Talent Executive

At The Smarty Train, our purpose is to unlock talent, everywhere. We unlock talent globally through a range of projects, advising on talent strategy, designing training, and creating experiences. We know how to use data and science to cut through the noise. We have the creativity to produce unforgettable experiences for everyone we train, from graduates to executives. And we have the bedside manner to bring people with us.

We combine the best of behavioural science, creativity, training, event design, data geekiness, production and design thinking to help our clients solve their challenges. The key to our success is simple: we love what we do. We’re really good at it. We are fearless. We love challenges.

The Role We are looking for a Talent Executive to join our growing team. This is a hands-on talent acquisition role at the heart of how TST finds and brings in great people, from proactively building pipelines and reaching out to candidates, through to running first-stage interviews and making sure new joiners feel brilliant from day one.

You will work closely with the Senior Talent Manager and hiring managers across the business, owning the day-to-day recruitment process and playing a key role in shaping the experience every candidate has with TST.

This might be the role for you if you: Are genuinely excited by finding and connecting with great people Are highly organised with a process-driven, detail-oriented approach Have the confidence and warmth to represent TST brilliantly in every candidate interaction Are proactive, you don’t wait for roles to be live before building pipelines Want to be part of a growing, purpose-driven business where talent really matters Are curious about people, culture, and what makes someone the right fit Are looking for a part time role at four days per week

Key Responsibilities

Talent Sourcing & Pipeline 35% Proactively source candidates using LinkedIn Recruiter and other sourcing tools, building and maintaining pipelines across active and future roles Conduct targeted outreach to passive candidates, representing TST in a compelling and authentic way Build and nurture talent communities across key disciplines, including Consulting, Facilitation, Design, and Operations Research and identify sourcing channels that reach the right people for each role Keep candidate pipelines warm between live roles, ensuring TST is never starting from scratch

Recruitment Process 35% Own the end-to-end recruitment coordination for open roles, from briefing to offer Conduct first-stage interviews, evaluating experience, skills, and culture fit, and providing clear, structured feedback to hiring managers Manage candidate communications throughout the process, ensuring a consistently positive experience at every touchpoint Schedule interviews with hiring managers, setting them up for success with relevant pre-reading materials, candidate profiles, and tailored interview guides Maintain accurate, up-to-date records in the ATS, tracking pipeline status and key metrics Support the Senior Talent Manager with job description creation and role briefings

Early Onboarding 20% Coordinate the early onboarding experience for new joiners, from offer acceptance through to their first weeks in the role Send and manage onboarding documentation, including offer letters and contracts Organise welcome meetings, introductions, and onboarding logistics to ensure new team members feel set up for success from day one Act as a key point of contact for new joiners during their onboarding journey, answering questions and creating a warm, welcoming experience

Employer Brand & Talent Support 10% Support the Senior Talent Manager with employer brand activity, contributing to content, campaigns, and initiatives that showcase TST as a great place to work Embody the TST values in every candidate and team member interaction Contribute to broader talent and people projects as the team and business evolve

Our Values Everything we do at TST is shaped by our five values — QAKES. Values are all important to live, applied in the right way, in the right contexts. They’re not ranked or hierarchical. QAKES is the whole picture. Q Quality We start and end with excellence, always. A Accountability We take individual ownership of what we say, do, and achieve. K Kindness We support each other to learn, grow and succeed. E Expertise Specialists in all we do, inventive in how we do it. S Service We deliver exceptional experiences for our clients and each other.

Skills Confident, warm communicator, able to represent TST brilliantly with candidates at every stage Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple open roles and candidate pipelines simultaneously Proactive sourcer with a knack for finding and engaging the right people, not just active applicants Skilled at conducting structured first-stage interviews and delivering clear, useful feedback Detail-oriented and process-driven, consistent in how you manage records, communications, and timelines Comfortable using LinkedIn Recruiter and ATS platforms; quick to pick up new tools Genuine curiosity about people, culture, and what makes someone the right fit for a team Collaborative team player who builds strong working relationships with hiring managers and colleagues

Experience 1–3 years’ experience in a talent acquisition, recruitment coordination, or HR support role Demonstrable experience using LinkedIn Recruiter or equivalent sourcing tools for proactive outreach Experience conducting first-stage interviews and managing end-to-end recruitment processes Familiarity with ATS platforms is an advantage Experience coordinating onboarding or administrative HR processes is desirable Background in or exposure to a professional services, creative, or L&D agency environment is a plus CIPD Level 3 is desirable

Benefits in Excess of Salary Private healthcare including dental cover Enhanced maternity and paternity pay Performance related bonus Team member referral scheme Life insurance & workplace pension 25 days annual leave plus long service award (up to 5 days), plus option to purchase additional leave Bank holiday swap option Additional day off on your birthday Team member Assistance Programme (EAP) with 24/7 GP appointments Learning Allowance Work from home subsidy Annual eye tests and glasses subsidy Flexible hybrid working Comprehensive internal L&D offering Wide variety of wellbeing and social activities 2 volunteering days per year