Early Careers Development Manager
hace 21 horas
London
Are you ready to make your mark as part of our Early Careers Team? Then you’ve come to the right place. At White & Case, we’ll support you, give you responsibility and welcome you as an integral member of our global team from day one. The Early Careers Development Manager will manage the Early Careers development function for the London office, reporting to the Early Careers Recruitment & Development Senior Manager, EMEA. The Early Careers Development team members consist of an Early Careers Development Specialist and an Early Careers Development Advisor, as well as an Early Careers Recruitment & Development Assistant who covers both Early Careers Recruitment and Development in London. This role is pivotal in driving the UK early careers development strategy, championing innovation, operational excellence, and a culture of continuous improvement, while providing leadership and strategic partnership across all aspects of Early Careers management. Key Responsibilities Trainee Learning & Development • Drive the strategic direction of trainee and solicitor apprentice learning and development, championing a culture that embraces innovation and continuous enhancement. Ensure the London trainee and solicitor apprentice programmes consistently deliver a distinctive and exceptional experience that continues to set the Firm apart., • Partner closely with learning and development colleagues to create and refine a robust training curriculum, with a focus on equipping individuals with the qualities and capabilities needed to thrive as a successful lawyer in a dynamic and evolving legal landscape., • Support individual learning needs by identifying the various learning styles and requirements of trainees and solicitor apprentices. Provide tailored resources and guidance to help maximise their development., • Oversee and evaluate the Lunch & Learn programme, using feedback for enhancement. Talent Management & Performance • Take ownership of all early careers employee relation matters and cultivate an environment where they feel empowered, supported and motivated to achieve excellence., • Oversee seat rotation and qualification processes, aligning individual aspirations with the Firm’s strategic objectives., • Build collaborative relationships with trainee partners and supervisors, contributing to headcount planning and performance discussions., • Lead the continuous improvement of the evaluation processes by setting high standards, recognising achievement, and driving ongoing excellence., • Analyse performance trends and deliver actionable insights to the business, partnering closely with the London Early Careers Recruitment team to inform talent strategies and workforce planning., • Monitor SQE pass rates, adjust policies as required, and oversee monthly utilisation reporting. Business Partnering & Collaboration • Maintain a strong relationship with the Firm’s Training Principal, providing regular updates on trainee and apprentice development., • Cultivate and maintain relationships with trainee partners and liaise on relevant trainee topics., • Co-chair quarterly trainee partner meetings., • Work closely with the London People Advisory team and General Counsel to ensure a consistent, compliant and joined-up approach to Talent Management., • Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including Engagement & Development, to embed holistic support into the trainee and solicitor apprentice experience and promote a culture of inclusivity and resilience., • Work with Global Mobility and overseas HR Managers to ensure the effective implementation of international secondments and relevant projects. Programme & Process Management • Provide oversight and continuously review the Firm’s SQE preparation course, ensuring the Firm meets regulatory standards and it supports the Firm’s long-term talent objectives., • Lead the management of future trainee employee relations, maintaining proactive engagement and monitoring performance throughout the SQE programmes to nurture high-potential talent and address any emerging needs., • Oversee the organisation and management of future trainee events., • Continuously evaluate and enhance the London future trainee offering, ensuring it remains innovative, competitive, and aligned with the evolving needs of both the Firm and the legal market., • Oversee the trainee and solicitor apprentice onboarding process, including the design and delivery of the induction programme, to ensure a seamless and impactful transition for individuals as they begin their careers with the Firm., • Oversee key trainee and solicitor apprentice administration processes, such as payroll and NQ offer paperwork., • Keep the feedback and experience under constant review, feeding back and acting upon any key themes. Projects & Strategic Initiatives • Lead the ongoing evaluation and optimisation of operating models, identifying, and implementing strategic efficiencies to maximise resource and enhance overall team effectiveness., • Work with the Early Careers Recruitment & Development Senior Manager, EMEA and the Early Careers Manager, EMEA to deliver high-impact strategic initiatives that advance and differentiate the Firm’s early careers proposition., • Leverage internal data analytics – including demographic, retention, and performance metrics – to