Regional Early Talent Development Manager EMEA

Digital Realty; City Of London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading data centre solutions provider is seeking an experienced leader to build and scale their EMEA Early Talent Engagement program. This role involves designing effective apprenticeship and internship pathways to enhance workforce strength. The ideal candidate will display strategic thinking, foster cross-functional collaboration, and demonstrate a passion for developing engineering talent. The position requires proficiency in English and an additional European language, along with willingness to travel across the EMEA region.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in building and scaling apprenticeship or early-career development programs.
• Strong track record of aligning with operations, HR, and leadership teams.
• Experience with diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and scaling of early talent programs.
• Manage recruitment and onboarding processes.
• Promote positive apprentice experiences and maintain strong communication.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Cross-cultural communication

Mentoring and coaching

Strategic thinking

Data insights for decision making

Employer branding

Education

Learning & Development qualification

Certified in Instructional Design

Job description

Responsibilities

• Design, launch, and scale early talent programs (apprenticeships, internships, bootcamps, career pathways) aligned to operational workforce needs.
• Build structured development frameworks including competency models, rotation plans, technical and soft skills development, and progression pathways.
• Ensure programs align with business priorities and the global talent strategy.

End‑to‑End Talent Lifecycle Ownership

• Lead the intake, recruitment, and selection process for early talent.
• Oversee onboarding and induction activities to ensure a strong start.
• Facilitate the transition of participants into post‑program roles and support conversion to full‑time employment.
• Enable long‑term career growth and retention through structured support and career pathways.

Apprentice Experience

• Design and lead initiatives to ensure a positive, engaging, and inclusive apprentice experience.
• Maintain strong communication with participants to support development, engagement, and satisfaction.

Manager and Mentor Enablement

• Provide tools, training, and guidance to managers and mentors to support apprentices effectively.
• Act as a trusted advisor to managers and mentors to ensure consistency and high‑quality coaching.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Operations, HR, Talent Acquisition, Legal, Learning & Development, and other key stakeholders to ensure alignment, resource planning, and smooth execution.
• Collaborate with the AMER Early Talent Engagement Senior Manager to share best practices and ensure global alignment.

Employer Branding and Talent Pipeline Building

• Collaborate with Talent Acquisition and Marketing to strengthen employer branding, recruitment marketing, and talent attraction strategies.
• Share success stories and program outcomes internally and externally to elevate visibility and attract talent.

Community and Ecosystem Partnerships

• Build and maintain relationships with educational institutions, community organizations, non‑profits, and workforce development agencies across EMEA.
• Expand access and create pathways for underrepresented and diverse talent.

Data, Metrics, and Insights

• Use data and insights to evaluate program participation, conversion, and career progression.
• Provide recommendations to leadership based on trends, outcomes, and workforce needs.

Governance and Program Operations

• Establish governance, processes, and policies to ensure consistency, compliance, and quality across regions.
• Oversee logistics, communication, scheduling, and coordination of training, events, and development activities.

Global Expansion

• Once the EMEA program is established, support the expansion of similar programs into APAC.
• Serve as a key voice in workforce development strategy, advocating for early‑in‑career talent and future‑proofing our operations workforce.

We are seeking an experienced and visionary leader to build, scale, and lead our EMEA Early Talent Engagement program. This role will design and deliver apprenticeship, internship, and early‑in‑career development pathways that strengthen our data centre operations workforce across the region. The ideal candidate will combine strategic thinking with hands‑on execution, strong cross‑functional leadership, and a passion for developing the next generation of engineering talent. This program will first be established across EMEA and then expanded into APAC. Learning & Development qualification required.

Qualifications

• Certified in Instructional Design preferred.
• Proven experience building and scaling apprenticeship or early‑career workforce development programs, ideally within data centre, engineering, or technical sectors.
• Strong track record of aligning with operations, HR, talent acquisition, and leadership teams.
• Experience in workforce development, talent pipeline strategy, and career pathways.
• Demonstrated ability to work across multiple regions and cultures.
• Experience with budget planning or resource allocation.
• Experience with diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
• Mentoring, coaching, or talent development experience; ability to build structured development programs (competency frameworks, rotational plans, progression pathways).
• Strong stakeholder management and cross‑cultural communication skills.
• Strategic thinker with a hands‑on approach to implementation.
• Data and insights mindset for decision‑making and program improvement.
• Employer branding and recruitment marketing awareness.
• Relationship‑building with internal and external partners.

Additional Requirements

• High proficiency in English and one additional European language will be beneficial.
• Willingness to travel extensively across the EMEA region.