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Why join us?
This is an exciting opportunity to lead a well-established Early Careers function and play a key role in shaping future talent across the business. You'll combine operational leadership with strategic influence, helping to drive the continued evolution of our trainee and apprenticeship programmes, including the transition to the SQE qualification route.
Hybrid working: 2 days per week in the office, with flexibility to work remotely for the remainder of the week.
Responsibilities
As Early Careers Manager, you will lead the Early Careers team and oversee the successful delivery of trainee, apprentice and study programmes from attraction and recruitment through to qualification. You'll ensure a positive experience for candidates and stakeholders, manage programme performance, maintain MI reporting, and provide leadership and development to the team.
Working closely with senior stakeholders across the business, you'll support workforce planning, manage relationships with training providers, oversee vacation schemes, assessment centres and client secondments, and ensure programmes remain aligned to future business needs. You'll also play a key role in strategic projects, including the continued transition to the SQE pathway, while managing budgets, monitoring apprenticeship levy spend, and driving process improvements that enhance efficiency and return on investment.
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What will help you succeed in this role?
Essential
- Significant experience in graduate recruitment, early careers or apprenticeship programmes, ideally within a professional services environment.
- Proven experience managing, developing and motivating a high-performing team.
- Stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence and build relationships at all levels, including senior leaders.
- Experience managing candidate attraction, assessment and recruitment campaigns, including high-volume applicant volumes.
- Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to balance multiple priorities and deliver both operational and strategic objectives.
- Proven experience leading projects, driving process improvements and managing change.
Desirable
- Experience managing trainee solicitor or legal apprenticeship programmes.
- Knowledge of the SQE route to qualification and broader legal education pathways.
- Experience managing budgets and monitoring apprenticeship levy spend.
- Experience working with external training providers, universities or professional qualification bodies.
- Confident presenter with experience delivering training, workshops or stakeholder briefings.
- Experience using applicant tracking systems and recruitment technology to improve processes and candidate experience.
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What we offer?
We are committed to ensuring that each member of our team feels valued and duly rewarded during their time at DWF.
We are an equal opportunities employer that celebrates diversity and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all. We aim to create a positive experience for all candidates and offer any adjustments or additional support needed. If you're excited about the opportunity but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with all the requirements, please apply anyway. You may be the right candidate for the role or others across the wider team.
About Us
DWF is a leading global provider of integrated legal and business services. We empower people to be themselves within an inclusive and supportive environment, enabling everyone to achieve their full potential in line with their abilities and career aspirations.
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