Talent Acquisition Manager - Parental Leave Cover

About The Role

As one of our Talent Acquisition Managers, you work closely within the People and Talent team to provide an excellent recruitment service to the studio. You work collaboratively to hire across different departments by sourcing, screening and recruiting great talent.

Reporting into the Talent Acquisition Team Lead, you will look after full cycle recruitment for your departments across the studio, managing both internal and external volume recruitment.

The Talent Team is committed to ensuring all those involved in recruiting have the support and tools they need to hire the best candidates. Each Talent Acquisition Manager dedicates time to train new hiring managers on using our Applicant Tracking System (Eploy), helps them understand the full recruitment process, provides interview guidance and offers advice in feedback sessions after larger rounds of interviews. With this level of support and trust, the Talent Acquisition Managers build strong collaborative relationships with key personnel in the studio.

Alongside managing volume recruitment, you will attend and present at industry/graduation events, take part in industry recruitment panel discussions, and meet talent at career fairs, providing feedback on showreels and portfolios.

This opportunity is parental leave cover, offered on a fixed term contract due to start in January 2026 for 6-9 months, with the possible potential to extend further. The successful candidate will need to be based in the UK and will require the right to work in the UK.

We are very happy to discuss flexible, hybrid and remote working options for all our vacancies. The successful candidate will be required to be in the London studio once - twice a week.

Please note shortlisting will begin in early November 2025 for this opportunity. This vacancy can close early if we receive a high number of applications.

Day to Day:

• Manage the full cycle recruitment process across a number of different departments and creative and technical teams.
• Build strong relationships with both hiring managers and candidates.
• Source and engage talent and activate passive candidates through the use of Boolean on LinkedIn and alternative search techniques.
• Engage and maintain relationships with prospective talent in order to establish networks in the industry to meet current and future hiring needs.
• Look after the recruitment inbox, responding to emails and requests.
• In collaboration with key personnel and hiring managers, write role descriptions and post job adverts, making sure they are up to date for production/department requirements.
• Identify the most suitable candidates for each vacancy internally/externally, as well as proactively approaching potential candidates for current and future vacancies.
• Screen candidates and arrange interviews with suitable applicants.
• Work in collaboration with hiring managers to deeply understand the requirements of each role, the function and how it fits into the studio structure.
• Fully utilise the scope of the Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and instil best practice within the recruitment process.
• Be the studio’s point of contact for Apprenticeships, Internships, work experience, schools and events.
• Ensure candidates have an excellent experience from application to onboarding.
• Take ownership of specific ongoing recruitment team projects.
• Engage with diversity advocacy groups to make sure we are meeting the studio’s diversity goals.

About You

Must Haves:

• Strong understanding of full cycle recruitment, including sourcing, screening, interviewing, offer and negotiation processes.
• Proven track record of high volume recruitment in a creative field.
• Strong experience using an ATS system.
• Ability to ensure a smooth, positive candidate experience, embedding inclusive hiring practices into recruitment processes.
• Ability to build strong working relationships with hiring managers and guide/advise on role requirements.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities, work well under pressure to meet deadlines, demonstrating effective time management and prioritisation skills.
• Strong communication, collaboration & organisations skills.
• Attention to detail.

Bonus Points:

• A strong interest in animation and visual effects.
• Experience in television, film, animation or visual effects production.
• Experience using our ATS system, Eploy.
• Data driven with an interest in hiring metrics.

About Us

Blue Zoo is a leading animation studio in the UK, with a world-class reputation as the go-to place for creating bold, fun and characterful animation. Established in London in 2000, the studio has grown to become the largest dedicated CG animation studio in the UK, picking up a shelf full of BAFTAs, an Annie and an Emmy along the way!

We couldn’t be prouder that Blue Zoo is the first major animation studio in the world to receive B Corp certification. We’ve been independently certified by B Lab, a non-profit organisation who award the B Corp certification. The certification verifies companies who are working to improve the lives of employees as well as industries as a whole. The certification process involves over 170 rigorous metrics to improve the lives of our staff, customers, suppliers, and the local community, ensuring we are not just saying we are ethical with empty gestures, but independently evidencing it.

We are going through an exciting period of growth and are building a studio that is full of amazingly talented, happy artists, making work they are proud of, which in turn makes a small contribution to a happier world. Blue Zoo believes that a healthy balance in our lives - whatever our situation - is key to supporting the wellbeing of our staff. We offer flexible working to support this.

We look for people who have expertise, enthusiasm and are motivated to make things better. You’ll work alongside a talented and diverse group of people who respect each other's differences and seek to understand and embrace fresh perspectives.

*What we’ve got for you:

• Winner of Broadcast Best Places to Work in TV 2019, 2020, 2022, 2024 & 2025.
• Inclusive self-funded shorts programme.
• Many fun in person and remote social events throughout the year.
• Bi-monthly employee feedback and engagement programme.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including loads of discounts and offers.
• Online wellbeing programme.
• Profit share (for employees who have been with us for 2+ years).