Early Careers Programme and Development Associate

About the FCA

The FCA regulates the conduct of 45,000 firms in the UK to ensure our financial markets are honest, fair and competitive.

Are you passionate about supporting people at the beginning of their careers? Do you have experience in Early Careers programme management and talent development? We’re looking for a proactive and enthusiastic Programme and Development Associate to join the FCA’s Early Careers Team. In this role, you’ll play a key part in shaping and delivering our Early Careers programmes, ensuring our apprentices, graduates, and interns receive an outstanding development experience from induction through to programme completion. This is a high-impact role where you’ll be responsible for the daily management and continuous improvement of our Early Careers initiatives. You’ll collaborate with senior stakeholders, learning providers, and internal HR teams to create meaningful learning journeys and development pathways, helping to build a strong pipeline of future talent for the organisation.

What will you be doing?

• Early Careers Strategy Implementation – Support the delivery and execution of the Early Careers strategic review.
• Programme Management – Oversee rotational graduate, apprenticeship, and internship programmes, ensuring smooth operations and impactful experiences.
• Stakeholder & Participant Engagement – Build strong relationships with Early Careers participants and business stakeholders to enhance programme success.
• Process & Learning Development – Lead on rotations, internships, and insight events, while supporting the design of engaging inductions and tailored learning experiences with stakeholders.
• Data & Performance Management – Manage and analyse programme data, tracking talent performance and measuring impact and ROI.
• HR & Industry Alignment – Partner with HR and business leads to align programme delivery with organisational needs while staying updated on industry trends and best practices.

What will you get from the role?

• An opportunity to learn more about the FCA and Operations Division by being an integral part of a busy, fast paced and friendly department undertaking meaningful work that makes a real difference.
• The opportunity to understand and shape the workings of the financial services industry at a time of considerable change, whilst benefitting from a unique aerial view of the industry.
• Varied interesting work, coupled with the opportunity to work with and influence a wide range of industry professionals, both internally and externally to the FCA.
• Extensive support for your learning and career development (many colleagues have had the opportunity to progress their career within the Organisation).

Which skills are required?

• Minimum Experience in Early Careers, talent development, or rotational programmes.
• Experience in Excel and use of HR systems to produce and interpret management information.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Experience in delivering and facilitating development or training sessions.
• Comfortable working with data and using insights to inform strategies and decisions.
• Excellent project management skills, able to handle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• A good team player who fosters inclusivity and influences shared goals.
• Knowledge of the Early Careers industry, including apprenticeships, graduate programmes, and rotational talent schemes.
• Familiarity with Workday or similar HR systems, alongside awareness of the graduate and apprenticeship market landscape.
• Ability to maintain focus on achieving desired outcomes.

Our Values & Diversity

We are proud to be an inclusive employer, and our ambition is to cultivate a culture for all employees that respects their individual strengths, views, and experiences. We believe that our differences and similarities enable us to be a better organisation – one that makes better decisions, drives innovation, and delivers better regulation.

Benefits of working at the FCA

• 25 days holiday per year plus bank holidays.
• Hybrid working (work from home up to 60% of your time).
• Private healthcare with Bupa.
• A non-contributory Pension of at least 8%.
• Life assurance.
• Income protection.
• We also have a competitive flexible benefits scheme which gives you the opportunity to create a personalised benefits package, tailored to suit your lifestyle.

We welcome applications from candidates who are looking for flexible arrangements. Many of our staff work flexibly including working part-time, staggered hours, and job shares.

Application Support

We are dedicated to removing barriers and ensuring our application process is accessible to everyone. We offer a range of adjustments to make your application experience as comfortable and straightforward as possible.

Useful Information and Timeline

This role is graded Associate – Operations. Advert Closing Date: 29th June (midnight). CV Review/Shortlist: w/c 7th July. Competency Based Interview: 17th – 24th July.

Your Recruiter will discuss the process in detail with you during screening for the role, therefore, please make them aware if you are going to be unavailable for any date during this time.