Talent Acquisition Governance and Compliance Manager

Job introduction

Create the control, assurance and operating discipline behind a modern UK&I Talent Acquisition function.

Sodexo is transforming Talent Acquisition into one proactive, differentiated and controlled UK & Ireland service. To make that transformation sustainable, we are bringing recruitment governance, pre-employment compliance, operational effectiveness and assurance into one clearly owned enabling function.

As Talent Acquisition Governance and Compliance Manager, you will set the UK&I framework for recruitment and pre-employment governance, define controls and standards, own the risk and assurance agenda and ensure compliance is embedded throughout the recruitment journey. Alongside this, you will lead the operational-improvement agenda across process, systems, technology, data and reporting.

This is broader than managing a compliance-processing service. It is a strategic leadership role for someone who can design the framework, provide expert challenge, direct specialist teams and make sure a faster and more technology-enabled TA service remains consistent, auditable and well controlled.

What you'll do:

• Lead the UK&I Talent Acquisition Governance, Compliance and Operations function and translate TA strategy into clear standards and priorities.
• Own the governance framework for recruitment and pre-employment activity, including policy, controls, operating standards and assurance.
• Provide expert oversight of screening, vetting and compliance requirements across differing legal, regulatory, contractual and client environments.
• Own the TA risk and assurance agenda, ensuring control weaknesses and service risks are identified, remediated and escalated appropriately.
• Lead compliance audit and assurance activity and maintain a clear view of control effectiveness across UK&I.
• Lead and develop the Operations and Process Lead and Compliance Specialists, setting direction, priorities and performance expectations.
• Provide senior advice and constructive challenge on complex governance, compliance, risk and operational decisions.
• Set the operational-effectiveness agenda across processes, systems, technology, data and reporting.
• Use risk, performance and quality insight to prioritise improvement and strengthen consistency across the function.
• Partner with the Head of Talent Acquisition and wider stakeholders on strategic governance, technology and operational change.

What you'll bring

• Significant TA or HR governance and compliance expertise, including pre-employment screening and vetting.
• Proven experience owning governance frameworks, controls, risk and assurance in a complex organisation.
• Leadership experience with specialist teams, including the ability to set functional direction and clear standards.
• Strong operational-improvement capability across process, systems, technology, data and reporting.
• Analytical and risk-management expertise, using evidence to identify weaknesses and drive proportionate action.
• Credibility as a senior consultant who can influence and challenge stakeholders on difficult or sensitive matters.
• Commercial judgement, balancing control, service quality, candidate experience and business need.
• The flexibility to travel across UK&I for assurance, stakeholder and operational activity.