Talent Acquisition Manager

Foot Anstey LLP; West of England, Plymouth; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Foot Anstey LLP is seeking a Talent Acquisition Manager (internal applications only) to lead the recruitment function across our Bristol, Plymouth and Exeter offices. This full‑time role sits in Human Resources and focuses on delivering strategic talent acquisition to support the firm's growth ambitions.

You’ll balance line management of a team of recruiters with hands‑on delivery, build talent pipelines, optimise direct sourcing, and ensure an outstanding candidate experience.

Qualifications

• Proven experience recruiting experienced legal professionals within the legal sector.
• Previous people management experience, or a clear ambition to develop leadership capability.
• Commercially minded, with confidence engaging senior stakeholders on both resourcing and budget considerations.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver at pace.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with candidates, hiring managers and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of recruiters across multiple office locations.
• Drive talent acquisition strategy and operational excellence across the firm.
• Build a proactive recruitment model, partnering with leaders to identify future hiring needs, develop talent pipelines and strengthen direct sourcing activity.
• Deliver an outstanding candidate experience and promote a compelling employer brand.
• Own recruitment reporting and hiring metrics, using insight to drive continuous improvement.
• Maximise direct recruitment while maintaining effective relationships with key agency partners.
• Partner with the Communications team to develop and deliver targeted recruitment campaigns across multiple channels.
• Analyse campaign performance and use data to optimise attraction and sourcing strategies.
• Demonstrate a commitment to continuous professional development and improvement.

Job description

Job Title:Talent Acquisition Manager (internal applications only)

We’re one of the UK’s most forward-thinking law firms, built on a foundation of innovation, collaboration, and ambition. Join us, and let’s shape the future together.

Being refreshingly human starts with how we hire. We believe a diverse mix of perspectives makes us stronger - not just as a business, but in creating a culture where we all feel we truly belong and can thrive. That’s why we’re committed to removing barriers and creating fair opportunities for everyone.

Please note: we are currently only accepting internal applications for this role

The role in 60 seconds

• Role: Talent Acquisition Manager
• Team: Human Resources
• Location:Bristol/ Plymouth/ Exeter
• Working Pattern: Full time
• Why this role matters: This role is central to delivering the firm's growth ambitions by attracting, engaging and securing exceptional talent in a competitive market

What you’ll do

Through strategic workforce planning, strong stakeholder relationships and data-driven recruitment, you'll directly support the firm's people strategy and business objectives.This is a true player-coach role, balancing leadership of the Talent Acquisition team with hands‑on delivery of key hires and strategic recruitment initiatives across both Practice Groups and Business Services.

In this role, you’ll:

• Lead and develop a team of recruiters across multiple office locations.
• Drive talent acquisition strategy and operational excellence across the firm.
• Build a proactive recruitment model, partnering with leaders to identify future hiring needs, develop talent pipelines and strengthen direct sourcing activity.
• Deliver an outstanding candidate experience and promote a compelling employer brand.
• Own recruitment reporting and hiring metrics, using insight to drive continuous improvement.
• Maximise direct recruitment while maintaining effective relationships with key agency partners.
• Partner with the Communications team to develop and deliver targeted recruitment campaigns across multiple channels.
• Analyse campaign performance and use data to optimise attraction and sourcing strategies.
• Demonstrate a commitment to continuous professional development and improvement.

What we’re looking for

• Proven experience recruiting experienced legal professionals within the legal sector.
• Previous people management experience, or a clear ambition to develop leadership capability.
• Commercially minded, with confidence engaging senior stakeholders on both resourcing and budget considerations.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver at pace.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with candidates, hiring managers and external partners.

What if I don't tick every box?

We're not box tickers. We appreciate the need for everyone to find a role that challenges them and gives them room for growth.

If you bring transferable skills and a fresh perspective, we’d love to hear from you. If this role excites you and you have the skills to succeed, we encourage you to apply.

Join a seriously ambitious firm

At Foot Anstey, we’re committed to making a difference for our people, our clients, and society. Here’s what makes us stand out:

• An ambitious growth strategy that opens up opportunities for our people to make their mark.
• A client base that spans household names, thriving startups, and ambitious enterprises.
• A culture built on our values of being refreshingly human, entrepreneurial, inclusive and collaborative.
• A strong focus on being a responsible business with a commitment to sustainability and giving back to our communities.
• Comprehensive professional development and training - whatever your role and level we have training that will support you to achieve your goals.

Progressive benefits tailored to you

We believe our people are our greatest asset. That’s why we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your professional growth and personal wellbeing, including:

• Enhanced parental leave policies.
• Private healthcare and wellbeing initiatives (e.g., mental health support, gym memberships).

Successful applicants will be required to complete a pre-employment screening process which includes a financial integrity check and a DBS check.

Are you authorised to work in the UK either as a citizen or by holding a valid permit to work in the UK? And are you able to provide evidence of this if requested?

If you hold a work permit, please provide further details including visa type and date of expiry

If you’d like to discuss any reasonable adjustments to support you through the interview process, if you progress to the next stage, a member of the Recruitment team will contact you to ensure you’re able to perform at your best during the interview. We want you to be able to showcase your talent and to feel comfortable being yourself throughout the process. If there’s anything we can do to support you or make things more accessible, just let us know – you can tell us at any stage of the process.

Would you like to opt in to our Disability Confident Scheme as a candidate with a disability or long term health condition? Your response is voluntary and confidential and will only be used to support you during the recruitment process.

Demographic Questions

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunities Employer. As part of our commitment to diversity and inclusion, we invite applicants to complete optional demographic questions. Any information you choose to share will be anonymised and not linked to your application.

For applicants in Northern Ireland: To meet our obligations under the Fair Employment & Treatment (NI) Order 1998, we monitor community background and sex to promote equality of opportunity. While you’re not required to answer these questions, we encourage you to do so. Your responses will be used anonymously for reporting to the Equality Commission and will not influence any recruitment or employment decisions.

Community Background: In Northern Ireland, individuals are often perceived as belonging to either the Protestant or Roman Catholic communities, regardless of religious practice. If this section is left blank, we may use the residuary method to determine community background based on the personal information in your application.