Current Opportunities

Team Administrators/Project Co-ordinators - Maidenhead

Director of Training & Development - London

Principal Consultant - Talent & Assessment - Variable Location

Senior Assessment Consultant

Education Marketing Consultant - National Role

Team Administrator - Maternity Cover - Maidenhead

Account Coordinator - Part time - Watford

Digital Search Planner - London, Fleet Place

How to apply

If you would like to apply for any of our current opportunities above or find out more information about the position, please send a current CV, including your current package details and relevant information to the recruitment manager whose details you will find at the end of the vacancy.

If you would like further details about working at Penna, please email Natalie Smith at natalie.smith@penna.com

If you’re interested in finding an external opportunity as a Penna candidate please email: enquirysearchandselection@penna.com
or if you’re looking for an Interim opportunity, please email: interim@penna.com

Team Administrators/Project Co-ordinators - Maidenhead

Our Client Services Centre based out of our Maidenhead office serves our clients across the UK with world class customer services.  We regularly have a need for high quality customer service-focussed administrators and project co-ordinators so if you feel you have the relevant experience of delivering outstanding customer services and enjoy working with people delivering solutions, please forward your CV to jennifer.armstrong@penna.com for entry onto our database, and we will contact you when a suitable vacancy arises.

Director of Training & Development - London

The Director Training & Development is accountable for developing the propositions and creating a clear strategy to build and grow our capability in training and development.  Accountable for building profitable revenue, margin and client experience for the Training & Development function within HR Consulting.  You are accountable for co-ordinating a wide range of multiple client Training & Development projects internationally and will have good skills in collaborating with a range of Penna colleagues who do not directly report to you.  You are expected to have significant leadership potential and are required to motivate and inspire associates to deliver excellent training and development for our clients. You work in collaboration with our Client Partners on many sales calls, proposals and presentations. You encourage Penna teams to sell and deliver high quality Training & Development to clients. You will work with key decision makers in HR Consulting and Penna Executive Board to identify and then acquire businesses to rapidly and significantly grow our volume training and development capacity. You will report to the MD HR Consulting and work in close collaboration with the MD Board & Executive Partnership

Key accountabilities & responsibilities

·         To lead the development of propositions focussed on building scalable and profitable training and development revenues.

·         To win Training & Development work to meet and exceed revenue targets agreed with the MD HR Consulting in your PPC.

·         To be accountable for the definition and execution of the client strategies and overall client satisfaction for Training & Development.

·         To develop successful relationships with the clients and to have a broad understanding of relevant external issues using these to identify opportunities for Training & Development.

·         To set PPCs for your direct reports and be a leader who grows them as leaders to ensure they are coached and mentored to give discretionary energy and be highly motivated to sell and deliver quality work.

Personal attributes, skills, knowledge and experience:

Essential [E] or Desirable [D]

·         A natural leader, able to lead and inspire both clients and internal stakeholders. [E]  

·         Outstanding interpersonal skills [E] 

·         The ability to forge strong, deep and authentic relationships with clients and internal stakeholders. [E]   

·         Proven ability to deliver authentic presentations and pitches. [E]   

·         A passion and intellectual curiosity around the T&D area. [E]   

·         A proven track record of training and developing teams. [E] 

·         You will have a background in the selling large volumes of different HR solutions.  [E]

·         A powerful presence with an engaging personality, authenticity and passion.  [E]

·         High levels of emotional intelligence mean that you rapidly build rapport and trust with clients and colleagues alike.  [E]

·         You have impact, are a team player and help others to develop and grow.  [E]

·         You constantly seek self-mastery; you model the leadership behaviours we are seeking to engender in our clients.

·         Passionate about people and the Penna proposition. [E]

·         Passionate about clients and exceeding their expectations. [E]

·         Excellent at articulating solutions based on business needs. [D]

·         Ability to overcome obstacles and get things done. Decisive, action oriented.  [E]

·         Excellent people and assignment management skills. [D]

·        Have the ability to speak to client groups and Penna groups and enthuse them about our Training & Development proposition. [E]

If you would like to apply for this role or would like further information, please contact Claire Dewey, Executive Assistant on 07917 521493 or at claire.dewey@penna.com

Principal Consultant - Talent & Assessment - Variable Location

The Principal Consultant role is concerned with operational delivery of Penna Consulting’s Assessment offers, with associated fee earning responsibilities.  Principal Consultants are also expected to make a significant contribution towards new and repeat business sales by attending pre-sales meetings, writing proposals, the preparation of presentation materials and making bid presentations.  They are also accountable for ensuring that projects are delivered to maximum levels of client satisfaction and profitability.

Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities

·         Preparation of proposals by discussing and researching client needs and Penna’s capability to deliver to budget and timescales

·         Design and delivery of presentations / pitches to clients with a high sales conversion rate

·         Design of robust assessment solutions to deliver against client specification and timescales.  These solutions will typically, but not exclusively underpin Penna Consulting’s Executive Assessment, Leadership Development, Management Development, Career Transition, Change Management and HR Outsourcing offers

·         Effective management of clients and all aspects of projects where given assignment management role or defined accountabilities of projects under management. Application of Prince 2 (or equivalent) methodology

·         Management of assignments, utilising cost-effective and skilled resources.  Ensuring margin of all projects is c60%

·         Development of Assessment Propositions in liaison with the Director and Head of Talent and Assessment and Head of Executive Assessment as required

·         Delivery of presentations at conferences and the publication of articles to raise Penna’s brand image and reputation

·         Support to other team members in their projects, across all the Penna Consulting, Penna Recruitment & Interim and Penna Resourcing services

·         Coaching of other Penna service lines to up-skill them in all relevant aspects of Penna’s total assessment offer

·         Personal delivery of a range of assessment and development work to an excellent standard and to an agreed level of utilisation

Personal Attributes, Skills, Knowledge, and Experience

·         Masters level in Occupational Psychology

·         Preferably worked in a line management role ‘in house’

·         Progressing towards or having achieved chartered BPS or CIPD status or equivalent experience and stature

·         BPS Level A and B in Occupational Assessment (e.g. Saville Consulting’s Wave)

·         Extensive and practical experience of running complex Consulting projects in demanding client environments

·         Potential and drive to become a Managing Consultant or SME

·         Self-confident

·         Resourceful and flexible

·         Problem-seeking and problem-solving mindset

·         Ability to ‘synthesise’ complex information and to present it succinctly

·         Personally and politically aware

·         Positive and enthusiastic

·         Assertive and resilient

·         Excellent oral communication skills

·         Excellent written skills

·         Strong commercial awareness

If you are interested in applying for this role or would like more information, please contact Jackie Sykes on +44 (0)1628 760387 or jackie.sykes@penna.com

Senior Assessment Consultant

Department:  Penna Resourcing
Reports To:  Assessment Design Director
Location:  London

Role Profile
To provide assessment design and delivery consultancy to a broad cross-section of major public and private sector clients to help them recruit the people they need to become great at what they do.
To contribute actively to our strategy to become the most respected name in assessment for selection and to enhance our reputation for technical excellence, creativity and professionalism.

Primary Objectives

Consulting Skills

• To effectively consult with clients to understand the organisational context of their resourcing and assessment strategy and fully evaluate their needs and aspirations.
• Work with Resourcing colleagues to develop long-term working relationships with existing and potential clients, secure existing partnerships and identify new opportunities
• Partner/mentor/guide clients and internal colleagues in helping/encouraging them to work with best practice principles
• Maintain focus on delighting every client, every time, through the quality, creativity, effectiveness and timeliness of our work
• Manage client expectations to ensure that they are fully appraised of all possible risks and potential outcomes
• Receive and deal with client concerns during the process

Technical Skills

• Use a variety of qualitative and quantitative research and job analysis techniques as appropriate
• Develop and validate meaningful and relevant competency frameworks or equivalent behaviourally based profiles
• Create pragmatic, robust, lean assessment processes that deliver a positive candidate experience in the most valid and efficient manner
• Work with our technology team and external partners to develop innovative online and telephony application and pre-screening solutions from structured application forms, to competency based questionnaires and situational judgement tests.
• Think differently about selection tool design and deliver new concepts in telephone and face-to-face interviewing
• Advise on and conduct psychometric testing and feedback (both ability and personality testing) in accordance with professional and ethical standards
• Design assessment exercises that are realistic simulations of the job with high predictive validity
• Where required, support the assessment team to effectively assess candidates using ORCE methodology
• On occasion provide effective verbal and written feedback to clients and work with them to make effective recruitment decisions
• Undertake evaluation and validation studies and provide recommendations for clients to continuously improve the solutions we provide
• Design and deliver relevant, engaging and stimulating training courses
• Undertake assessment for development and make confident recommendations and deliver against on development options
• Maintain professional and technical skills and knowledge on an ongoing basis and to feedback relevant information to the Resourcing business.

