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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: Be part of a collaborative team driving change and fostering diversity in the workplace.
- Why this job: Shape the future of talent acquisition and make a real impact on young professionals' careers.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in early careers recruitment and strong leadership skills required.
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.
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).
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 Slough 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 Slough
✨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 to reach 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 we’re the perfect fit for their team!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! We can do mock interviews with friends or mentors to get comfortable with common questions. The more we practice, the more confident we’ll feel when it’s time to shine in front of the real interviewers.
✨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 best choice 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 Slough
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 creative strategies you've implemented in the past.
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 relevant partnerships or initiatives you've led.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: We want to see your leadership style! In your application, share examples of how you've developed teams and driven results. Highlight any experiences where you've influenced stakeholders or managed projects successfully.
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. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at SMBC Group
✨Know the Role Inside Out
Before your interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the job description. Familiarise yourself with the key responsibilities and requirements, especially around early careers recruitment and program management. This will help you tailor your answers to show how your experience aligns perfectly with what they’re looking for.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Head of Early Careers, you'll need to demonstrate strong leadership capabilities. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've successfully led teams or projects. Highlight your ability to coach and develop others, as well as how you've driven innovation and collaboration within your teams.
✨Prepare for Strategic Discussions
Expect questions about your strategic vision for early careers programs. Think about how you would approach developing attraction strategies and maintaining university relationships. Be ready to discuss how you would align regional needs with global goals, showcasing your understanding of both local and international recruitment landscapes.
✨Emphasise Diversity and Inclusion
Diversity and inclusion are crucial in recruitment today. Be prepared to discuss how you’ve integrated these principles into your previous roles. Share specific strategies you've implemented to enhance diversity in early career hiring, and be ready to suggest new ideas that could benefit the company’s recruitment efforts.