Junior Recruitment Consultant – Food & Drink Industry Location: Bawtry Salary: £18,000 - £25,000 + Commission (OTE £40,000) + Training & Progression Contract Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Join a Market-Leading Recruitment Consultancy The Oval Partnership is a well-established, specialist recruitment consultancy dedicated to the food and drink industry. With over 25 years of proven success, we are proud to partner with many of the UK's most respected brands and manufacturers. Following continued growth and client demand, we’re now looking for a tenacious, driven, and enthusiastic Junior Recruitment Consultant to join our high-performing team.
Whether you're an experienced recruiter looking for a more values-led environment, or a motivated individual ready to build a career in recruitment, we’ll give you the tools and support to succeed. You’ll benefit from expert, hands-on training, a collaborative culture, and real opportunities to develop your career within a flourishing and fast-paced business.
What sets us apart? At The Oval Partnership, honesty, integrity and relationship-led recruitment are at the core of everything we do. We focus on long-term partnerships over quick wins, and we’re proud of the exceptional service we offer to both clients and candidates. Our brand is trusted across the food and drink industry — and your reputation will grow as part of it.
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The Role
This is a full 360° recruitment role with a focus on building long-term relationships, delivering quality service, and generating sustainable business. You will be responsible for developing new client accounts, sourcing high-quality candidates, and managing the entire recruitment process through to offer and placement.
Key Responsibilities:
· Build and develop strong new business relationships within the food and drink industry
· Manage and grow existing client partnerships, ensuring consistent delivery and satisfaction
· Proactively source, engage, and manage candidates (including headhunting, CV screening, interviewing and shortlisting)
· Oversee the recruitment cycle from initial brief to successful placement, including offer negotiation
· Network with industry professionals to build market knowledge and develop a strong referral pipeline
· Support formal pitches, tenders and contract negotiations alongside senior colleagues
· Maintain accurate, professional, and timely communication with all stakeholders
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Key Performance Metrics:
· New client accounts opened and vacancies secured
· Candidate delivery times and shortlist quality
· Job fill and interview-to-placement ratios
· Business development calls and client meetings
· Repeat and exclusive business generation
· Overall revenue and billing performance
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What We’re Looking For:
· A passion for recruitment, relationship building and business growth
· Commercially aware, with a proactive approach to sales and problem solving
· Outstanding communication and negotiation skills
· Resilient, self-motivated, and results-driven
· High level of integrity, with a people-first approach
· Ideally, previous recruitment experience (although high-potential trainees will be considered)
· Knowledge of or interest in the food and drink manufacturing industry is a distinct advantage
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Behaviours & Competencies:
· Delivering with pace: Operates with urgency and precision, always focused on high standards
· Effective decision making: Uses insight and judgement to shape outcomes and challenge when needed
· Changing and improving: Always looking for better ways of working, embracing innovation and feedback
· Managing a quality service: Delivers with professionalism, consistency and attention to detail
· Working together: Collaborates effectively to meet team and business goals
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What You’ll Get in Return:
· Structured onboarding and ongoing training to develop your career
· Supportive and professional team environment
· Uncapped commission and reward structure
· Opportunity to work with some of the most prestigious names in the food and drink industry
· Clear pathways to progression