generate actionable insights that help to shape talent strategy and inform long-term workforce planning., • Drive the continuous review and strategic development of trainee and solicitor apprentice policies, ensuring alignment with best practice, regulatory requirements, and the Firm’s evolving business objectives. Team Leadership & Industry Engagement • Manage and develop Early Careers team members, conducting performance reviews and fostering a high-performance environment., • Monitor industry trends and emerging best practices in legal training, proactively recommending and integrating new approaches to ensure the Firm’s trainee and solicitor apprentice programmes remain competitive and forward-thinking., • Liaise with the Solicitors Regulation Authority to ensure the Firm’s regulatory obligations are met, and function as a subject matter expert on SRA regulations, developing and implementing policies that uphold regulatory excellence., • Co-chair trainee quarterly meetings, fostering open communication and engagement across the trainee cohort. Qualifications And Skills • Educated to degree level; CIPD qualification desirable with strong HR knowledge., • Solid experience in graduate recruitment and development, ideally within a professional services environment such as a law firm., • Proficient in developing, managing, and overseeing complex training and development programmes for junior talent., • Skilled in setting objectives, developing long-term strategies, and aligning trainee programmes with firm-wide goals., • Thorough understanding of SRA regulations and legal industry standards., • Able to establish trust and credibility with senior stakeholders and the wider business, influencing decisions and driving strategic initiatives., • Experienced in handling sensitive employee matters, resolving conflicts, and supporting trainee wellbeing and engagement., • Excellent written and verbal communication skills., • Proven ability to lead, mentor, and develop team members, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture., • Skilled in driving continuous improvement, managing change initiatives, and integrating best practice into trainee programmes., • Demonstrates a proactive, energetic, and adaptable mindset, thriving in a fast-paced and evolving environment., • Motivated to champion innovation and continuous enhancement in early careers development., • Professional, diligent, customer and service orientated, positive, proactive, and acts with integrity. What We Offer When you join us, you’ll be working directly with partners, business leaders and many other inspiring colleagues across our global network of offices. We live by our values—to be pioneering, united and human—and we believe that you’ll experience them from your first day. We will give you the support and development opportunities that will help you achieve your potential. We believe that consistent high performance merits reward and support. Our compensation package reflects your calibre as an Early Careers professional, and our benefits are designed to support your changing needs and priorities across different life stages. About White & Case We are a global law firm with longstanding offices in the markets that matter today. Our on-the-ground experience, our cross-border integration, and our depth of local, US and English-qualified lawyers help our clients work with confidence in any one market or across many. Location and Reporting This role is based in London, and reports into the Early Careers Recruitment & Development Senior Manager, EMEA. Our standard office hours are 09:30-18:00, with a current requirement for 3 days in the office per week. Firm Benefits Requirements We offer a flexible range of benefits, services and programmes designed to help support your lifestyle requirements. Some of the benefits currently available include: • Private medical insurance, • Pension plan with matched employer contribution up to 7.5%, • Yearly wellbeing fund, • Income protection, • Life insurance, • Critical Illness insurance, • Private GP services, • Travel insurance, • Dental coverage, • Cycle to work, • Holiday purchase (available during annual enrolment) Equal Opportunity Statement White & Case is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and is committed to creating a fair workplace. It is our Firm’s policy to recruit, employ, train, compensate and promote without regard to race, color, religion, creed, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other category protected by applicable law. If you require assistance and/or adjustment to participate in our application and/or interview process, please email us. We will be happy to work with you. Note to recruitment agencies: Our internal Recruitment team is responsible for all end-to-end lateral recruitment processes. All agencies must sign White & Case terms of business, which are office specific. Candidates submitted by an agency without terms of business agreed with the appropriate office, and/or outside of our online application tracking system, will not be considered a formal introduction. Any applications and CVs sent directly to White & Case Partners and employees will not be accepted as formal introductions. If you have any questions, please contact the London Recruitment team. When engaging with agencies, we are supported by our preferred suppliers.