Project Management

• Under normal circumstances, work closely with the project management team to support the delivery of complex client projects
• On occasion, and as required, take responsibility for the independent management and delivery of pure assessment design and consulting assignments
• To use/manage associates as a resource for effective design and/or delivery of projects
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of Penna services/products

Business Development

• To prepare and deliver formal presentations to key decision-makers as part of a structured ‘pitch’ process to win new business
• To manage and contribute to the preparation of proposal documentation to ensure the commercial value of work

Key relationships
Person(s)/communities - Nature of relationship
Assessment Design Director - Line Manager
Other Service Lines & Client Partners, Central Support Functions - Interaction with other teams in Penna Resourcing, Penna Barkers/TCS
External clients - Interaction by email, phone and face to face

Education and Qualifications

• MSc Occupational Psychology
• Chartered or in the process of becoming Chartered

Experience 

• Preferably with a Consultancy or similar organisation, providing guidance and support for clients within a commercial relationship
• Track record of managing and delivering assessment and development solutions with ability to scope and define solutions

If you are interested in learning more about this exciting opportunity and you feel that you hold the required skills and abilities to take on the role, please contact Daryl Murray on 0207 332 7821 or please send your CV to daryl.murray@penna.com.

Education Marketing Consultant - National Role

Reports To: Head of Development - Education
Location: National Role (location preferred - North/Midlands)

Role Profile

You will be accountable for the retention and development of a designated portfolio of education marketing clients:

• Achieve defined sales, income and profit targets
• Build positive, enduring commercial relationships with a network of key stakeholders across your client groups
• Follow a structured, disciplined approach to the provision of innovative, digital and traditional marketing and consultancy services that add tangible client value and deliver results
• Create, identify and convert sales opportunities to extend advertising, communications and digital product penetration to drive income and profit growth
• Actively seek sales opportunities for other Penna group services
  Support the Business Development team to identify and convert sales opportunities with new clients
• Support the Head of Education in developing the Education Marketing team, its knowledge, capabilities and reputation
• Support the Head of Education in developing a portfolio of products and services appropriate to the needs of the market
• Represent Penna Barkers positively and professionally, building credibility and competence in self and others

Primary Objectives

Commercial Management

• Be responsible for the commercial management of designated clients to achieve specified sales, income, cash and credit targets on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis
• Manage controllable cost of sales to maximise income-to-turnover margins to meet defined improvement targets
• Work closely with the Delivery team to minimise indirect personnel and third party costs to achieve required gross profit targets
• Work with Heads of Education, Finance and Delivery teams to develop pricing models for each project/solution that represents best-value for client and allows Penna Barkers to achieve its income and profit goals at a project and client level
• Develop strong working relationships with colleagues throughout the Penna group in order to ensure that individual and team objectives are achieved in a manner consistent with the aims and objectives of the broader business

Client Management

• Write, implement and execute the Client Development Plan (CDP) for your clients to ensure we proactively position Penna / Penna Barkers as a key partner for our full spectrum of products and services  
• Develop network of key stakeholders across the client organisation to create sales opportunities for marketing and communications solutions, and to identify opportunities to introduce other group services to other stakeholders, particularly in HR
• Accurately and consistently understand your clients’ organisational goals, marketing and communications plans, challenges and requirements, and work with colleagues to develop appropriate and cohesive solutions and strategies that will ensure that objectives are met and clients enjoy a satisfactory return on their investment
• Demonstrate progress in moving clients from low-value supplier relationships to high-value partnerships where our value-add is clearly understood and strategically important to the client organisation
• Lead the client relationship through a high-touch, highly visible consultancy-led approach and the effective management of internal resources to ensure the highest standards of client service and delivery are met at all times
• Work as a ‘catalyst’ on a project-by-project basis, to take part in and ensure that a robust, effective planning process (e.g. initial scoping, resource allocation, timetable development, team definition, financial viability and development of the communications solution) occurs
• Ensure that client expectations are carefully managed so that clients are fully appraised of all possible risks and potential outcomes
  Support the delivery teams as required, providing guidance and direction and, where necessary, practical support to ensure that client expectations are met and exceeded at all times

Client & New Business Sales Development

• Develop and win new business by networking at a senior level within the extended client base to identify and create further opportunities
  Support the Business Development team to identify and convert opportunities for our full range of services with new clients
• Attend initial sales meetings with potential, new or existing clients to gain a deeper understanding of their needs and presenting our credentials as a potential marketing and communications partner
• Contribute to the writing and collation of tender documentation, sales proposals, pitches etc.
• Develop written, costed proposals in a persuasive, professional manner to convert sales opportunities to live projects
• Prepare and deliver innovative and compelling presentations to key decision-makers at pitch, conference or as part of the ongoing sales process
• Create and identify opportunities to introduce the specialists within the wider Penna group to scope and convert sales proposals for the full compliment of service offerings

