Recruitment Adviser

We are recruiting a Recruitment Adviser to join our Human Resources department.

The Recruitment team sits within the wider Human Resources department and comprises a Senior Recruitment Manager, a Senior Recruitment Adviser, two Recruitment Advisers and a Recruitment Assistant. The Recruitment team are responsible for recruiting all new hires across the fee‑earning and business services groups, except for trainee associates, on a permanent, contract and temporary basis. This position will focus on recruiting for some of our fee‑earning groups and all paralegal roles across the firm.

Key responsibilities include:

• being a trusted adviser to hiring partners;
• building an understanding of the firm, key practice groups and what they look for;
• scoping out a resourcing plan to meet the hiring needs of the practice, in line with the firm’s objectives;
• proactively responding to business needs with speed and accuracy, seeking ideas and solutions;
• developing an understanding of the external market and using this knowledge to advise where appropriate;
• developing relationships with recruitment agencies, instructing on vacancies and encouraging a diverse shortlist of candidates;
• engaging in direct sourcing, mapping the market and headhunting;
• creating and updating job descriptions;
• creating suitable interview exercises where appropriate;
• conducting initial telephone interviews with direct applicants and maintaining contact with them throughout the recruitment process;
• attending interviews where required;
• managing the offer process including advising on salaries and seeking internal approval;
• ensuring a positive candidate experience throughout;
• providing timely updates to all stakeholders and managing expectations;
• supporting recruitment team members during busy periods;
• maintaining up to date knowledge of current and relevant employment legislation.

This job description encompasses the main duties of the role and is by no means exhaustive. It is anticipated that duties may vary from time to time according to the needs of the department.

The candidate

We are seeking an experienced professional with a minimum of two years' experience as either a recruitment consultant, preferably within a legal recruitment agency, or an in‑house recruitment adviser, with a strong preference for candidates who have recruited for legal or professional services roles. In addition, the ideal candidate will meet the following criteria:

• enjoy working in a fast‑paced environment;
• have the ability to prioritise and execute multiple tasks in an efficient manner;
• be credible and confident when providing advice;
• have experience of direct sourcing;
• be a good communicator, with experience of building strong relationships with all stakeholders;
• willing to take on responsibility;
• instil confidence in stakeholders;
• resilient and calm whilst working under pressure;
• and accurate.

In addition, they will have an inquisitive mind, be eager to learn and committed to meeting the needs of the business.

Our commitment to inclusion

Inclusion is one of our key priorities and it is a goal we are actively working towards. We believe that an inclusive, forward‑thinking culture is intrinsically important and enables us to provide innovative solutions to our clients. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, bringing different perspectives and experiences, making Macfarlanes an exciting and stimulating place to work. We seek to recruit the best candidates, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, social or economic background, religion, disability, sexual orientation or any other characteristic.

As part of this commitment, we will ask you certain diversity data questions. We would really appreciate you and/or your recruiter completing these questions when submitting an application to Macfarlanes as this data enables us to measure our progress and identify any actions needed to continue to support an inclusive culture. This data is anonymised to maintain the privacy of applicants. If you have any questions relating to how this data is used, please contact a member of the recruitment team.

Should you require any adjustments during the application and/or interview process, please do not hesitate to inform your recruiter or a member of the recruitment team. Please note, the job description is available in other accessible formats (for example, large print). We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who best meet the essential criteria for the role. If you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme, please email the recruitment team at recruitment@macfarlanes.com.