Specialist, Early Careers Recruiter

Job Title: Specialist, Early Careers Recruiter (Talent Acquisition)

Overview

At Pearson, we combine world-class educational content and assessment, powered by services and technology, to enable more effective teaching and personalized learning at scale. We’re committed to a world that’s always learning and to our talented team who make it all possible. From bringing lectures vividly to life to turning textbooks into laptop lessons, we are always re-examining the way people learn best. We believe that wherever learning flourishes, so do people.

This role sits within our Corporate HR Talent Acquisition function, as part of the Early Careers team, playing a key role in attracting and developing the next generation of talent for Pearson.

In this role, you will attract, engage, and hire high-potential early careers talent (interns, apprentices, graduates), while also delivering early careers events and programme sessions that support the development of a strong future talent pipeline aligned to business needs.

Key Responsibilities

- Drive employer brand and attraction campaigns targeted at early careers talent

- Develop and implement campus recruitment strategies aligned to business needs

- Lead end-to-end recruitment for early careers roles, ensuring a high-quality and inclusive candidate experience

- Build and manage early careers talent pipelines through proactive sourcing, university partnerships, and targeted outreach

- Plan and deliver early careers events (e.g. insight sessions, assessment centres, programme briefings)

- Support delivery of the Pearson Global Internship Programme end-to-end

- Build and maintain relationships with universities and external stakeholders

- Partner with hiring managers, HR, and Early Careers teams to align on hiring needs and timelines

- Ensure adherence to recruitment processes, governance, and compliance requirements

- Contribute to onboarding and overall programme experience, driving continuous improvement

- Track and report on hiring activity, using data to inform decisions and improve outcomes

- Stay informed of market trends and best practice in early careers recruitment

Required Knowledge and Experience

- Strong understanding of early careers recruitment, including internships, apprenticeships, and graduate programmes

- Knowledge of end-to-end recruitment processes, including high-volume hiring and assessment centres

- Understanding of university engagement and campus recruitment strategies

- Awareness of employer branding and candidate engagement approaches

- Understanding of recruitment metrics and data to inform decision-making

- Knowledge of diversity, equity and inclusion principles in recruitment

Experience

- Proven experience delivering end-to-end recruitment within early careers or high-volume hiring

- Experience working with hiring managers and stakeholders to deliver recruitment outcomes

- Experience planning and delivering recruitment events and assessment centres

- Experience building and managing talent pipelines

- Experience supporting early careers programmes or campaigns

- Experience using ATS systems and managing recruitment data

- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment

Desirable Experience

- Experience working with universities, colleges, or external partners

- Experience contributing to early careers attraction or recruitment strategies

- Experience working in a global or multi-region environment

Behavioural Competencies

- Builds strong relationships and works collaboratively across teams

- Demonstrates a strong passion for early careers and commitment to developing emerging talent

- Communicates clearly and professionally with internal and external stakeholders

- Adapts to change and thrives in a dynamic environment

- Takes initiative and demonstrates a proactive, solutions-focused mindset

- Applies thoughtful, customer-focused decision-making

Work Model

This role operates in a hybrid model, combining office-based and remote working.

Benefits

Pearson offers a range of benefits including flexible working, wellbeing support, paid time off, and family-friendly policies.