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- Tasks: Lead and innovate Early Careers recruitment and program management across EMEA.
- Company: Join SMBC, a global leader in finance with a commitment to early talent development.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional growth opportunities, and a dynamic work environment.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Shape the future of talent acquisition and make a real impact on young professionals' careers.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in early careers programs, strong leadership, and strategic thinking skills.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
SMBC has an exciting opportunity for a Head of Early Careers & Program Management, EMEA. This strategic role encompasses responsibility for both the sourcing, attraction and recruitment of all Early Career hires as well managing the end-to-end life cycle of the Analyst Programs. This role leads the regional team of Early Career recruiters and program managers while also being responsible for developing the attraction and engagement strategy and maintaining university relationships to build SMBC’s brand in the region and globally as the Employer of Choice. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to support ongoing Global Early Careers change management and lead regional project deliverables. This role will report to the Global Head of Early Careers & Program Management and matrix locally into a regional line.
Strategic Leadership & Governance
- Lead the development and implementation of the regional Early Careers strategy aligned to the Global Early Careers and Program Management framework.
- Set strategic direction for attraction, assessment, development and program management across EMEA, ensuring global consistency while tailoring to regional needs.
- Act as the senior Early Careers advisor to EMEA business leaders, providing market intelligence, future talent insights, and strategic recommendations.
Team Leadership & Capability Building
- Lead, coach and develop the regional Early Careers team (Recruiters and Program Managers), ensuring clarity of responsibilities, high performance and continuous professional development.
- Drive a culture of innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement within the Early Careers team.
Attraction & Recruitment
- Define regional attraction and sourcing strategies, including university partnerships, diversity outreach, branding, early identification programs and assessment practices.
- Oversee execution by regional Recruiters; ensure alignment to global brand, marketing guidelines and diversity goals.
Program Management
- Provide strategic oversight of Analyst and Internship Programs, ensuring they deliver consistent, high-quality development experiences aligned with global design principles.
- Partner with Learning & Development and the Global Head to enhance program design, development pathways and assessment methodology.
- Monitor program effectiveness, ROI, retention metrics and business feedback to refine strategy and gain continued business sponsorship.
Stakeholder Partnership & Influence
- Establish and maintain strong partnerships with senior business leaders, HR Partners and global Early Career leaders to embed Early Careers into workforce planning and talent strategy.
- Present regional updates, program data, recruitment insights and strategic recommendations to global leadership and business sponsors.
Global Collaboration & Project Leadership
- Collaborate with Regional Heads to ensure global consistency of Global Program Management, including employer branding, assessment, program framework and internship conversion.
- Lead project delivery of global initiatives as required (example: global recruitment framework / university relations strategic framework / global programs framework).
- Lead POC for a global business (example S&T, IB, Infrastructure etc).
Key requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree with ideally 10+ years of experience in leading and developing Early Career programs.
- Proven experience in early careers recruitment, including interns and graduates, across undergraduate and MBA levels.
- Strong people management and stakeholder management skills including the ability to operate effectively within a matrix structure across all levels, internally and externally.
- Creative thinker with experience designing and implementing attraction and assessment strategies aligned with business goals.
- A regional leader and a change agent with an agile approach who has an ability to operate across regional lines, drive consensus and influence outcomes.
- Results oriented professional who drives outcomes to successful conclusion in a timely manner.
- Able to build trust, be credible and ‘hold their own’ at different levels, within and outside the organization.
- Consultative style along with the determination and patience to achieve results.
- Constructively critical with the desire to drive continuous improvement.
- Excellent project management skills.
- Coaching and facilitation skills.
- Strong understanding of diversity and inclusion principles and ability to integrate them into recruitment strategies.
- Willingness to travel as required and a solid understanding of the current recruitment landscape.
Head of Early Careers & Program Management, EMEA in London employer: SMBC Group
Contact Detail:
SMBC Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Early Careers & Program Management, EMEA in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. The more connections we make, the better our chances of landing that dream job.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. We should know what makes SMBC tick and how we can contribute to their Early Careers strategy. Tailor our answers to show how our skills align with their goals.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! We can do mock interviews with friends or use online resources to get comfortable with common questions. The more we practice, the more confident we’ll feel when it’s time to shine.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in showing our enthusiasm for the role. Let’s remind them why we’re the perfect fit for the Head of Early Careers & Program Management position.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Early Careers & Program Management, EMEA in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Head of Early Careers & Program Management role. Highlight your experience in early careers recruitment and program management, and don’t forget to showcase any strategic leadership roles you've held.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re passionate about early careers and how your background aligns with our goals at SMBC. Be sure to mention any innovative strategies you've implemented in previous roles.
Showcase Your People Skills: This role is all about team leadership and stakeholder management. In your application, share examples of how you've successfully led teams or influenced stakeholders in the past. We want to see your consultative style in action!
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining the SMBC family!
How to prepare for a job interview at SMBC Group
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into SMBC's Early Careers strategy and understand their current initiatives. Familiarise yourself with their values and how they align with your experience in early careers recruitment and program management.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Be ready to discuss your experience in leading teams and driving change. Prepare specific examples of how you've developed early career programmes or improved recruitment strategies, highlighting your ability to coach and inspire others.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Think about how you’ve built relationships with senior leaders and HR partners in the past. Be prepared to share stories that demonstrate your consultative style and how you’ve influenced outcomes through collaboration.
✨Emphasise Diversity and Inclusion
Given the importance of diversity in recruitment, come equipped with ideas on how to integrate D&I principles into early career strategies. Discuss any past initiatives you've led that focused on enhancing diversity within recruitment processes.