Head of Recruitment, Alumni & Engagement
Location: Westminster (primarily office-based, with some ability to work remotely)
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience
Contract: Full-time
About the Centre for Government Reform
The Centre for Government Reform (the Centre) is a newly established organisation dedicated to preparing the next generation of serious leaders for roles in government: prospective ministers, MPs, Peers, CEOs/Permanent Secretaries and Directors General of government departments, heads of quangos, NEDs and senior Special Advisors.
We believe the country requires radical reform, especially of the machinery of the state. Delivering such reform will require an influx of experienced leaders, including from business, science, technology and other professional fields, ready to step into positions of public responsibility with an unambiguous reform mandate.
The Centre will act both as a training institute and as a conduit for talent, working in close partnership with aligned political parties. We will provide a route for high-calibre individuals who wish to enter government or public service, and equip them with the practical preparation necessary to succeed once elected/appointed.
The Role: Head of Recruitment, Alumni & Engagement
The Head of Recruitment, Alumni & Engagement will be responsible for building and sustaining the Centre’s talent pipeline and long-term community. This is a crucial role focused on recruiting high-calibre senior individuals, maintaining their engagement over multiple years, and positioning the Centre as the natural home for those preparing to enter government with a reforming agenda.
You will lead the end-to-end process of candidate identification, recruitment and onboarding, as well as alumni engagement, events and marketing. You will work closely with the CEO, Head of Training, Research team and Media team.
This role is about targeted recruitment of some of most talented people in the country, careful curation of cohorts, and maintaining long-term commitment and alignment among alumni through regular engagement both virtually and in-person.
Key Responsibilities
1. Candidate Recruitment & Pipeline Management
* Lead the recruitment of high-calibre individuals across the Centre’s priority strands (e.g. prospective ministers, MPs, Peers, department CEOs, Permanent Secretaries and Directors General, ALB chairs and CEOs, senior SpAds, NEDs).
* Work closely with the CEO and senior team to identify priority target groups and individuals.
* Design and execute a granular, relationship-led recruitment strategy, including private briefings, dinners, roundtables and invitation-only events.
* Manage the Centre’s recruitment funnel, tracking engagement from first contact through to adoption by aligned political parties.
2. Alumni & Community Building
* Serve as the Centre’s lead for alumni relations, maintaining close contact with all individuals who complete training programmes.
* Design and deliver a structured alumni engagement programme to keep participants aligned, informed and committed over multiple years.
* Organise regular alumni networking opportunities.
* Lead the production of a periodic alumni newsletter, in collaboration with the Research and Media teams, to ensure alumni and candidates are kept informed of the Centre’s intellectual output and reform agenda.
3. Events & Convening
* Design and deliver the Centre’s programme of external and private events, including recruitment dinners, lectures, roundtables, networking events and social functions.
* Manage event logistics, guest lists, follow-up and conversion into the recruitment pipeline.
4. Marketing & Brand Development
* Work closely with the Media and Social Media leads to develop and execute the Centre’s marketing and outreach strategy.
* Support the promotion of training programmes, events and publications to priority audiences.
Help position the Centre as the leading organisation preparing serious individuals for government and state reform.
Person Specification
Essential Experience
* Proven experience in senior-level recruitment, stakeholder engagement, relationship management or business development, ideally in a political, policy or leadership context.
* Demonstrated ability to engage credibly with senior individuals from business, politics or public service.
* Experience designing and delivering events.
* Clear alignment with the Centre’s guiding principles.
Skills & Attributes
* Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
* Highly organised, with strong pipeline and project-management capability.
* Comfortable operating in a discreet, trust-based environment.
* A thorough familiarity with AI, and ability to use it competently to aid productivity.
Desirable
* Experience working in Westminster, Whitehall, think tanks, leadership training, consultancy or academic institutions
* Experience supporting alumni or membership-based organisations.
* Familiarity with CRM systems or pipeline tracking tools.
* An existing senior network in the City, or in Westminster’s political or media circles.
How to Apply
Please submit:
* CV
* Covering Letter (max 2 pages) explaining your suitability, experience and alignment with the Centre’s guiding principles
Send to:
Closing Date: 10 May 2026
Please note applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis so you are encouraged to apply early.