Project Manager – Recruitment Optimisation

To lead the Recruitment Optimisation workstream within the Workforce Optimisation Programme, transforming the Trust’s end-to-end recruitment process to reduce time-to-hire, improve candidate experience, increase offer acceptance rates and reduce reliance on expensive temporary staffing. The post-holder will analyse current recruitment performance, identify process bottlenecks and work with divisional and HR colleagues to build sustainable recruitment pipelines for hard-to-fill roles.

Location: Redhill Sussex / Hybrid 3 days on site. 

Job Type: Temporary 

Duration of booking: Expected to last 6 months with possible extension

Proposed start date: ASAP

Pay Rates: £25.50 per hour PAYE inclusive of holiday pay

Hours / Working Days: 37.5 hours per week / Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm 

Sector: Healthcare 

Based: Office / Hospital 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Conduct an end-to-end analysis of the Trust’s recruitment process, mapping current-state timelines and bottlenecks from vacancy approval to Day 1
• Benchmark Trust recruitment performance against NHS national data (NHS Jobs, TRAC, Model Hospital) to identify gaps
• Develop and implement a Recruitment Optimisation Plan with divisional action plans, owners and milestones
• Lead initiatives to reduce time-to-hire across priority staff groups, including streamlining authorisation and pre-employment checks
• Work with the Resourcing team to develop targeted attraction strategies for hard-to-fill roles
• Support the development of apprenticeship, grow-your-own and bank-to-substantive conversion pathways
• Establish a recruitment performance dashboard with fortnightly reporting to FIB and Exec SRO
• Produce PIDs, project plans, RAID logs and benefits trackers to Trust PMO standard
• Report progress against milestones and financial benefits (reduced temporary staffing cost) at FIPB and Programme Board
• Identify and escalate risks and blockers to the PMO and Exec SRO in a timely manner

ESSENTIAL SKILLS & TECHNICAL COMPETENCIES

• Project management — planning, tracking and delivering end-to-end process improvement projects
• Understanding of NHS recruitment processes — NHS Jobs, TRAC, ESR, pre-employment checks and AfC terms
• Data analysis — using recruitment and vacancy data to identify patterns and measure improvement
• Stakeholder management — engaging hiring managers, HR colleagues and external suppliers
• Knowledge of resourcing best practice — attraction strategies, employer brand, workforce pipelines
• Clear written and verbal communication at manager and Executive level

EXPERIENCE (ESSENTIAL)

• Demonstrable experience managing NHS recruitment or resourcing improvement programmes
• Working knowledge of NHS pre-employment check standards and NHS Jobs / TRAC systems
• Track record of reducing time-to-hire, vacancy rates or temporary staffing spend
• Experience of presenting recruitment performance data and recommendations to senior audiences

QUALIFICATIONS (ESSENTIAL)

• Degree level education or equivalent professional experience
• Improvement, project or change management qualification 
• CIPD Level 5 (or above), or equivalent HR/resourcing qualification — or demonstrable equivalent experience