Principal Recruiter, Universal Destinations & Experiences

OVERVIEW At Universal Creative, we design, develop and deliver the most compelling entertainment experiences imaginable to drive growth for Universal Parks & Resorts worldwide. Our innovative attractions, immersive theme parks and world-class resorts fuse art and technology to create new standards in the themed entertainment industry. As Principal Recruiter, you will be a founding member of the UK-based Talent Acquisition team responsible for leading the full lifecycle recruitment of key hires across Creative and Corporate functions. Working closely with US and UK stakeholders, you’ll drive strategic hiring while helping to build TA operations and brand presence from the ground up. This is a fast-paced, high-velocity hiring environment requiring comfort with ambiguity, agility in execution, and a collaborative mindset. This is more than just filling roles - it’s an opportunity to shape the team that will define the future of immersive experiences in the UK. You will also support the Sr. Director, Talent Acquisition in providing oversight and guidance to other recruiter/s in the UK Parks team. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Talent Acquisition Strategy & Execution Develop and deliver robust recruitment strategies for Creative and Corporate functions across the UK Parks project. Source, attract, assess and secure high-quality candidates through proactive sourcing techniques, leveraging SmartRecruiters, LinkedIn Recruiter, and innovative tools. Manage full-cycle recruitment, from intake to offer, while ensuring a seamless and inclusive candidate experience. Develop tailored recruitment marketing campaigns and job postings aligned with our employer brand to drive visibility and engagement. Implement scalable processes to support efficient hiring as the team and volume of requisitions grow. Stakeholder & Candidate Partnership Build strong, consultative relationships with senior business leaders and HRBP’s in both the UK and US to anticipate workforce needs and provide market insights. Partner with internal teams such as Early Careers, and HR Operations to ensure alignment on process, compliance and inclusivity. Guide and coach hiring managers on best practices, behavioural interviewing techniques and selection methodology. Deliver clear and consistent communication to candidates and stakeholders, ensuring expectations are set and met throughout the hiring journey. Partner with business leaders and learning providers to embed apprentices into hiring plans, supporting early careers talent and workforce goals. Brand Building & Market Presence Act as an ambassador for Universal Destinations & Experiences in the UK talent market, both externally and internally. Represent the company at industry events, job fairs and networking forums to build candidate pipelines and brand awareness. Support development of content and collateral that promotes the park’s culture, values and vision as an employer of choice. Process Innovation & Team Enablement Play a key role in building recruiting infrastructure and operations from scratch, including workflows, assessment methods and reporting dashboards. Support the Sr. Director, Talent Acquisition in providing oversight, prioritisation guidance and developmental feedback for the Recruiter role/s, ensuring alignment with team goals and delivery standards. Act as a senior point of contact for troubleshooting, coaching and ensuring high standard of hiring manager and candidate experience across requisitions or overlapping pipelines. Ensure reporting is maintained and up to date working closely with the Sr. Director and the TA Ops Lead. Leverage TA Coordinator support to ensure timely scheduling, documentation, and a seamless candidate experience, while maintaining overall accountability for the recruitment process. Partner with global TA colleagues to align best practices and ensure consistency with enterprise hiring standards. Provide mentorship, guidance and coaching to junior recruiters or project-based hiring support as required. Contribute to talent acquisition projects and cross-functional initiatives that enhance process excellence and candidate experience.