2026 Graduate Talent Acquisition Associate

Business, Marketing.

This role does not provide sponsorship.

About us

We are the UK’s largest privately owned engineering and construction company and we deliver vital infrastructure and buildings projects for clients in the UK, Middle East and Australia.

Laing O’Rourke - Our Origin Story
We have always had a strong culture at Laing O’Rourke, stemming from our family ownership and passion to deliver projects that improve the lives of the communities they serve.

About this role

The Talent Acquisition Associate supports the delivery of end-to-end recruitment activity while developing the knowledge, skills and commercial understanding required for a career in Talent Acquisition. The role combines candidate attraction, sourcing, recruitment coordination, market research and stakeholder support, providing an excellent candidate and hiring manager experience while building capability across multiple business areas.

Working closely with Talent Acquisition Advisors, Partners and the wider People team, the role provides proactive support across the recruitment lifecycle whilst taking ownership of defined activities and continuously developing expertise in recruitment best practice, talent mapping and employer branding.

Responsibilities

  • Support the delivery of end-to-end recruitment assignments across a range of business areas.
  • Source and engage candidates through LinkedIn, job boards, referrals, talent pools, events and direct search.
  • Conduct candidate screening and initial assessment calls, providing recommendations to the Talent Acquisition team.
  • Coordinate interviews, assessments and recruitment logistics to deliver an outstanding candidate and hiring manager experience.
  • Support the development and maintenance of talent pipelines for future hiring requirements and critical skills.
  • Support market mapping and gather talent intelligence, including salary benchmarking, competitor activity and labour market insights, to inform recruitment strategies.
  • Support employer branding, recruitment marketing campaigns and careers events.
  • Maintain accurate information within the Applicant Tracking System and ensure recruitment activity is compliant and well documented.
  • Provide a responsive and professional service to candidates, hiring managers and internal stakeholders, ensuring recruitment activities are coordinated efficiently and stakeholders are kept informed throughout the process.
  • Contribute to continuous improvement projects across Talent Acquisition, including process optimisation, reporting and technology adoption.
  • Champion inclusive recruitment practices and support delivery of diversity and inclusion objectives.
  • Take ownership of personal development, building knowledge of the business, recruitment best practice and labour market trends.

The Laing O'Rourke Graduate Development Programme - what can you expect?

Our graduate programme is designed to embrace and develop your capabilities. Most importantly, you will be encouraged to continue learning throughout your career. You will be stretched, challenged and supported by a business that views your personal development and the achievement of professional accreditation as a priority.

Our programme will give you the practical experience, technical learning and professional development while being part of the some of the most exciting construction and infrastructure projects in the UK.

We are looking for graduates who meet the following criteria:

  • Your degree classification should be 2:1 or higher in any STEM degree discipline.
  • Eligible to work in the UK with a valid work permit if applicable.
  • Full mobility as you may be required to relocate for your role.
  • Strong numeracy and literacy skills.
  • A degree course with a clear route to professional accreditation.

Our Application Process

We are committed to providing a clear and supportive recruitment journey. Here is what you can expect when applying for one of our graduate opportunities:

  • CV Submission Submit your CV for review. We will assess your application against the entry criteria for the role you are applying for.
  • Online Assessment You will complete a series of assessments designed to understand how you approach workplace situations, your preferred ways of working, as well as exercises to evaluate your critical thinking and numerical reasoning skills.
  • Video Interview At this stage, you will be invited to record responses to two questions set by our hiring team. You will have sufficient time to prepare and ensure you present yourself confidently.
  • Assessment Centre Our in-person assessment centres, held at a LOR office, provide an opportunity for you to demonstrate your skills through a combination of individual tasks, short interviews, and group activities. This is also a chance to experience our culture first-hand.
  • Outcome We aim to provide feedback and communicate the outcome of your assessment centre within two weeks.
We've signed the Gradcracker feedback pledge.
(This means that we will supply feedback if requested after an interview.)

1e127ede32d8f816eacfb0aed73cee11

Job ID Number: 8339
This button will open a new tab and take you directly to the employer's website.
Please remember, if asked, that you found this opportunity on Gradcracker.
Add to shortlist
Shortlisted
  • Deadline
    August 24th, 2026
  • Hiring Multiple Candidates
    Yes
  • Salary
    Competitive
  • Degree required
    2:1 and above
  • Location
    Dartford (Kent)
Show location/s on map
Disciplines Accepted...
  • All STEM disciplines
The 2025/26
Gradcracker Toolkit
Explore the online version
For our new webinar season we are inviting students to submit questions to our featured employers.
Find out more here
© 2007 - 2026 Gradcracker Limited
Log in/Register
Gradcracker Limited, October House, Long Street, Easingwold, York, YO61 3HX
01347 823822
info@gradcracker.com
Company registration number: 6370348