Early Talent Development Specialist – Fixed Term Contract to August 2027 in London

Company Description

As a global law firm, our work spans jurisdictions, cultures, and languages – and so do our people. Our culture is collaborative and inclusive, where diverse perspectives are recognised and valued. Where performing to your highest ability unlocks equal access to opportunities to learn, thrive, and grow. We combine deep legal expertise and commercial intelligence to grow, transform, protect, and defend our clients' businesses across every critical moment. We operate in the sectors and regions that matter to our clients, with forward-thinking insights and innovative, tech-enabled solutions that combine deep knowledge of their sectors and markets. You’ll build connections and work with colleagues as one global team, unlocking opportunities for clients across borders, cultures, legal, and commercial disciplines.

The ideal start date for this role is August 2026.

The role involves working closely with the Early Talent Development Team Lead to provide best-in-class service delivery to Trainees and key stakeholders throughout the entire lifecycle of the Training Contract.

Who you will work with:

• Early Talent Development Team Lead
• Head of Early Careers
• Partners
• Wider HR Business Partnering team
• Early Talent Partner sponsors

You will also manage key supplier relationships.

What you will be responsible for:

You will manage a range of HR related people activities on a day-to-day basis regarding the firm's Trainee Lawyer population.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Recruitment and Resourcing: Work closely with the Trainee Partners, Resource Managers, and HR Business Partnering team to identify Trainee resource needs. Monitor Trainee utilisation levels to assist in Trainee resource allocation.
• Cohort Lead: Provide support and be the primary contact for SQE and allocated Trainee cohorts (typically 150 future and current trainees). Undertake career development meetings with Trainees within allocated cohorts to discuss and advise on performance, development, seat, and qualification preferences. Lead the qualification process, liaising with Trainee Partners, HRBPs, and Trainees.
• Secondments: Work closely with Partners, HRBPs, and the Global Mobility team to ensure client and international secondments are processed in accordance with policy and the relevant support and guidance is provided to the Trainee.
• Development and Training: Lead pre-training contract presentations. Liaise with Education Managers regarding practice area induction and group training. Manage (and deliver on an ad hoc basis as required) supervisor training interventions and resources. Work with the Academy team to drive relevant learning and development initiatives for Trainees. Provide development and coaching support (or facilitate coaching) to ensure Trainees are achieving their full potential.
• Projects: Maintain awareness of specific product area and firm-wide business strategies including financial and business development goals and subsequent ongoing performance against this strategy. Support, and where appropriate, lead the development and implementation of early talent projects, such as the Trainee Learning Curriculum.
• Supplier Management: Support the relationship with the chosen education provider. Manage key supplier relationships, including contract and service renewal and delivery of key projects.
• Inclusion and Diversity: Work with Partners and HR teams on specific goals and initiatives to increase inclusion and the retention and promotion of underrepresented groups and ensure equality for all.
• Employee Relations: Work closely with the Employee Relations team and HRBPs and advise on any employee relations issues arising (including but not limited to grievance, disciplinary, and sickness absence cases). Ensure the communication and implementation of employee relations policies in practice areas e.g. absence management, disciplinary, and dispute resolution. Undertake face-to-face exit interviews with leavers, end of training contract surveys, and other feedback gathering as required and provide feedback and guidance to the relevant Partners and business leaders on our current employment proposition and practices. Be recognised as a trusted advisor to the business.

Your experience:

• Relevant experience working in HR, ideally as an Early Talent Development specialist or HR Business Partner.
• Proven experience managing early talent programs, including development and performance management processes.
• Experience building strong relationships with senior stakeholders and acting as a trusted advisor on talent-related issues.
• Experience from a large and complex organisation (legal or professional services) with a good understanding of a Partnership Culture.

Skills:

• Strong intellectual and analytical skills with the flexibility to manage detail as well as think conceptually and creatively.
• Flexible and effective communication skills.
• An ability to influence and form good relationships at all levels across an organisation.
• An ability to present and engage with audiences of different sizes and levels of seniority with confidence.
• The ability to cope with a varied and busy workload and a good attention to detail.
• A high level of confidentiality and the ability to deal with conflict situations and handle a variety of potentially sensitive issues.
• Commercial awareness and a reputation for excellent client service.
• A collaborative working style.

Knowledge:

• Broad knowledge of HR best practice.
• Employee relations expertise would be an advantage.

Qualifications:

• Ideally, formal HR qualifications or equivalent experience e.g. CIPD, coaching, mediation.

Additional Information:

From your first day with us, you will have varied opportunities to continuously grow and develop your skills and knowledge. From formal training, informal coaching and mentoring through to skills-based and technical training and on-the-job learning.

This role follows our 'balanced' hybrid working approach and as long as business needs allow, you will be supported to work in a hybrid way in line with the hybrid working policy.

When you join Clifford Chance, you will have access to a broad range of benefits to support you across many aspects of your personal and professional life including financial, wellbeing, lifestyle, and family-friendly benefits.

At Clifford Chance, we understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families, our firm, and society. We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, or age. This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment including pay, promotion, training, transfer, and every other aspect of employment.

We have a variety of flourishing employee networks. These networks are a place for colleagues to share experiences and advocate for change wherever they see an opportunity for improvement. Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration, and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our firm.