Head of Advancement Talent Engagement, Onboarding & Mobility (Internal Applications Only)
To find out more about the role, please contact Samantha Penn, Associate Director, Talent and Engagement, by email
We're looking for a strategic, collaborative and people-focused leader who is passionate about creating exceptional colleague experiences. You'll bring:
- Significant experience developing talent, workforce or people strategies within a complex organisation.
- A strong track record of partnering with senior leaders to influence workforce planning, organisational capability and talent decisions.
- Experience designing and delivering innovative approaches to talent attraction, employer branding or onboarding.
- The ability to balance strategic thinking with hands‑on delivery, driving continuous improvement across the employee lifecycle.
- Experience building strong partnerships across People & Culture functions and working with a wide range of stakeholders.
- Excellent communication, influencing and relationship management skills.
- A collaborative, inclusive and values-led approach, with a passion for helping people and organisations thrive., Experience within Higher Education (HE), fundraising or mission/purpose-led organisations would be advantageous, but is not essential. We're pleased to accept applications from individuals who possess transferable skills and experience drawn from sectors outside of HE.
We are UCL: a diverse community with the freedom to challenge and think differently. The world urgently needs solutions to diverse problems. UCL was founded 200 years ago on the generosity of a collective of people who believed in an institution that could drive forward those solutions. The world needed collective support then, and it needs it again now., Shape how exceptional people join, grow and thrive at one of the world's leading universities.
This is more than a talent role. It's an opportunity to shape the entire colleague journey across UCL Advancement - from workforce planning and attracting exceptional talent, through onboarding, career development and internal mobility. Working as a member of the Talent & Engagement Leadership Team, you'll partner with senior leaders across Advancement to build organisational capability, strengthen succession planning and create outstanding experiences for candidates and colleagues alike. You'll influence how we attract, welcome and retain exceptional people, developing innovative approaches to employer branding, onboarding and career mobility while ensuring our people practices are inclusive, forward-thinking and aligned with UCL's strategic ambitions.
What you’ll lead As Head of Advancement Talent Engagement, Onboarding & Mobility, you’ll:
- Develop and embed a strategic workforce planning approach that supports future organisational capability and succession planning.
- Create innovative talent engagement and employer branding initiatives that position UCL Advancement as an employer of choice.
- Design and continuously improve a sector‑leading onboarding experience that helps new colleagues feel connected, supported and successful from day one.
- Lead the development of internal mobility opportunities, enabling colleagues to build rewarding careers across UCL Advancement.
- Partner with senior leaders and UCL's central People & Culture teams to deliver strategic workforce initiatives and recruitment best practice.
- Support the successful recruitment, relocation and integration of international colleagues through effective global mobility processes.
- Drive continuous improvement across the candidate and new starter experience, ensuring every interaction reflects UCL's values and ambitions.
Please note, this role is open for applications from internal UCL staff only. Please note, this role is offered on a hybrid working basis with currently a minimum of 20% onsite per week at our London Kings Cross (subject to change).
In response, UCL has launched , our biggest philanthropic and engagement campaign yet. Here, it will happen sets out our ambitions to solve global health, societal, climate and education challenges in UCL's next century. Here, we have the determination to double down on our discoveries, translate our innovations into impact and inspire the citizens of the future. There has never been a more exciting time to join UCL Advancement. We are a team of exceptionally ambitious, creative and passionate individuals who work together to achieve remarkable things with a global impact, and we would love for you to be part of this exciting journey and our success.
What we offer
We know that our people are our greatest asset and in return we provide an empowering environment where personal and professional growth is invested in. We offer agile working and flexibility around working hours. Working with some of the greatest intellects in the world, UCL also offers a generous pension scheme and holiday allowance, plus closure days and bank holidays. Visit to find out more. As well as the exciting opportunities this role presents we also offer some great benefits some of which are below:
- 41 Days holiday (27 days annual leave 8 bank holiday and 6 closure days)
- Additional 5 days' annual leave purchase scheme
- Defined benefit career average revalued earnings pension scheme (CARE)
- Cycle to work scheme and season ticket loan
- Immigration loan
- Relocation scheme for certain posts
- On‑site nursery
- On‑site gym
- Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
- Employee assistance programme: Staff Support Service
- Discounted medical insurance
Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
As London's Global University, we know diversity fosters creativity and innovation, and we want our community to represent the diversity of the world's talent. We are committed to equality of opportunity, to being fair and inclusive, and to being a place where we all belong. We therefore particularly encourage applications from candidates who are likely to be underrepresented in UCL's workforce.