People Management

• Support the Head of Education to lead, mentor and coach the education marketing team or regional client management teams and work with them to ensure that they have the required level of sector-specific knowledge to deliver an efficient and credible service and are identifying and acting on every opportunity and driving the client planning process effectively
• Contribute to the evaluation and communication of performance data and objective setting of the team members, ensuring that their performance meets the standards and expectations set by the business
• Assist the Head of Education to identify training and development needs within the team, and support in the delivery of such training, ensuring its impact on performance is properly measured

Knowledge Management

• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of the key issues affecting the education sector in order to maintain client confidence and to support the development of products and services to meet the changing needs of the market
• Have a good understanding of the digital communications market – nationally and internationally.  You will also be required to fully understand what your clients (and their primary competitors) are doing in terms of their digital marketing and communications – and how we can help them to improve and develop their strategy and processes
• Identify and attend sector events, contribute to Penna Barkers external communications tools such as blogs, and maintain professional and technical skills on an ongoing basis
  Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of Penna Barkers services/products

Key relationships
Person(s)/communities - Nature of relationship
Head of Education - Line Manager
Other Service Lines & Client Partners, Central Support Functions - Interaction with other teams in Penna Barkers/TCS, Finance, Marketing, IT, HR, Client Partners
External clients - Interaction by email, phone and face to face.

Personal attributes, skills, knowledge and experience

• Experience of achieving sales targets in a solutions-led marketing or advertising and communications environment, with a thorough understanding of digital attraction and engagement
• Responsibility for commercial management of portfolio of clients or marketing budget with accountability for sales, cost of sale, return on investment and income
• Extensive (demonstrable) experience of developing a network of personal relationships at a senior level, with a track record of evolving relationships to senior decision makers/board level
• Proven experience of scoping, developing and implementing attraction and engagement strategies utilising multi-product/multi-service advertising and communications solutions
• Experience of developing and maintaining media relationships to derive maximum value from suppliers

If you are interested in this exciting new opportunity please send your CV and covering letter, outlining your understanding and experience of higher education marketing, to Ian Morgan, Head of Education, Penna Barkers, Gladstone House, Lawnswood Business Park, Leeds, LS16 6QY or email ian.morgan@pennabarkers.com. If you wish to discuss this role further please call 0113 389 4905.

Team Administrator - Maternity Cover - Maidenhead

Reports to: Administration Team Leader
Location: Client Services Centre, Maidenhead
Duration: Approximately 9 months maternity leave cover

The administration team is the initial point of contact for all individual clients and supports the project co-ordinators and project managers to ensure services delivered to the individual client meet their requirements within the framework agreed with the corporate clients.

Role Purpose

To work in the high-energy administration team to administer activities to ensure the designated service is delivered efficiently and effectively, setting up the relationship between Penna i.e. the relevant consultants and region, and the individual client.  Also ensuring that all work delivered is invoice. Provides support to national marketing events and telemarketing activities

Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities

• Answer incoming enquiries from internal and external clients
• Maintain accurate information on databases and other IT systems
• Print/courier delivery materials to meet project timescales
• Produce mail shots for sales and events purposes
• Process invoices for payments in/out
• Organise travel arrangements for staff
• Collate client satisfaction data

Key Relationships
Person(s)/Communities - Nature of relationship
Administration Team Leader - Direct Report
Head of Client Services Centre - Head of overall department

Personal Attributes, Skills, Knowledge, and Experience

• Must be customer focused
• Ability to control and organise their working area at all times
• Doesn’t shy from difficult situations
• Excellent relationship building skills
• Highly organised, be able to work under pressure
• Contribute to a good team spirit
• Demonstrate flexibility
• Actively seeks to understand the wider Penna business

Reward Structure and Key Measures

• Demonstration of Penna behaviours: Accountable, Supportive, Collaborative, Inspiring
• Customer satisfaction
• Bonus will be related to Penna profitability and individual performance
• Supportive and collaborative with regional colleagues and colleagues across Penna

If you are interested in learning more about this exciting new opportunity and you feel that you hold the required skills and abilities to take on the role, please contact Vanessa Stickwood, Administration and Office Manager on Vanessa.stickwood@penna.com or 01628 760367.

