Early Careers Recruitment Manager - 12 month FTC

Key Responsibilities

• Development of the Early Careers (EC) and Solicitor Apprenticeship (SA) recruitment strategy in conjunction with the EC Partners, Training Principal, Solicitor Apprenticeship Sponsor Partners, Head of Recruitment and Trainee HR team.
• Work with business partners to create and define the firm’s vision, goals and key messaging in relation to Graduate and Solicitor Apprenticeship Recruitment, highlighting opportunities for improvements and innovation.
• Develop new initiatives to enhance the pipeline of high calibre talent and attract target students.
• Coordinate and deliver annual updates to the firm, alongside the Head of Recruitment and EC Partners.
• Provide graduate cohort resources to the global network, collaborate with stakeholders in business and HR to determine requirements and align practices globally where possible.
• Ensure consistent communication of the firm’s key selling messages through representatives on campus and all marketing communications.
• Develop the EC & SA brand and all marketing materials in conjunction with the Senior EC Adviser, EC Partners, in-house teams, external marketing agency and Head of Recruitment.
• Manage academic liaison programmes to enhance links with target universities; oversee annual review of target universities and events strategy.
• Attend virtual and physical events during the Milkround period and High Fliers campaign; review marketing activities with external vendors such as Cibyl or Highfliers.
• Support attraction activities for international offices; identify target demographics such as Japanese, Korean and Mandarin speakers and coordinate virtual internship programme content.
• Review and develop recruitment processes to ensure the firm identifies top talent; ensure consistency and compliance with legislative requirements; shape inclusive hiring approaches using best practice and market insight.
• Run assessment centres and manage recruitment against targets; work closely with the HR Data & Analytics team and report through the ATS (Candid).
• Manage the India recruitment campaign alongside the EC Adviser; brief, train and provide feedback to partner interviewer pool; deliver annual disability training.
• Work with the IP team and key STEM universities to attract STEM candidates and meet the 20% target.
• Work with the Diversity & Inclusion, Responsible Business and Trainee HR teams to set objectives and minimise adverse impact in recruitment; partner with external vendors for diverse trainee hires.
• Oversee mentoring programmes with Aspiring Solicitors and partnership with Rare Recruitment.
• Manage the annual D&I review; monitor statistics, pull data for partnership, assess adverse impact with Candid and Sova.
• Review all target universities annually in conjunction with HESA data and league rankings.
• Manage the vacation scheme programme; ensure effective recruitment tool for hiring trainees and best-in-class candidate experience.
• Oversee US Securities summer internship recruitment process with EC Adviser; regularly review salaries to align with market.
• Manage the future trainee programme of 120 students; identify new integration ways for future trainees; coordinate events, communication, transition and pre‑employment screening.
• Manage student grants budget, ensuring course fees and grants are calculated and paid on time; support students through PGDL and SQE; deliver SQE induction; review grant payments; be active member of SQE advisory group.
• Implement marketing material changes following SQE updates; coordinate SQE programme messaging with EC and Trainee HR teams of Consortium firms.
• Oversee promotion and outreach to school leavers for the Solicitor Apprenticeship programme; oversee application process including online test and assessment centres; create candidate warm‑up strategy.
• Manage and develop a team of senior adviser, two advisers, three assistants and an admin assistant; ensure team processes are documented, effective and robust.
• Monitor and manage the EC budget and undertake relevant management reporting.
• Develop and maintain relationships with global EC teams to share knowledge and best practice.

Qualifications / Skills / Experience

• Excellent academics and a keen intellect.
• Experience managing the entire early careers recruitment lifecycle.
• Experience with leading firms in the legal or professional services sector would be helpful, but experience from other industries is welcome.
• Team management experience.
• Well organised, articulate, numerate and commercial.
• Ability to demonstrate resilience whilst building strong relationships with a demanding client base.
• Experience in use of an ATS.
• Experience managing a large budget.
• Sound technical knowledge of legislation regarding recruitment and best‑practice graduate resourcing strategies.
• Aware of emerging trends such as AI in early careers recruitment.
• Experience working as part of a global function and delivering consistency of approach.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders.
• Robust negotiation skills, results‑orientated.
• Comfortable with ambiguity.
• Willingness to travel.

Competencies

• Personal Leadership: Positively impacts those around them, makes quality decisions and develops themselves both personally and professionally. Demonstrates sound knowledge in their field. Anticipates potential problems and identifies a range of possible solutions. Adapts their interpersonal style to suit different audiences in a genuine way. Builds authentic relationships. Takes time to get to know people beyond their role. Treats people with respect and in a fair and consistent way. Recognises when colleagues are under pressure and volunteers to assist them where possible.
• Collaboration: Works within teams and across boundaries to share knowledge and achieve results. Identifies and builds relationships required to achieve the best outcomes for the firm. Engages people with the right skills, knowledge and expertise to provide advice and assist with tasks. Connects others in the firm who have mutual interests or work objectives. Generously shares their time, knowledge, expertise and talent to support others’ success.
• Client Experience: Creates opportunities to enhance the experience of the firm’s clients through their daily tasks.
• Results Orientation: Maintains focus and drive to achieve quality outcomes. Focuses their time and efforts on issues that will have the greatest impact on agreed objectives. Anticipates responses and plans their approach accordingly. Looks for the most effective way to achieve outcomes. Maintains perspective and optimism when faced with setbacks.
• Teamwork: Works within teams and across boundaries to share knowledge and achieve results.

Working Pattern: Full time

Location: London

Contract type: Fixed Term Contract

Diversity & Inclusion: We are committed to attracting people from all backgrounds and creating a respectful and inclusive culture where everyone thrives. We see this as essential to our success, including our ability to innovate and achieve sustained high performance. This is a key part of our values—Human, Bold, and Outstanding.