support to children and young people across the UK — and our people make that possible.
As we continue to grow, we are looking for an exceptional Head of Recruitment & Onboarding to lead our frontline recruitment strategy and ensure we attract, hire, and onboard the right talent at pace, scale, and quality.
The Opportunity
This is a pivotal leadership role within our People team.
You will drive the strategy and delivery of high-volume recruitment across frontline care, education, and support roles, ensuring we meet ambitious growth and revenue targets in a competitive market — without compromising on quality or compliance.
Leading a dedicated team of recruiters and onboarding specialists, you will be accountable for delivering a seamless, efficient, and candidate-focused journey from application through to start date.
Your impact will directly enable sustainable growth and ensure we continue to provide outstanding support to children and young people in our care.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Recruitment Leadership
Develop and deliver strategic recruitment plans aligned to operational demand and growth targets
Lead, coach, and inspire a high-performing recruitment and onboarding team
Partner closely with Operational Managers to forecast workforce needs and tailor recruitment strategies
Reduce reliance on third-party agencies through direct sourcing and internal recruitment initiatives
Onboarding & Process Excellence
Lead and streamline onboarding processes to reduce time-to-hire
Ensure candidates move efficiently from application to compliant start
Embed continuous improvement across systems, processes, and reporting
Own and optimise the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and screening platforms
Candidate & Employee Engagement
Develop workforce engagement strategies, including bank and overtime utilisation
Design retention initiatives to improve colleague satisfaction and reduce attrition
Create a positive, candidate-centric experience that strengthens our employer reputation
Compliance & Quality Assurance
Ensure full compliance with safer recruitment practices and regulatory standards
Oversee enhanced DBS and reference processes
Maintain robust recruitment systems that are consistently applied across the organisation
Employer Branding & Recruitment Marketing
Position Horizon as an employer of choice in the care and education sectDevelop innovative recruitment campaigns across digital and offline channels
Represent the organisation at recruitment events across the UK
Reporting, Analytics & Budget Management
Deliver monthly MI reports with clear, actionable insights
Track KPIs including time-to-hire, vacancy fill rate, and workforce utilisation
Manage the recruitment budget to ensure cost-effective delivery
Align recruitment performance with commercial and operational objectives
About You
You are a strategic leader who thrives in high-volume environments and understands the urgency and complexity of frontline recruitment within care or education settings.
You will bring:
Essential Experience & Skills
Significant leadership experience in high-volume recruitment
Experience within care, education, or similarly regulated sectors
Proven track record of improving onboarding processes and reducing time-to-hire
Strong understanding of compliance and safer recruitment requirements
Data-driven decision-making capability with advanced reporting skills
Experience with ATS, HRIS, and screening systems
Demonstrable success in recruitment marketing and employer branding
Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills
Budget management experience
Desirable
* CIPD, REC, or equivalent professional qualification
Our Commitment
All young people are equally entitled to have their needs met in a fair and balanced way. We are committed to promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion and expect all colleagues to actively challenge discrimination in any form.
Horizon Care & Education is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to enhanced DBS checks and satisfactory references.
Why Join Us?
* £70,000 salary plus 10% performance-related bonus
* Remote working within travelling distance of Leeds
* A senior leadership role with real organisational impact
* The opportunity to shape and modernise recruitment strategy at scale
* A mission-driven organisation where your work directly supports children and young people
* A collaborative People & Culture function committed to continuous improvement
If you are a commercially minded recruitment leader who can deliver pace, quality, and innovation in a challenging market — we would love to hear from you.
Apply today and help us build the teams that change young lives.
Closing date 6th March