Manager, Employer Branding and Recruiting

Career Legal; Darmstadt; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Career Legal in Germany seeks a senior Recruitment Lead to partner with Practice Group Leaders and regional teams, driving end-to-end recruitment for Fee Earners and Early Careers. You will own direct sourcing, candidate shortlisting, interviews, offers, and onboarding while guiding a two-manager team toward high performance.

You will design and implement graduate recruitment marketing, manage events, and align with global branding.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree or equivalent.
• Extensive experience leading strategic recruitment within a global professional services organisation (ideally law).
• Proven track record in Fee Earner and Early Careers recruitment in a German market.
• Strong direct sourcing and diversity hiring experience.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management at senior levels.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end Fee Earner and Early Careers recruitment delivery in Germany; manage applications, shortlisting, interviewing, offers and onboarding.
• Lead and develop the German Recruitment team of two Managers to drive high performance.
• Collaborate with EMEA leaders to design graduate recruitment marketing and media strategy.
• Oversee Early Careers events, campus outreach, and program management.
• Shape employer branding and digital strategy consistent with the global brand.
• Support HR across the employee lifecycle for junior lawyers and manage sensitive matters.

Skills

Strategic recruitment leadership

Direct sourcing

Stakeholder management

Bilingual German/English

Team leadership

Employer branding

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree

Job description

Role purpose

To work in close partnership with the German and regional Practice Group Leads, EMEA Business Managers, recruitment coordinators, and End-to-End (E2E) teams to deliver a best-in-class recruitment experience for Fee Earner and Early Careers candidates, segmented by practice group, as well as Hiring Managers. Responsible for the execution of full-cycle recruitment processes, both internal and external, to support the filling of role vacancies, leveraging regional and global resources while delivering high-volume hiring through a hands-on and direct sourcing approach.

Main responsibilities

• Assume ownership of the operational delivery of end-to-end Fee Earner and Early Careers recruitment, working closely with Practice Group Business Managers. Responsibilities include direct sourcing, go-to-market execution, application management, candidate shortlisting, interviewing, offer management, and pre-onboarding activities, ensuring a seamless transition to Talent colleagues for onboarding.
• Lead, coach, and develop the German Recruitment team, comprising two Managers, fostering a high-performance culture.
• Partner with the EMEA Early Careers Senior Manager to design and implement the German Graduate Recruitment marketing, attraction, and media strategy.
• Oversee all aspects of the Early Careers events programme, including faculty career days, moot court, study foundation, and legal tech events.
• Manage the Early Careers application and selection process, including pre-selection, applications, offers, and onboarding.
• Lead employer branding and digital strategy for the local market, while maintaining consistency with global brand standards.
• Support the junior lawyer population throughout the employee lifecycle and proactively manage all HR-related matters for this population.
• Develop strong business relationships with Practice Group leadership, supported by in-depth knowledge of the German and EMEA markets and legal recruitment, acting as a subject matter expert.
• Maintain a consistent and high-quality pipeline of passive and active diverse talent.
• Collaborate effectively with Practice Group leadership and in-market Talent teams to promote best-practice recruitment and functional alignment.
• Work with the Regional Director and Associate Director of Recruitment to continuously improve recruitment strategies and processes across the German offices.
• Deliver timely and accurate reporting on recruitment activity, using data to improve recruitment performance and track FTE headcount.
• Implement recruitment strategies that encourage innovative sourcing methods and reduce reliance on agencies.
• Maintain a strong focus on ID&E strategy and ensure inclusive recruitment practices are upheld at all times.
• Where vendors are engaged, ensure compliance with preferred supplier strategy to support optimal performance and appropriate pricing.
• Ensure all recruitment processes reflect and enhance the Firm’s brand and deliver an exceptional candidate experience throughout the selection process.
• Ensure full adherence to Hiring Committee requirements and budgeting and approval processes.
• Develop innovative recruitment and employer branding strategies, while supporting initiatives designed to improve recruitment processes.

Qualifications & experience required

• A completed Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, or an equivalent qualification.
• Experience leading strategic recruitment initiatives within a complex global professional services organisation, ideally a law firm.
• Extensive experience delivering Fee Earner and Early Careers recruitment within a German legal services environment.
• A strong track record in direct sourcing and in delivering high-quality, diverse talent.
• A highly collaborative approach, with proven experience building trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and establishing credibility as a trusted advisor.
• The ability to work at pace, solve problems, and deliver effective solutions under tight deadlines and pressure.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with team members, senior stakeholders, and executive leadership.
• Strong judgement and empathy when handling sensitive matters.
• A strong team ethic, with reliability, flexibility, and commitment.
• Strong analytical ability, combined with an independent and proactive working style.
• A friendly, service-oriented, and hands-on approach.
• Creativity, ambition, and the motivation to contribute ideas, participate in international projects early on, and engage with innovative HR concepts.
• Excellent written and spoken German and English.