Emerging Talent / Early Careers Manager

Airbus S.A.S.; Bristol; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace company in the UK seeks an HR Business Partner to support Trainee Lawyers throughout their training contract. In this role, you'll ensure effective communication with stakeholders, manage recruitment and development strategies, and oversee performance management. The ideal candidate has relevant HR experience and strong interpersonal skills. This position offers a competitive salary, bonus, and additional benefits, with a hybrid working model in Bristol.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Bonus

Development opportunities

Qualifications

• Relevant HR experience, ideally as an Early Talent Development Manager or HR Business Partner.
• Proven experience managing early talent programmes.
• Experience building strong relationships with senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Oversee recruitment, resourcing, and mentor Trainee cohorts.
• Manage day-to-day HR processes for early talent.
• Advise on employee relations and support diversity initiatives.

Skills

Strong intellectual and analytical skills

Effective communication skills

Ability to present and engage audiences

Good attention to detail

High level of confidentiality

Commercial awareness

Collaborative working style

Job description

Job Description

Start date for this role is as soon as possible.

Role

You will work closely with the Senior HR Business Partner – GFM to ensure a best‑in‑class service is delivered to the Trainees and key stakeholders throughout the entire lifecycle of the Training Contract.

Key stakeholders include Partners, the wider HR Business Partnering team, Early Talent Partner sponsors and key suppliers. You will manage supplier relationships and oversee all day‑to‑day HR activities related to the firm’s Trainee Lawyer population.

Responsibilities

Duties to include, but not exclusive to:

• Recruitment and Resourcing – work closely with Trainee Partners, Resource Managers and HR Business Partnering team to identify Trainee resource needs, oversee seat allocation, and develop resourcing strategies.
• Cohort Lead – primary contact for SQE and allocated Trainee cohorts, conduct 1‑2‑1s with trainees to discuss performance, development, seat and qualification preferences.
• Team Oversight – day‑to‑day management of key processes, escalation point for the Early Talent Development team.
• Secondments – collaborate with Partners, HRBPs and Global Mobility to process client and international secondments in accordance with policy.
• Performance Management – run appraisal and feedback processes, work with supervisors and Partners to address performance issues.
• Development and Training – oversee pre‑training contract presentations, liaise with Education Managers for induction, manage supervisory training resources, drive learning initiatives, and provide coaching support.
• Projects – support and lead early talent projects, maintain awareness of practice‑area and firm‑wide strategy.
• Supplier Management – manage relationships with education providers, oversee contract and service renewals.
• Budgets & Headcount Management – assist with budgeting and headcount planning.
• Inclusion & Diversity – work on goals and initiatives to increase inclusion and retention of under‑represented groups.
• Employee Relations – advise on grievance, disciplinary and sickness absence cases, implement policies, conduct exit interviews and surveys.

Qualifications

Experience

• Relevant HR experience, ideally as an Early Talent Development Manager or HR Business Partner.
• Proven experience managing early talent programmes, including development and performance management.
• Experience building strong relationships with senior stakeholders and acting as a trusted advisor on talent issues.
• Experience from a large, complex organisation (legal or professional services) with an understanding of Partnership culture.

Skills

• Strong intellectual and analytical skills with flexibility to manage detail and think conceptually.
• Effective communication skills with the ability to influence and form relationships at all levels.
• Ability to present and engage audiences of varying sizes and seniority with confidence.
• Good attention to detail and ability to cope with a varied, dynamic workload.
• High level of confidentiality, conflict‑management skills and handling sensitive issues.
• Commercial awareness and reputation for excellent client service.
• Collaborative working style.

Knowledge

• Broad knowledge of HR best practice.
• Employee relations expertise.
• Senior Emerging Talent / Early Careers Manager experience.

Benefits

Location: Bristol (Hybrid). Salary: Competitive + Bonus + Benefits. Rights, support and development opportunities available across the firm.

Equal opportunities statement

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