Talent Acquisition and Early Careers Manager – Fixed Term

Role Overview

• Lead and deliver end‑to‑end recruitment activity across legal and business services roles, ensuring a consistent, fair and high‑quality candidate experience.
• Partner with Practice Group Heads, People Business Partners and business services leaders to understand hiring needs and support proactive workforce planning during the fixed term period.
• Maintain and continuously improve recruitment processes, ensuring they are inclusive, efficient, digitally enabled and aligned with Stone King’s values and regulatory obligations.
• Manage relationships with recruitment agencies, monitoring performance and ensuring value for money.
• Ensure hiring managers are appropriately supported and equipped to recruit fairly and effectively, including interview practice and decision‑making.
• Use recruitment data and insights to identify trends, risks and opportunities, working closely with the People Data & Insights function.
• Lead the delivery of Stone King’s trainee solicitor programme, including attraction, assessment, seat planning, supervision and qualification processes.
• Manage apprenticeships, work experience and other early careers pathways, ensuring alignment with the firm’s commitment to social mobility and responsible business.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with universities, law schools, apprenticeship providers and diversity‑focused organisations.
• Work collaboratively with Learning & Development to support development pathways for trainees and apprentices.
• Ensure compliance with SRA requirements relating to trainee solicitors and qualifying work experience.
• Maintain and enhance Stone King’s employer brand and value proposition, ensuring it reflects the firm’s purpose, values and inclusion commitments.
• Ensure all candidates, whether successful or unsuccessful, receive a respectful, professional and positive experience.
• Oversee the creation and use of recruitment materials and outreach activity that support attraction objectives and brand consistency.
• Line manage and support the Talent Acquisition & Early Careers Adviser, providing clear direction, development and workload support.
• Work collaboratively across the People Team, including People Business Partners, People Operations & Reward and Learning & Development, to ensure seamless recruitment and onboarding transitions.
• Contribute to wider People Team initiatives and projects where appropriate during the fixed term period.
• Role model Stone King’s values and promote a positive, inclusive and respectful working environment.

Requirements

• Strong knowledge of recruitment best practice, talent acquisition processes and early careers pathways.
• Experience delivering end‑to‑end recruitment activity within a complex or professional services environment.
• Understanding of attraction strategies, assessment methods and inclusive selection practices.
• Knowledge of UK employment law as it relates to recruitment and selection.
• Experience managing trainee solicitor programmes, apprenticeships or comparable structured early careers pathways.
• Experience partnering with senior stakeholders on hiring and workforce planning decisions.
• Ability to manage multiple recruitment processes and priorities with a high degree of organisation and autonomy.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the credibility to advise and influence partners and senior leaders.
• Confident use of recruitment systems, HR systems and Microsoft 365 tools.
• Analytical capability, using data to inform decisions and improve outcomes.
• Experience within a law firm or regulated sector, including familiarity with SRA requirements.
• Understanding of diversity, equity and inclusion best practice in recruitment.
• Experience in employer branding and talent marketing.
• CIPD qualification (Level 5 or above) or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience using applicant tracking systems and digital recruitment tools.
• Experience delivering recruitment campaigns, assessment centres or large‑scale hiring activity.
• Familiarity with structured or psychometric assessment tools.
• Clear, engaging and professional communication skills, both written and verbal.
• A collaborative approach, working effectively with colleagues across the firm.
• Sound judgement, discretion and integrity when handling sensitive information.
• A solutions‑focused and pragmatic mindset, adapting effectively to change.
• A strong commitment to inclusive, fair and values‑led recruitment practices.
• Confidence representing the firm externally at careers events, universities or outreach activities.
• Enthusiasm for continuous improvement and digital innovation in recruitment.

Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Profit Share Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Private Medical Insurance
• Life assurance (4 x salary)
• Pension scheme
• 31 days holiday (in addition to statutory UK holidays)
• Additional day allocated for CSR activities per annum