Early Talent Acquisition & Development Manager, Hong Kong

The Role
Global Talent Acquisition forms part of the Talent & Development Centre of Excellence within the Firm’s Global HR operating model, supporting the Firm in identifying, attracting and recruiting the talent needed to meet current and future business needs.

This role is to be responsible for attracting, selecting, and developing top graduate talent for the Firm in the Hong Kong market. This role plays a critical part in shaping the future workforce by managing end-to-end graduate recruitment processes and implementing development programs that align with the firm’s People Proposition, strategic goals and legal industry standards.

The role-holder will work with a wide range of internal and external contacts including (but not limited to) HR colleagues across the global network, Graduate Recruitment Partners, Trainees (both current and future), Trainee Supervisors, Candidates and University Contacts.  You will operate within a highly collaborative international Talent Acquisition function, working closely with colleagues across locations to support greater global alignment, consistency and sharing of best practice.

The role will be responsible for the development, implementation and day-to-day management of programmes and initiatives in relation to the recruitment, development and progression of interns and trainees primarily for the Hong Kong office.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Selection & Recruitment

• Develop and successfully execute internship programmes, with strong candidate conversion to Training Contracts and strong internal engagement from Partners and Associates.
• Manage the full recruitment lifecycle for graduates, including job postings, campus engagement, application screening, assessment centres, interviews and offer decisions.
• Manage interviewer training, interviewing materials and interviewer panels.
• Brief, coordinate and work with Partners and lawyers on the selection process for trainees and interns, including working with the HK Recruitment Panel to design, create and implement materials for the selection process.
• Deliver the Firm’s People Proposition across internship and training programmes to enhance the attraction, selection and retention of high-quality candidates.
• Monitor recruitment metrics and selection strategies, providing insights to improve processes and diversity outcomes and monitoring return on investment from events and marketing.
• Act as the main liaison with graduate recruitment contacts across our international network, maximising opportunities for inter-office student events, networking and knowledge sharing.
• Plan an annual calendar of activities and attend key events relating to the recruitment and development of graduate talent. Design and deliver key events including open days, post-offer events and cultivation activities.
• Work with HR Service Delivery to coordinate contracts for interns and new trainees, including offer letters and reference checks, and the administration of maintenance payments for PCLL students. 
• Coordinate the US Summer Associate recruitment and programmes, supporting a strong pipeline of US-qualified associates.
• Act as the point of contact for other ad hoc internships across Business Professional and Legal teams, including programmes relating to the Firm’s Responsible Business activities.

Campus Marketing

• Manage relationships with legal educational institutions, looking for areas for collaboration or information sharing to support the development of legal talent in Hong Kong.
• Partner with university leaders, faculty and staff to deliver presentations and workshops and ensure that we are present at career fairs and other relevant recruitment events, both virtual and physical.
• Take responsibility for Campus relationship management for key strategic relationship universities, including coordinating sponsorships and monitoring activities to ensure return on investment from events.
• Ensure that the Firm’s brand is communicated effectively at target universities through branded materials, the careers website and social media, working in collaboration with the Global Employer Brand and Careers Marketing team. 
• Design and deliver key campus and candidate engagement events, including the GLOW first year programme, annual presentation series, open days and future trainee events.

Graduate Development

• Plan and coordinate induction and training programmes for vacation students, new trainees and seconded trainees. Co-ordinate and follow up on mid seat and final appraisals.
• Conduct career development meetings with trainees, giving advice and guidance to individuals when looking at their career plans and discussing their performance and experience to date. Record key information and highlight concerns to the Senior HR Manager and Product Performance Directors (PDPs).
• Trainee allocations – liaise with PDP’s and international offices to establish requirements of each product group and define how best to meet the business needs through trainee allocation.
• Provide Partners and Supervisors with professional direction and guidance enabling them to manage trainees more effectively. Deliver APAC Supervisor Training sessions at each seat rotation. Manage the internal trainee qualification process - ensuring the needs of both the business and qualifying trainees are met, providing guidance on the changing legal regulatory landscape.
• You will be required at times to deliver difficult messages to trainees (in relation to seat moves or qualification, for example) and need to effectively manage reactions and maintain long-term relationships.

Other

• Manage the graduate recruitment budget.
• Involvement in ad-hoc Graduate Recruitment projects as directed by stakeholders.
• Actively participate in local roundtable events with other law firms to ensure the firm has up-to-date information on the local market
• Collaborate with Partners, Practice Group Managers and Compliance team to understand talent needs and regulatory landscape and align recruitment efforts.
• Act as a trusted advisor on graduate market trends and best practices.
• Ensuring that all candidate data (including feedback records) are kept in accordance with data privacy rules.
• Ensuring that all applications are in the Applicant Tracking System and responded to in a timely manner.
• Leverage recruitment technology, data and AI-enabled tools to support efficient, high-quality delivery and continuous improvement.
• Support the adoption of global Talent Acquisition initiatives and ways of working within the Hong Kong market.
• Collaborate with Talent Acquisition colleagues internationally, sharing expertise and best practice to aim for greater alignment and consistency across locations.

Your Experience

• You will have a sound knowledge of Graduate programmes having performed a similar Graduate Development or Training role in a large commercial environment (minimum 5 years' experience), ideally Professional Services.
• You will be confident and willing to engage with all levels of staff. You will be comfortable with delivering difficult messages to both trainees and senior management within the Firm.
• You will be an accurate worker with high attention to detail, and excellent organisational skills. You will be proactive and be able to demonstrate new initiatives you have implemented.
• You will have the ability to work under pressure and to deadlines.
• You will have good communication skills and a friendly and outgoing manner.
• Chinese language skills preferred.
• You will be proficient with Microsoft Office tools – particularly Excel and PowerPoint.

Who we are

As a global law firm our work spans jurisdictions, cultures, and languages – and so do our people.

Our culture is collaborative and inclusive— where diverse perspectives are recognised and valued. Where performing to your highest ability, unlocks equal access to opportunities to learn, thrive and grow.

We combine deep legal expertise and commercial intelligence to grow, transform, protect, and defend our clients' businesses, across every critical moment.

We operate in the sectors and regions that matter to our clients. With forward-thinking insights and innovative, tech-enabled solutions that combine deep knowledge of their sectors and markets.

You’ll build connections and work with colleagues as one global team. You’ll unlock opportunities for clients, across borders, cultures, legal and commercial disciplines.

Join us to work with colleagues as one global team – empowering each other to be exceptional and create advantage for our clients.

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. These networks are a place for colleagues to share experiences and advocate for change wherever they see an opportunity for improvement.

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

Find out more about our inclusive culture here.