Early Careers Lead

We are seeking an Early Careers Lead to develop and execute strategies that will equip Arriva UK Bus with the essential skills needed for the future. As the bus industry evolves with advancements in technology, sustainability goals, and changing customer expectations, the need for a skilled and adaptive workforce has never been more critical. This role will play a pivotal part in preparing for these future challenges, ensuring our talent pipeline aligns with the industry's shifting demands and positions Arriva as a leader in shaping the future of transportation.

The role will have full accountability for managing the end-to-end delivery of the strategy including programme development, talent acquisition and onboarding, collaborating with key stakeholders to understand the requirements of the business and develop programmes to meet operational and strategic needs. 

This role is offered on a hybrid basis so can be based anywhere near to an Arriva UK Bus depot, with frequent travel across the UK.

Responsibilities 

• Ownership of early careers programmes, focusing on attracting, developing, and retaining top talent. 

• Develop a comprehensive early careers strategy aligned with the company's objectives. 

• Design and implement innovative and effective recruitment, onboarding, training, and development programmes. 

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure consistency in branding, messaging, and experience across all early careers initiatives. 

• Creating an Early Careers demand plan aligned to business plan and critical capabilities. 

• Collaborate with the broader Talent Acquisition team to source, attract, and select suitable candidates in line with demand. 

• Utilise various recruitment channels, including career fairs, universities, online platforms, and networking events, to build a diverse pipeline of early careers candidates. 

• Coach line managers and mentors to ensure the support, performance and success of early careers hires. 

• Oversee the progress of development plans for each participant, incorporating mentorship, training, and performance evaluations. 

• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure a seamless transition from early careers programmes to full-time roles. 

• Monitor the performance of suppliers and partners across the early careers space and onboarding new vendors where applicable. 

• Define and track KPIs to measure the effectiveness and impact of early careers initiatives. 

• Regularly assess the success of programmes and make data-driven adjustments to optimise outcomes. 

• Manage our apprenticeship levy efficiently and effectively. 

• Oversee and ensure the ongoing progress of early careers hires and create intervention plans where required. 

• Create reports and presentations to update on progress and performance on a regular basis. 

What we’re looking for 

• Proven experience within an end-to-end Early Careers role, including talent acquisition and talent development.

• Experience of project and programme management, design and implementation. 

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate at all levels. 

• Strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.  

• A data-driven mindset, capable of using analytics to inform decision-making and programme refinement. 

• Experience of work with systems and standard computer packages. 

• Comfortable with regular travel.

Salary & Benefits

• Salary up to £45,000

• Company (job need) car

• 25 days annual leave

• Matched pension contributions up to 5%

• Life assurance