Account Coordinator - Part time - Watford

Department: Penna Resourcing
Reports To: Account Manager
Location: Watford, On-site at GE Money Home Lending
Status: Permanent

Role Profile

To ensure the recruitment teams’ contact with customers (including HR, hiring managers and candidates) is of a consistently highest level of service; to organise interviews and assessment; and to proactively ensure quality and efficiency in all activities of the Recruitment Team; by tracking data and producing Management Information needed by the Account Team.

Primary Objectives

Customer Focused

Working as part of a team to ensure the effective organisation and management of all interviews across the GE Money account, to include:

• Timely and effective diary management for GE Money managers, HR, Penna representative, i.e. organisation & confirmation of interviews.
  Extensive liaison (verbal & written) with GE Money divisions, candidates (internal & external) and 3rd party suppliers, from initial set-up to confirmation.
• Timely distribution of appropriate interview materials to the interviewers, e.g. CV’s, previous interview notes etc.
• Act as the focal point for all information around Customer Service, to include:
• Logging, and tracking candidate CVs from multiple sources.
• Support the Recruitment team with the referral program ensuring that candidates have a great recruitment experience, which will include logging and tracking CVs and ensuring the process is slick and efficient.
• Produce weekly reports via Excel & PowerPoint for the customer on vacancy and candidate status.
• Act as a first point of contact for all general enquires from 3rd party suppliers and candidates.
• Ensure all data is saved in a consistent manner and in line with recruitment regulations.
• Focus on continuous improvement of recruitment processes and timescales around interview organisation; sharing of best practice across the recruitment team.
• Working with the Account Manager to define and agree a set of Management Information (MI) and agreeing the intervals for providing this to the team and the customer.
• Working with Resourcing Consultants to define and agree a set of Management Information (MI) for each business group and agreeing the intervals for providing this.
• Work with the Account Manager to monitor the cost of recruitment.
• Ensuring that the quality and integrity of the data is up to date and accurate.
• Printing and distribution of all candidate reject letters (or emails) within agreed SLA timescales.

Account Focused

• Support the Account Manager in the preparation of account reporting to Penna Barkers Resourcing, as necessary.
• Work closely with team colleagues to ensure delivery against resourcing SLA’s.
• Achievement of individual targets & objectives (e.g. adherence to SLA’s, client satisfaction, etc), and contribution to achievement of the GE Money account team targets.
• Other ad hoc duties as necessary, to include for example, typing, filing and reporting.

Key relationships
Person(s)/communities - Nature of relationship
Account Manager - Line Manager
External clients - Interaction by email, phone and face to face.
 
Personal attributes, skills, knowledge and experience

• Intellectually capable. GCSE or O Level equivalent, including Maths & English Language.
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office packages including PowerPoint, advanced knowledge of Excel is highly desirable.
• Experience of working in a challenging environment; responding to needs of the client as well as those of the team.
• Professional / consultancy background, ideally in a project management environment.
• Experience of dealing with 3rd party suppliers or salespeople over the telephone and/or face-to-face in a professional manner; assertive but diplomatic.
• Commercially aware.

If you are interested in this exciting new opportunity please email your CV and covering letter to Marcus Scheel, Account Manager, at marcus.scheel@ge.com.

Digital Search Planner - London, Fleet Place

Digital Search Planner – Role Profile

Role Title                Digital Search Planner

Status                         Full Time, Permanent

Reports to              Media and Research Director

Location:                London

Role Purpose 

As a Search Planner you will drive and manage the strategy, implementation and delivery of Penna’s Search Engine and Social Media Marketing. You will need a good understanding of both Organic (SEO) and Paid (PPC) marketing alongside a strong interest in the on-line marketing industry. Working within an established media strategy team with a high level of digital skills, you will be a key driver of both best practice and innovation in the delivery of paid search services to our clients.

Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities

·         Liaising with internal teams to establish client PPC, SEO and SMM campaign objectives and expectations.

·         Planning and implementing successful bidding strategies to achieve required results and increase client ROI.

·         Management of client PPC campaigns of varying sizes primarily using Google AdWords system.

·         Responsible for strategy, planning, setting up search campaigns, populating accounts, writing reports, the optimisation of campaigns for some leading global clients across a number of different sectors.

·         Making recommendations to clients based on campaign performance and website analytics for further development.

·         Working closely with other parts of the business to plan successful search, social marketing and digital campaigns, based on each clients’ requirements.

If you are interested in learning more about this exciting opportunity and you feel that you hold the required skills and abilities to take on the role, please contact Heather Staff on 0207 933 8358 or please send your CV to Heather.Staff@penna.com

Penna plc is an equal opportunities employer.