Senior Recruitment Lead (Medical) | Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust
| Posting date: | 31 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | £31,049 - £37,796 per annum |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 30 April 2026 |
| Location: | Canterbury, CT1 1AZ |
| Company: | Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 7840121/380-SS0774 |
Summary
We are seeking a Senior Recruitment Lead (Medical) to join our Recruitment Team.
This is a key role providing day-to-day leadership across the Medical Recruitment function, including line management of the Medical Recruitment Officers, and oversight of the end-to-end medical recruitment process to ensure a high-quality, professional and compliant service in line with Trust policy, NHS Employers guidance, Home Office requirements and relevant legislation.
You will provide expert advice and operational support to hiring managers and senior stakeholders, help coordinate medical recruitment activity, and drive improvements to reduce time to hire and strengthen candidate and manager experience. Hybrid working is available, with a minimum of one day per week in the office.
The successful candidate will have experience in managing a medical recruitment function or acting in a senior capacity within a medical recruitment team within the NHS, the ability to manage complex recruitment activity and provide confident advice to managers and senior stakeholders.
You will have strong communication and organisational skills, the ability to interpret and apply recruitment policy, NHS guidance and relevant legislation. Experience of supervising or leading staff, using applicant tracking systems, analysing recruitment data, and supporting service improvement is essential, along with a proactive, solutions‑focused approach to delivering an efficient and high‑quality recruitment service.
This role is advertised at Band 5. If no candidates meet the full essential criteria, the Trust may consider a developmental appointment at Band 4 for candidates with relevant medical recruitment experience and knowledge of Doctors’ Terms and Conditions, supported by a development plan.
• Lead the end‑to‑end medical recruitment process, ensuring compliance with Trust policy, NHS guidance and legislation
• Line manage the Medical Recruitment Officers, providing day‑to‑day leadership, supervision and support
• Act as the main point of contact for medical recruitment queries, escalations and complex cases
• Provide expert advice to hiring managers and senior stakeholders on medical recruitment processes and best practice
• Oversee and advise on Advisory Appointment Committees (AACs) for consultant recruitment
• Ensure Fit and Proper Person requirements, right to work and visa sponsorship processes are managed correctly
• Drive continuous improvement across medical recruitment to reduce time to hire and improve candidate and manager experience
• Ensure offer letters, contracts, pay details and recruitment bonuses are accurate and compliant
• Monitor recruitment activity, performance data and risks, using insight to inform improvements
• Work closely with Medical Staffing and other internal teams to ensure joined‑up, efficient recruitment processes
We are the Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust. We care for the mental health and wellbeing of people across Kent and Medway. Our teams support adults with a wide range of mental health needs. Because we cover the whole county and both hospital and community settings, we can make care more joined up and easier to access for the 1.8 million people of Kent and Medway. Rated ‘Good’ by the CQC, we care for over 2,000 people in our hospitals and 54,000 in the community each year.
Our vision is simple: We are here to help communities not just live with mental illness, but live well. It’s why we’re passionate about working with communities to make mental health care better for everyone. And everything we do is guided by our values caring, inclusive, curious and confident.
Join us - if you share our passion for better mental health care and want to be part of a team that's doing well together.
Please see the attached job description and person specification for a full breakdown of main responsibilities and requirements.
This advert closes on Tuesday 14 Apr 2026
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