Early Talent Development Specialist – Fixed Term Contract to August 2027

JobsCloseBy Editorial Insights

This fixed-term role at Clifford Chance in London seeks an experienced Early Talent Development professional to partner with the Early Talent Team Lead and key stakeholders to manage the Trainee population across the Training Contract lifecycle, including recruitment, cohort leadership for around 150 trainees, secondments, development and training, and supplier management. Bring solid HR experience in early talent or HR business partnering, with a proven ability to influence senior stakeholders, manage complex programs, and coach Trainees. Knowledge of partnership culture and inclusion goals is valuable. To apply, tailor your CV with measurable results, highlight CIPD or coaching credentials, and show how you have collaborated with senior leaders and providers while upholding confidentiality and client service.

Company Description

Who we are

As a global law firm our work spans jurisdictions, cultures, and languages – and so do our people.

Our culture is collaborative and inclusive, where diverse perspectives are recognised and valued. Where performing to your highest ability, unlocks equal access to opportunities to learn, thrive and grow. 

We combine deep legal expertise and commercial intelligence to grow, transform, protect, and defend our clients' businesses, across every critical moment.

We operate in the sectors and regions that matter to our clients. With forward-thinking insights and innovative, tech-enabled solutions that combine deep knowledge of their sectors and markets.

You’ll build connections and work with colleagues as one global team. You’ll unlock opportunities for clients, across borders, cultures, legal and commercial disciplines.

Join us to work with colleagues as one global team – empowering each other to be exceptional and create advantage for our clients.
 

Job Description

The ideal start date for this role is August 2026.

The role

You will work closely with the Early Talent Development Team Lead to provide best-in-class service delivery to Trainees and key stakeholders throughout the entire lifecycle of the Training Contract.

Who you will work with

As well as the Early Talent Development Team Lead, you will work closely with the Head of Early Careers, and a range of stakeholders throughout the firm such as Partners, the wider HR Business Partnering team and the Early Talent Partner sponsors. You will also manage key supplier relationships.

What you will be responsible for

You will manage a range of HR related people activities on a day-to-day basis, with regard to the firm's Trainee Lawyer population.

Responsibilities

Duties to include but not exclusive to:

Recruitment and Resourcing

• Works closely with the Trainee Partners, Resource Managers and HR Business Partnering team to identify Trainee resource needs.
• Monitors Trainee utilisation levels to assist in Trainee resource allocation.

Cohort Lead

• Provides support and is the primary contact for SQE and allocated Trainee cohorts (typically 150 future and current trainees).
• Undertakes career development meetings with Trainees within allocated cohorts to discuss and advise on performance, development, seat and qualification preferences.
• Leads the qualification process, liaising with Trainee Partners, HRBPs and Trainees.

Secondments

• Works closely with Partners, the HRBPs and the Global Mobility team, to ensure client and international secondments are processed in accordance with policy and the relevant support and guidance is provided to the Trainee.

Development and Training

• Leads pre-training contract presentations.
• Liaises with Education Managers in relation to practice area induction and group training.
• Manages (and delivers on an ad hoc basis as required) supervisor training interventions and resources.
• Works with the Academy team to drive relevant learning and development initiatives for Trainees.
• Provides development and coaching support (or facilitates coaching) to ensure Trainees are achieving their full potential.

Projects

• Maintains awareness of specific product area and firm-wide business strategies including financial and business development goals and subsequent ongoing performance against this strategy.
• Supports, and where appropriate, leads the development and implementation of early talent projects, such as the Trainee Learning Curriculum.

Supplier Management

• Supports the relationship with the chosen education provider.
• Manages key supplier relationships, including contract and service renewal and delivery of key projects.

Inclusion and Diversity

• Works with Partners and HR teams on specific goals and specific initiatives to increase inclusion and the retention and promotion of underrepresented groups and ensure equality for all.

Employee Relations

• Works closely with the Employee Relations team and the HRBPs and advises on any employee relations issues arising (including but not limited to grievance, disciplinary, and sickness absence cases).
• Ensures the communication and implementation of employee relations policies in practice areas e.g. absence management, disciplinary and dispute resolution.
• Undertakes face to face exit interviews with leavers, end of training contract surveys and other feedback gathering as required and provides feedback and guidance to the relevant Partners and business leaders on our current employment proposition and practices.
• Is recognised as a trusted advisor to the business.
   

Qualifications

Your experience

• You will have relevant experience working in HR, ideally as an Early Talent Development specialist or HR Business Partner.
• You will have proven experience managing early talent programs, including development and performance management processes.
• You will have experience building strong relationships with senior stakeholders and acting as a trusted advisor on talent-related issues.
• You will have gained experience from a large and complex organisation (legal or professional services), and you will have a good understanding of a Partnership Culture.

Skills:

• Strong intellectual and analytical skills with the flexibility to manage detail as well as think conceptually and creatively.
• Flexible and effective communications skills.  An ability to influence and form good relationships at all levels across an organisation. An ability to present and engage with audiences of different sizes and levels of seniority with confidence.
• The ability to cope with a varied and busy workload and a good attention to detail.
• A high level of confidentiality and the ability to deal with conflict situations and handle a variety of potentially sensitive issues.
• Commercial awareness and a reputation for excellent client service.
• A collaborative working style.

Knowledge:

• Broad knowledge of HR best practice.
• Employee relations expertise would be an advantage.

Qualifications:

• Ideally, you will have formal HR qualifications or equivalent experience e.g. CIPD, coaching, mediation.
   

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 understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families, our firm and society.

We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, or age.  This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment including pay, promotion, training, transfer and every other aspect of employment.

We have a variety of flourishing employee networks. These networks are a place for colleagues to share experiences and advocate for change wherever they see an opportunity for improvement.

Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our firm. 

Find out more about our inclusive culture here.