RECRUITMENT CONSULTANT

Policy, Public Affairs & Strategic Communications

Oxfordshire (Office-Based with Hybrid Flexibility)  |  Permanent  |  Competitive Package

About Us

We are an established recruitment consultancy based in rural Oxfordshire, operating at the heart of the policy, public affairs, and strategic communications talent market. We connect forward-thinking organisations with the professionals who shape legislation, drive influence, and build reputation in an increasingly complex political and regulatory environment.

Our clients span trade associations, think tanks, NGOs, and private sector businesses — and the professionals we place include policy advisors, public affairs directors, communications specialists, government relations leads, and economists. Every search we undertake is tailored, rigorous, and grounded in deep market knowledge, combining targeted headhunting, thorough candidate assessment, and ongoing market intelligence to ensure the right fit every time.

 

The Opportunity

We are looking for an experienced Recruitment Consultant to join our close-knit team and help us continue delivering exceptional search work across the mid-to-senior end of the market. This is a genuine opportunity to build a desk within a niche where you can become a true market authority — advising clients on hiring strategy, mapping talent pools, and placing professionals who genuinely make a difference.

You will be supported by a modern, well-invested tech stack that gives you the tools to identify and source talent efficiently, so you can focus on what matters most: building relationships and delivering results.

 

What You'll Do

•       Manage the full recruitment cycle for mid-to-senior level roles across policy, public affairs, government relations, strategic communications, and economics.

•       Develop and maintain strong relationships with clients across trade associations, think tanks, NGOs, and private sector organisations.

•       Stay closely informed on industry trends, labour market dynamics, and legislative and regulatory developments relevant to your sectors.

•       Conduct targeted headhunting and proactive candidate sourcing, using our technology platform and your own market knowledge.

•       Carry out thorough candidate assessment and skills evaluation to ensure the right match for each unique brief.

•       Produce market research and talent mapping to support client briefs and business development.

•       Influence and advise stakeholders at all levels, positioning yourself as a trusted expert in your niche.

•       Deliver measurable results against clear performance metrics and contribute to the overall growth of the business.

 

About You

You are a driven and commercially astute recruitment professional with a track record of delivering in a specialist or professional services environment. You thrive on building relationships, thinking strategically, and operating with a high degree of autonomy and credibility.

 

You will bring:

•       Proven experience as a recruitment consultant, ideally within a professional services, public affairs, policy, communications, or adjacent niche.

•       Strong business development skills and a genuine appetite for building and sustaining long-term client partnerships.

•       The ability to engage credibly with senior stakeholders and understand complex briefs in specialist areas.

•       A proactive, research-driven approach to candidate sourcing and talent identification.

•       Intellectual curiosity and a genuine interest in policy, government, and the wider landscape in which our clients operate.

•       Excellent communication, negotiation, and influencing skills.

•       Comfort working independently in a smaller, high-quality agency environment with big ambitions.

 

What We Offer

•       A specialist niche with real depth — work on genuinely interesting searches that matter.

•       A collaborative, experienced team with a strong reputation in the market.

•       Investment in cutting-edge recruitment technology to give you every advantage in sourcing and delivery.

•       Competitive base salary and uncapped commission structure.

•       Primarily office-based in beautiful rural Oxfordshire, with hybrid working flexibility available.

•       The autonomy to build your desk and shape your own success.

How to Apply

If you are ready for the next stage of your recruitment career, contact Barrie Dewhirst in the strictest confidence on 07487 508210 or email [email protected]

 Equal Opportunities Employer: We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age.