[Hiring] Talent Partner @IVC

Role Description

We’re looking for an accomplished recruiter to partner with our UK first opinion network, identifying and engaging exceptional veterinary professionals within one of the most specialised talent markets in the profession.

First Opinion recruitment requires a distinctly proactive and relationship-led approach. Success in this role will be driven by your ability to understand specialist talent markets in depth, identify and engage individuals who may not be actively considering their next career move, and build credible relationships over the longer term.

Combining headhunting, executive search principles, talent mapping and market intelligence, you’ll develop sustainable pipelines of specialist veterinary talent in multiple disciplines while partnering with senior clinical leaders to deliver both immediate and future workforce requirements.

This is a fully remote, home-based role, covering the South West of England therefore occasional travel will be required for meetings, veterinary congresses and industry events across the UK and Europe.

How You’ll Make a Difference

• You’ll take ownership of recruitment across a portfolio of specialist first opinion vacancies, acting as a trusted Talent Partner to senior clinical and commercial leaders across our network.
• Developing a detailed understanding of individual clinical disciplines and their respective talent markets will be central to your success.
• You’ll use this insight to shape recruitment strategies, advise on market conditions and provide an informed perspective on talent availability, compensation, attraction, relocation and international recruitment.
• A significant focus of the role will be the proactive identification and engagement of specialist veterinary talent.
• Through systematic market mapping, targeted search and sustained relationship management, you’ll develop networks and pipelines that extend beyond current vacancies and strengthen our long-term ability to attract exceptional clinicians.
• You’ll also:
• Lead sophisticated headhunting and search strategies across first opinion disciplines, using market mapping, professional networks and targeted sourcing to identify and engage high-calibre talent across the UK and internationally.
• Build and maintain meaningful long-term relationships with specialist clinicians, developing sustainable talent pipelines and communities across priority disciplines.
• Partner consultatively with senior clinical and hospital leaders, providing market intelligence and using evidence to influence recruitment strategy, compensation positioning, attraction approaches and realistic hiring expectations.
• Manage complex recruitment processes from initial engagement through to appointment, including assessment, candidate management, offer negotiation, relocation and visa sponsorship where appropriate.
• Represent inspiring vet care at specialist veterinary congresses, professional events and networking forums across the UK and Europe, strengthening our presence and relationships within the referral community.
• Use recruitment data, talent intelligence and pipeline analysis to continuously refine recruitment strategies, strengthen direct hiring capability and reduce reliance on external agencies.

Qualifications

• You bring significant experience of recruiting within specialist or talent-scarce markets, together with a strong track record in headhunting and/or executive search.
• You are skilled at looking beyond the active candidate market: understanding where specialist talent sits, developing a comprehensive view of the market and establishing credible relationships with individuals whose career decisions may develop over an extended period.
• Previous veterinary recruitment experience would be advantageous but is not essential.

Requirements

• Demonstrable expertise in headhunting, executive search, talent mapping and proactive direct sourcing within niche, specialist or difficult-to-source markets.
• Proven ability to identify and engage passive talent, establish credibility and develop long-term relationships through extended recruitment cycles.
• Strong stakeholder consulting capability, with the confidence and credibility to influence and constructively challenge senior leaders.
• Highly developed candidate management, assessment, negotiation and closing skills, with a focus on delivering an exceptional candidate experience.
• Strong commercial judgement and the ability to interpret market intelligence and recruitment data to shape effective talent strategies and prioritise activity.
• Excellent research, communication and relationship-building skills, combined with a proactive, resilient and highly collaborative approach.
• Experience within veterinary recruitment, healthcare or another specialist professional market would be advantageous, as would exposure to international recruitment, relocation and visa sponsorship.

Benefits

• Work-life balance
• 26 days annual leave (Including bank holidays)
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Initiatives focused on employee wellbeing
• Pension
• Discretionary annual bonus
• Discounted staff pet care and pet insurance
• Discounts and cashback across many popular retailers