Talent Acquisition Adviser

We will offer you a place where you can be yourself and where there are no limits on what you can achieve. With us, you can take ownership of your career and have honest conversations throughout. You would join an ambitious firm with a clear strategy for profitable growth where you can get early responsibility and early involvement in growing the business. Here you can expect a competitive and fair reward as well as recognition based on all round performance. This forms part of our internal promise to you, The Deal, between the firm and its employees.

You can expect:

• A competitive salary and a host of family friendly policies
• Life assurance, private health and dental care for you and your family
• A range of flexible benefits including gym discount and retail vouchers 
• Tech, cycle and electric car schemes 
• The opportunity to support the firm's charity through volunteering leave
• A wellbeing strategy that focuses on preventative measures to maintain overall health, and tools and support for when our people experience physical or mental difficulties. The strategy focuses on four pillars: physical, emotional, financial and social aspects.

• The HR and Talent Development function comprises c45 people globally and is responsible for the effective management of all matters concerning the attraction, recruitment, engagement, retention, development and progression of our people. This involves guiding and supporting partners, managers, and all employees alike, as well as supporting the creation of an inclusive and diverse environment, enabling our people to thrive. We are involved in a wide range of activities including: Setting and implementing our people strategy.
• Resourcing, talent and career management.
• Reward (financial and non-financial) strategy.
• Engagement initiatives including supporting the performance development process.
• Policy, procedures setting and the practical application of these across the business.
• People projects to support the firm's strategy.

Role overview

Working as part of the London-based Talent Acquisition team, you will be responsible for managing the end-to-end recruitment process across a variety of fee earner and business services vacancies, both in the UK and internationally.

You will be comfortable finding the best talent for our firm in a variety of ways, including various direct sourcing methodologies and through partnerships with agencies. You will build positive, proactive relationships with colleagues, whether peers, stakeholders, and everyone in between, delivering a high quality client and candidate service.

Talent acquisition and recruitment

• Managing the end-to-end recruitment process for designated vacancies across the firm's global offices with an emphasis on the proactive direct sourcing of candidates.
• Providing accurate, comprehensive research to support direct sourcing methods, to include market maps, short list recommendations, and guidance on the most appropriate methods of candidate attraction.
• Drafting of job descriptions, screening applications, direct sourcing of candidates, following up with candidates or agencies, recommending shortlists, conducting phone interviews and face to face interviews when appropriate, keeping relevant stakeholders up to date, gathering and monitoring feedback, agreeing offers with partners and line managers as well as seeking approval for these where necessary
• Champion and increase the extent to which the firm recruits via direct hiring methods, including the use of social media and direct online advertising and researching potential candidates. Deliver a minimum of 50% of all firm hires through direct sourcing methodologies.
• Assist with the promotion of our employer brand throughout the firm internally, as well as to the external market
• Support the firm's diversity goals through widening searches, partnering with expert external organisations, and ensuring the recruitment process is inclusive to all.
• Create and manage a talent bank of candidates, especially for recurrent roles in business services
• Build and maintain strong relationships with agencies to promote the firm, developing, maintaining and managing PSL relationships where appropriate
• Promote and support the use of the applicant tracking system/recruitment system, answering day to day queries and facilitating any necessary training
• Where necessary, work alongside the graduate recruitment team to support interviews and assessment days for graduates
• Assist with any recruitment related projects or events, taking the lead where appropriate
• Maintain accurate and real-time data on the applicant tracking system to include candidate statuses, feedback and offer information.
• Create and maintain central vacancy filing folders in I-Manage, with all key role correspondence, to include approvals to hire and offer emails.

Relationships and people management

• Where appropriate, drive high performance, supervise and develop the Talent Acquisition Assistants, managing their day to day work and prioritisation, as well conducting reviews and appraisals
• Build relationships throughout the firm, acting as a key recruitment contact, providing advice and support
• Build relationships and work in partnership with the wider HR team supporting the provision of a consistently high quality, commercial and seamless client service
• Collaborate with the Talent Acquisition team members, to collectively drive forward direct hiring and a professional, excellent client service.

Policies, knowhow and developing the HR function

• Contribute to any recruitment related training initiatives, such as design and delivery of interview skills training
• Proactively and continually review recruitment processes to ensure efficiency and assist with know-how
• Develop your knowledge of diversity and inclusion to ensure that you put an inclusion lens on every stage of the recruitment process
• Ensure processes are followed, maintaining data integrity and compliance with GDPR

Reporting

• Assist with reporting and produce management information related to recruitment
• Check and process recruitment invoices
• Monitor and analyse recruitment management information

Most of our roles are hybrid, meaning that colleagues benefit from working in our office and remotely. We are happy to discuss this and other flexible working arrangements with you as part of the application and interview process.

We are an equal opportunity organisation, committed to having a diverse workforce. We do not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, race, disability, sexual orientation, culture, or any other protected characteristics. We aim to create a culture where everyone can be themselves and is valued for their strengths and unique perspectives.

• Proven similar recruitment experience is essential, preferably gained in a law firm or legal recruitment agency
• Proven experience of managing a high volume of vacancies is essential, as is working under pressure and to tight deadlines
• Experience of direct sourcing is essential, preferably in-house, including the use of online advertising and social media such as LinkedIn
• A track record of making headhunted hires using proactive research and LinkedIn, across all levels of seniority is essential
• Good knowledge of recruitment methods is essential
• Previous supervisory experience would be beneficial
• Experience of using an applicant tracking system/recruitment platform is essential
• Proven experience of identifying and delivering process and service improvements
• Proven experience of effectively working as part of and contributing to team aims
• Excellent organisational skills, planning and prioritisation, and time management are essential
• Ability to communicate effectively and professionally, with excellent verbal/written communication skills
• Approachable and able to build strong relationships across different levels of seniority
• Resilient, dealing effectively with challenging situations
• Adaptable and amenable to changing deadlines and demands

This job description is indicative only and does not represent an exhaustive list of responsibilities. The firm reserves the right to alter or change the responsibilities at any time, in line with the firm's strategy and business needs.

With 8 offices worldwide and with our headquarters based in London, Stephenson Harwood is a law firm where our people are committed to achieving the goals of our clients - listed and private companies, institutions and individuals across the globe. Our mix of expertise and culture results in a combination of deep local insight and the capability to provide a seamless international service.

Our experience encompasses corporate, commercial litigation and arbitration, employment, pensions and private wealth, finance, marine and international trade, and real estate and projects.
We assemble teams of bright thinkers to match our clients' needs and give the right advice from the right person at the right time. Dedicating the highest calibre of legal talent to overcome the most complex issues, we deliver pragmatic, expert advice that is set squarely in the real world.
We understand the power of diversity in delivering that high calibre advice to our clients. We want to attract diverse talent and we particularly encourage applications from underrepresented demographics.

Our values

Individuality

We encourage creativity and develop talent.

Commitment

To be the best and deliver the highest standard.

Teamwork

We work together to build close, long-term relationships

Straight talking
We say what we mean and do what we say.

These values express the personality of the individuals within our firm. They are the behaviours we encourage in our people and the standards which inform our decisions and actions.

Our vision into 2026

To be a successful firm where talented people work together in an entrepreneurial environment, building long term client relationships.
This vision is about who we want to be, as well as who we are. It is as much about our values as about our character – the attributes we want to see from all of our people. That's how we unlock our entrepreneurial spirit, advising our clients with top performing teams.

A key part of the 2026 strategy is to focus on five core sectors: decarbonisation, life sciences, private capital & funds, technology, and transportation & trade. These have been identified as crucial in the drive for accelerated profitable growth.