Early Talent Acquisition Specialist – Fixed Term Contract from January 2027 to March 2028

Company Description

Who we are

We are one of the largest international law firms in the world. With over 30 offices across the globe, we strive to exceed the expectations of our clients, providing them with the highest-quality advice and legal insight, which combines the firm’s global standards with in-depth local expertise. 

Our firm, work and people span jurisdictions, cultures, and languages. We offer our clients a truly international perspective. We believe every career should be rewarding and stimulating – full of opportunities to learn, thrive, and grow. That’s why we’re so proud of our inclusive, friendly, and team-based approach to work. 

Our one firm global strategy is focused on targeted growth led by the needs of our core clients, those who we can best support with the breadth and depth of Clifford Chance expertise, across the sectors and geographies, which matter most to them. 

You’ll find our clients in commercial and industrial sectors, the financial investor community, governments, regulators, trade bodies, and not-for-profit organisations. But no matter who they are or why they’ve reached out to us, we provide a world-class service every step of the way. And that’s possible thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit and conscientious approach to work that you’ll find across all of our teams. 

Whichever area of the business you join, you’ll become an integral part an innovative, diverse and ambitious team of people. Clifford Chance is a place where the brightest minds and the best of colleagues meet. 
 

Job Description

The role

You will be accountable for creating, executing, and managing key elements of our early talent strategy, notably our post-offer cultivation strategy.

Who you will work with

You will report to the Early Talent Acquisition Senior Specialist.

Internally, you will work with the Head of Early Careers, UK & Middle East Markets, the wider Early Talent Acquisition team, the Early Talent Development team, and other business functions including Talent Management and Learning and Development. You will also work with key contacts in our Newcastle office.

Externally, you will work with our agency partners and suppliers.

What you will do

In addition to core Early Talent workstreams, such as event attendance, application screening and assessment days, you will be accountable for:

• Designing and delivering an industry‑leading cultivation strategy. This will include management of the team's pre-boarding technology and embedding a learning curriculum aligned to the firm's global early talent framework of high performance. You will create touchpoints that help future trainees build their firm network, develop core business skills, and engage in learning that enables them to contribute meaningfully from day one.
• Leading the firm’s graduate Social Mobility strategy, driving conversion from ACCESS as programme co‑lead, and overseeing relationships with external partners and the firm’s internal network, RISE.
• Acting as the lead for end of cycle reporting, using data and statistics to track hiring outcomes and identify trends
• Owning campus relationship management for key strategic universities, delivering high‑quality hires and monitoring activity to ensure strong return on investment.
• Managing alumni involvement in Early Talent attraction, including ownership of the bi‑monthly internal alumni survey.
• Tracking the competitive landscape in Early Talent content and applying insights to strengthen our competitive advantage.
• Ensuring that we promote our events and programmes in a targeted and compelling way, across appropriate channels, whilst delivering an application pool that reflects the quality and diversity expected by the firm.

Relationships:

• Providing day-to-day management of our external agency partners – across all channels – with close management of weekly action points, meeting agendas and budget management.
• Ensuring all activities fully support the wider firm brand proposition. Understanding of wider brand purpose and how Early Talent feed into this is essential.

Operational:

• During peak periods of activity in the early talent cycle, playing an active part in the team and assisting with key Early Talent workstreams such as attending and running events, screening applicants, fielding candidate queries, supporting campus activity, and assisting at assessment days. 
• Escalating issues as appropriate.
• Monitoring and reporting on financial expenditure relating to your projects and ensure that the spend remains in budget and is in line with relevant policies.
• Management of additional projects as directed by the Head of Early Careers, UK & Middle East Markets and the Early Talent Acquisition Senior Specialist.
• Regularly reporting on progress of projects to the Early Talent Acquisition Senior Specialist.
   

Qualifications

Your experience

Essential:

• You will have prior experience of designing and delivering high-touch Early Talent post-offer cultivation strategies.
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• You will have proven experience in project management and successfully delivering several projects at any one time.
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• You will be able to demonstrate experience of working with high volumes and at fast pace.
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• You will have strong reporting experience; including analysing and deciphering campaign data and wider insights.
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• You will have experience in determining and optimising return on investment from spend. 
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• You will have proven experience in managing external agencies and suppliers.
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• You will have experience in providing solutions to often complex issues.

Beneficial:

• Experience of the full lifecycle of early talent recruitment.

Skills

• You will be exceptionally organised, and you will have the ability to manage multiple projects effectively and efficiently, ensuring all deadlines are met.
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• You will have an analytical mindset with strong commercial acumen.
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• You will be a self-starter and a quick learner who uses their initiative and influencing skills to manage up, down and across the organisation.
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• You will have an impeccable eye for detail in written work, creative artwork, and campaign collateral.
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• You will have flexible and effective communication skills with proven experience of building and managing relationships with internal stakeholders and external suppliers.
   

Additional Information

How we will support you 

From your first day with us, you will have varied opportunities to continuously grow and development your skills and knowledge. From formal training, informal coaching and mentoring through to skills-based and technical training and on the job learning. 

Hybrid working

This role follows our 'balanced' hybrid working approach and as long as business needs allow, you will be supported to work in a hybrid way in line with the hybrid working policy. 

What we offer including our broad range of benefits and working environment 

When you join Clifford Chance, you will have access to a broad range of benefits to support you across many aspects of your personal and professional life including financial, wellbeing, lifestyle, and family friendly benefits. For more information on what we offer specifically in the UK, please visit our What We Offer page on our career site.  

Equal opportunities

At Clifford Chance, we forge an inclusive culture, where diverse perspectives are recognised and valued. It’s a culture where everyone has equal access to opportunities to thrive and succeed. We are guided by our values-based Code, which sets high standards of conduct and has a principle focused on being inclusive.

We comply with the law and regulations in every location where we operate and we are committed to delivering fair and equal access to all applicants and employees irrespective of background. This applies across all aspects of employment from recruitment and selection to development, progression, and day-to-day working life.  

Our global network of affinity, faith and support groups are open to all. These communities help to create an environment where everyone at the firm can feel they belong and can reach their full potential.

Find out more about our inclusive culture here