Lateral Partner Recruitment Manager in City of Westminster

The HR function comprises c50 people globally and is responsible for the effective management of all matters concerning the attraction, recruitment, engagement, retention, development and progression of our people. This involves guiding and supporting partners, managers, and all employees alike, as well as supporting the creation of an inclusive and diverse environment, enabling our people to thrive. We are involved in a wide range of activities including setting and implementing our people strategy, resourcing, talent and career management, reward strategy, engagement initiatives including supporting the performance development process, policy and procedures setting and the practical application of these across the business, and people projects to support the firm.

The Lateral Partner Recruitment ("LPR") team sits as part of the broader HR function. Comprising the global head of talent acquisition, a senior manager, an advisor and executive assistant, the LPR team works closely with the talent acquisition team (responsible for all associate and business services recruitment), our wider HR colleagues (including HR operations, reward, talent development, and responsible business), and key stakeholders/Partners across the firm.

Main Responsibilities

• Talent acquisition and recruitment: Working closely with the global head of talent acquisition to set and deliver the firm’s LPR strategy across all locations.
• Ownership and successful delivery of a variety of LPR mandates across a range of practice areas and geographies, as well as supporting the global head of talent acquisition on the delivery of more complex, confidential mandates.
• Leading end-to-end recruitment processes, including the proactive direct sourcing of candidates, as well as the use of agencies.
• Operating with a high degree of autonomy, balanced with excellent organisation and communication skills, ensuring a consistent, cohesive output from the team.
• Providing expert guidance to both candidates/agencies and internal stakeholders regarding the recruitment process itself, to include best practice interviews, completion of documentation, offer approval/management and onboarding.
• Confidently creating credible and compelling documentation (to include but not limited to CV/short list summaries, LPQs, business cases, strategy recommendations, reports and policies), in conjunction with senior stakeholders, to support smooth recruitment processes.
• Delivering an excellent standard of recruitment "client service" to the firm, demonstrating in-depth understanding of the firm’s practice areas, sectors and business.
• Acting as a strategic and operational partner to senior stakeholders, able to influence senior management in relation to recruitment strategy.
• Both individually and through LPR/TA colleagues, support in positioning the LPR/TA function as a proactive, strategic service.
• Confidently articulate the firm’s proposition to prospective targets, candidates and external partners, helping to position the firm as a partnership/employer of choice.
• Delivering a high touch, high quality candidate experience.
• Consistently developing own specialist expertise (and that of others in the team), particularly around market trends, developments in LPR/TA, and the broader legal landscape, to drive best practice.
• Providing accurate, comprehensive research to support direct sourcing methods, to include market maps, short list recommendations, and guidance on the most appropriate methods of lateral candidate attraction.
• Championing and role modelling our employer brand throughout the firm internally, as well as to the external market.
• Supporting the firm’s diversity goals through widening searches, partnering with expert external organisations, and ensuring the recruitment process is inclusive to all.
• Promoting and supporting the use of the applicant tracking system/recruitment system, answering day to day queries and facilitating any necessary training.
• Assisting with any recruitment related projects or events, taking the lead where appropriate.
• Ad hoc international travel, where required.

Team management (where applicable):

• Taking ownership for managing the global LPR team, delivering a professional, best in class service, in accordance with the overall strategy of the firm and the recruitment budget.
• Deputising for the global head of talent acquisition from time to time and as appropriate.
• Role modelling and driving high performance within the LPR team, to include the delivery of excellent client and candidate service, acting as a senior member of the wider HR team.
• Motivating, mentoring, coaching and providing leadership to any direct reports, setting and reviewing performance objectives on a regular basis.
• Proactively work to upskill more junior colleagues, through support, coaching and effective delegation.
• Setting clear expectations and monitoring outputs to ensure success.
• Sharing knowledge and developing appropriate training for the LPR team (and, where relevant, the broader TA team) to embed a proactive, business partnering approach.
• Line management responsibility/volume to be discussed.
• Building and maintaining strong and trusted relationships across the wider HR, D&I and TD teams globally.

Most of our roles are hybrid, meaning that colleagues benefit from working in our office and remotely. We are happy to discuss this and other flexible working arrangements with you as part of the application and interview process.

Qualifications

• Previous senior recruitment/talent acquisition experience at a senior level within a law firm or professional services sector is essential.
• Extensive experience of lateral partner recruitment, to include direct sourcing and agency introductions, is essential.
• This role requires a mix of both.
• People management experience, delivered in a fair and proactive manner.
• A service oriented and commercially focused approach, supported by strong communication and presentation skills.
• Strong organisational and project management skills, with excellent attention to detail.
• High credibility and ability to influence at all levels but particularly with senior stakeholders.
• Resilient and pragmatic, with the ability to respond quickly to requests, manage time and stakeholders effectively, and to work and stay calm under pressure.
• Results-focused with a positive "can do" attitude.
• Analytical with strong ability to create, manipulate and interpret management information and data.
• Experience of identifying and delivering process and service improvement.
• Have an in-depth knowledge of current TA trends and up to date legislation.

What We Offer

We will offer you a place where you can be yourself and where there are no limits on what you can achieve. With us, you can take ownership of your career and have honest conversations throughout. You will join an ambitious firm with a clear strategy for profitable growth where you can gain early responsibility and early involvement in growing the business. Here you can expect a competitive and fair reward as well as recognition based on all round performance. This forms part of our internal promise to you, The Deal, between the firm and its employees.