Regional Early Talent Development Manager EMEA

Digital Realty Global; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global data center provider is in search of an experienced leader to develop and oversee their EMEA Early Talent Engagement program. The program aims to enhance the workforce through apprenticeships and internships. Candidates should have a solid background in building workforce development initiatives, strong stakeholder management skills, and a passion for nurturing engineering talent. The role requires collaboration across various functional teams and is pivotal in shaping data center operations in EMEA.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in scaling apprenticeship or early-career workforce programs.
• Experience with diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
• High proficiency in English and another European language is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Design and scale early talent programs aligned to operational needs.
• Lead recruitment and onboarding processes for early talent.
• Collaborate with various stakeholders for program alignment.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Cross-cultural communication

Strategic thinking

Data-driven decision making

Relationship building

Education

Learning & Development qualification

Certified in Instructional Design

Job description

Description

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 center 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.

What you’ll do

Program Design and Development

• 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.

What you’ll need

Education

• Learning & Development qualification required.
• Certified in Instructional Design preferred.

Experience

• Proven experience building and scaling apprenticeship or early‑career workforce development programs, ideally within data center 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.

Skills

• 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.