Recruitment and Onboarding Manager - #150672

Job Summary:

We are seeking a proactive and people-focused Recruitment and Onboarding Manager to lead our talent acquisition and integration efforts across our Early Years settings. This role is key to ensuring we attract passionate practitioners and provide them with a seamless, supportive start to their journey with us.

Key Responsibilities

Recruitment:

• Develop and execute recruitment strategies tailored to Acorn’s workforce, including outreach to colleges, job boards, and community networks.
•  Manage the full recruitment cycle for roles such as nursery practitioners, room leaders, and support staff, including preparation of letters and contracts.
• Ensure advertisements are placed on relevant job boards and social media to attract suitable applicants
• Support in recruitment activities such as interviewing
•  Promote the organisation’s values and career pathways to attract candidates aligned with our mission.
• Ensure all pre-employment checks (DBS, references, qualifications) are completed efficiently and accurately and ensure nursery managers are kept up to date with progress.
• Maintain safer recruitment practices in line with EYFS and safeguarding standards.

Onboarding:

• Design and deliver a structured onboarding programme that supports new staff through their induction period.
• Coordinate the induction process for all new employees, including set up on systems and documentations, arranging welcome packs and manage orders for uniforms
• Ensure all new hires receive a thorough induction in line with the requirements of their role
• Monitor probation periods, ensuring reminders are sent to nurseries managers and any issues flagged to the Head of People and Talent
• Monitor induction training covering safeguarding, EYFS, health & safety, and setting-specific policies.
• Act as a key point of contact for new hires, ensuring a warm and informed welcome.

Collaboration & Strategy:

• Work closely with nursery managers and the Early Years team to forecast staffing needs and improve retention.
• Monitor and report on recruitment and onboarding KPIs, including new starter feedback.
•  Stay informed on sector trends, workforce challenges, and regulatory changes impacting recruitment.

Qualifications & Skills:

• Experience in recruitment and/or onboarding, ideally within childcare, education, or a regulated setting.
• Knowledge of EYFS, safer recruitment, and early years workforce requirements.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and HR systems.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (both written and oral).
• Strong attention to detail and ability to work under pressure to meet fixed deadlines
• Level 3 Early Years qualification or HR-related certification is desirable.