Early Careers Recruitment Manager – 12 month FTC

The Opportunity

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 & key messaging in relation to Graduate & Solicitor Apprenticeship Recruitment, highlighting opportunities for improvements and innovation.
• Develop new initiatives to enhance Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer pipeline of high calibre talent and attract target students.
• Coordinate and deliver annual update to the firm, alongside the Head of Recruitment and EC Partners.
• As our UK graduate cohort deliver resource to our global network, work with stakeholders in the business and HR, collaborate around the globe to determine requirements and align practices where possible.

Employee Value Proposition (EVP) and Marketing & Events

• Responsible for ensuring consistent communication of the firm’s key selling messages through the firm’s 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 & Head of Recruitment.
• Management of 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 (October to December) and during the High Fliers campaign in January/ February.
• Ensure marketing activities are considered through a sustainable lens to uphold the firm’s commitment to sustainable recruitment.
• Annually review marketing activities and feedback from candidates with external vendors such as Cibyl or Highfliers.
• Oversee annual campaign conducted in line with Highfliers season to improve Times Top 100 ranking.
• Support annual refresh of early careers marketing campaign and media providers working with an external marketing agency.
• Considering how this may be implemented globally.
• Work with practice groups to produce content for our virtual internship programme on Forage.
• Coordinate with international offices to identify target demographics (such as Japanese, Korean and Mandarin speakers) and support attraction activities.

Selection Process

• Review and develop recruitment processes to ensure the firm continues to identify top talent in our applicant pool.
• Ensure that processes are consistent and compliant with legislative requirements.
• Use best practice and market insight to shape inclusive hiring approaches.
• Run Assessment Centres and effectively manage how we are recruiting against our target throughout the year working closely with the HR Data & Analytics team and regular reporting through the ATS (Candid).
• Manage the India recruitment campaign alongside the EC Adviser.
• Brief, train and provide feedback to partner interviewer pool.
• This includes coordinating training to educate interviewers on potential biases which might impact their decisions and working with MyPlus to deliver annual disability training.
• Work with the IP team and key STEM universities to attract STEM candidates in order to meet 20% target.

Diversity and Inclusion

• Work with the Diversity & Inclusion, Responsible Business and Trainee HR teams to set objectives and minimise adverse impact in the recruitment process.
• Active member of the committees for the Multiculturalism, Disability and Social Mobility networks and work closely with the IRIS to set objectives and review recruitment activities from a diversity perspective.
• Partner with external vendors to deliver a diverse cohort of trainee hires and work with Procurement to ensure these partnerships continue to be beneficial to the firm.
• Oversee mentoring programmes with Aspiring Solicitors and partnership with Rare Recruitment on their programmes.
• Manage the annual D&I review including monitoring statistics throughout the cycle; work to pull statistics to present to the partnership; work with Candid and Sova to assess any adverse impact at any points in the recruitment process.
• Review all target universities on an annual basis in conjunction with the HESA data and league rankings.

Vacation schemes

• Manage vacation scheme programme, ensuring they remain effective as a recruitment tool for hiring trainees.
• Ensure candidate experience is best in class.
• Oversee US Securities summer internship recruitment process with EC Adviser.
• Regularly review salaries to ensure we’re in line with the market.

Future Joiners

• Manage our future trainee programme of 120 students and identify new ways to integrate future trainees to the firm.
• Work closely with Trainee HR and L&D to ensure all future joiner events are in line with the trainees’ needs.
• Co‑ordinate with Trainee HR to ensure transparent and consistent communication and effective transition for future joiners joining the firm.
• Manage issues with pre‑employment screening of future joiners and ensure the screening is initiated in a timely manner for each cohort.
• Manage the student grants budget line to ensure all course fees and grants are correctly calculated and paid in a timely manner.
• Key point of contact for BPP law school and ensure students are performing well through PGDL and SQE.
• Dealing with queries from students and providing support throughout their studies.
• Design and deliver SQE induction session for each cohort.
• Regularly review grant payments to ensure we’re in line with the market.
• Be an active member of the SQE advisory group.
• Implement changes to our marketing materials following any changes/updates to the SQE.
• Work with EC and Trainee HR teams of Consortium firms to coordinate SQE programme messaging to future joiners and prospective candidates.

Solicitor Apprenticeships

• Oversee the effective promotion and outreach to school leavers for the Solicitor Apprenticeship programme.
• Oversee the effective application process, including an online test and assessment centres.
• Create keep in warm strategy for candidates between offered and starting at the Firm.

Team Management

• Manage and develop a team comprised: senior adviser, 2 advisers, 3 assistants and 1 admin assistant.
• Ensure team processes are documented, effective and robust.
• Monitor and manage the EC budget.
• Undertake relevant management reporting.
• Manage, motivate, develop and support the EC team.
• Develop and maintain relationships with the global EC teams to share knowledge and best practice.

Qualifications / Skills / Experience

• Excellent academics and a keen intellect.
• Experience of managing the entire early careers recruitment lifecycle.
• Experience with leading firms in the legal or professional services sector would be helpful, but we would welcome experience from other industries.
• Team management experience.
• Well organised, articulate, numerate and commercial.
• Able 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 of best‑practice graduate resourcing strategies.
• Awareness of emerging trends such as AI in early careers recruitment.
• Experience working as part of a global function and of delivering consistency of approach.
• Able 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.
• Collaborates with others: 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 other people in the firm who have mutual interests or work objectives. Generously shares their time, knowledge, expertise and talent to support others’ success.
• Enhances the Client Experience: Creates opportunities to enhance the experience of the firm’s clients through their daily tasks. Behaves consistently with the firm’s values in their interactions with others. Conducts themselves in a way that reflects positively on the firm’s brand, both inside and outside the firm.
• Achieves Results: 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.

Team People 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.