The Senior Emerging Talent Manager (Graduates) plays a pivotal role in shaping and executing the firm's long-term strategy for the attraction, acquisition, and development of graduate trainee solicitors across the UK and internationally. Operating at a strategic and senior level, you will drive the vision for emerging talent, ensuring the firm is positioned as an employer of choice with the most robust, client-focused graduate talent pipeline in the legal sector. You will work closely with the Head of Emerging Talent and senior leadership to ensure all programmes and initiatives deliver tangible value to the firm and its clients.Key Responsibilities Strategic Leadership: Set and deliver the overarching Emerging Talent strategy in alignment with firm-wide and client objectives, anticipating future talent needs and market trends to maintain a competitive advantage. Brand and Market Presence: Lead the conceptualisation and execution of innovative marketing and brand campaigns, ensuring the firm achieves exceptional visibility and appeal across universities, legal media, and digital platforms. Position the firm as a market leader in graduate talent acquisition, with a clear focus on client requirements and quality of hire. Client-Centric Programme Development: Collaborate with client relationship teams and key stakeholders to understand client business needs, ensuring all graduate initiatives are designed to deliver superior value and client satisfaction. Oversee all secondments to clients and non-UK offices, ensuring seamless experiences aligned with client expectations. Selection and Assessment: Champion rigorous, data-driven selection processes that are fair, consistent, and designed to identify candidates with both technical excellence and client-centric mindsets. Continuously review and refine assessment methodologies to ensure alignment with evolving client and business needs. Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Management: Lead and nurture strategic relationships with academic institutions, industry bodies, client representatives, and internal senior stakeholders. Represent the firm externally to enhance its reputation as a top destination for emerging legal talent. Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB): Partner with Responsible Business and DEIB teams to deliver innovative and impactful diversity initiatives, ensuring the graduate talent pipeline reflects the diversity of the clients and communities served by the firm. Innovation and Continuous Improvement: Identify and implement best practices in graduate recruitment, professional skills development, and HR innovation. Leverage market intelligence to inform future strategy and ensure the continued evolution and excellence of the CMS Academy and related programmes. Programme Delivery and Performance: Oversee the delivery of all aspects of the graduate talent lifecycle, from early attraction and pre-joining engagement to the qualification and ongoing development of future solicitors. Deliver a best-in-class induction and ongoing professional skills training that supports both the firm's and clients' expectations. Data-Driven Strategy: Utilise analytics and market research to inform strategic decisions, measure programme impact, and provide insights to senior leadership and clients, reinforcing the value delivered by emerging talent initiatives. Team Leadership: Lead, coach, and develop emerging talent team members, fostering a culture of high performance, collaboration, and innovation. Ad-hoc Strategic Projects: Own and deliver high-impact projects to advance the broader strategic direction of the Talent Acquisition function, ensuring alignment with business growth and client priorities.About You Extensive experience in senior emerging talent or graduate recruitment roles within leading professional services or legal environments. Proven ability to design and deliver talent strategies that are informed by commercial and client needs; demonstrable impact on business and client outcomes. Exceptional strategic thinking, with a passion for innovation and continuous improvement. Strong commercial acumen, negotiation skills, and the ability to manage complex, multi-stakeholder projects. In-depth knowledge of solicitor qualification pathways in the UK and internationally, and a strong understanding of market trends in legal education and recruitment. Outstanding communication and influencing skills, with the gravitas to operate effectively with senior internal and client stakeholders. Exceptional networker, able to build enduring relationships internally and externally to enhance the firm's reputation and client value proposition. Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, with a track record of delivering impactful DEIB initiatives. Analytical mindset, with experience using data to drive talent strategy and evidence ROI to clients and leadership. Resilient, adaptable, and results-oriented, with a collaborative leadership style and a commitment to the firm's values.Qualifications Bachelor's degree (or equivalent experience) essential; postgraduate qualifications in HR, Talent Management, or related fields highly desirable.* Continuous professional development in emerging talent, HR, or legal education is highly valued.This is an exciting opportunity for a visionary and client-focused leader to define the future of graduate talent in a dynamic, market-leading firm, ensuring both the firm and its clients benefit from the very best emerging legal talent worldwide.
