We’re a national law firm with a local reach. Our legal experts are here for you. Whether it’s personal or business, we understand that everyone’s situation is different. But we’re more than just a law firm – we’re a team of people working together to help individuals and businesses navigate life’s ups and downs. Working here you’ll feel a part of our friendly and inclusive environment.

We’ll value you for who you are and what you bring. We support each other and push boundaries to achieve incredible things and make a real difference to our clients and communities.

We're always looking to support our colleagues to work in a way that works best for them and everyone else, including our clients, the business and the regulators. Please speak to a member of our Recruitment and Onboarding team for more information.

We’re looking for an experienced Early Careers leader to join our Talent team on a 14 month fixed term contract.

As our Senior Early Careers Manager, you’ll lead a dedicated team of professionals and work closely with senior leaders, HR colleagues, and external partners to create a world class early careers experience. You’ll be the driving force behind our strategy, ensuring it aligns with our firm’s goals and values while meeting regulatory requirements from the SRA and Government apprenticeship frameworks.

The role can be based in one of the following offices on a hybrid basis: Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds or Birmingham.

What you’ll be doing:

• Leading and developing a high-performing Early Careers team.
• Designing and delivering our early careers strategy across all UK offices.
• Simplifying and streamlining processes to ensure everything we do supports excellent service delivery and drives profitability.
• Aligning our early careers approach with wider business goals to support long-term growth and success.
• Building strong relationships with senior stakeholders to shape and evolve our programmes.
• Ensuring compliance with SRA and Skills Funding Agency requirements.
• Managing the Apprenticeship Levy to maximise its impact.
• Supporting colleagues in developing the careers of the future—creating opportunities that are inclusive, inspiring, and aligned to business needs.
• Championing innovation and continuous improvement in how we attract, develop, and retain early talent.

• A strategic thinker with a strong background in Early Careers, ideally within the legal or professional services sector.
• Proven experience in leading teams and delivering impactful talent programmes.
• A confident communicator who can influence at all levels.
• Someone who thrives on collaboration and is excited by the opportunity to shape the future.

This is more than a job—it’s a chance to lead change, inspire others, and help build a pipeline of exceptional talent for years to come.

• 25 days holidays as standard plus bank holidays - You can ‘buy’ up to 35hrs of extra holiday too.
• Generous and flexible pension schemes.
• Volunteering days – Two days of volunteering every year for a cause of your choice (fully paid)
• Westfield Health membership, offering refunds on medical services alongside our Aviva Digital GP services.

We also offer a wide range of well-being initiatives to encourage positive mental health both in and out of the workplace and to make sure you’re fully supported.  This includes our Flexible by Choice programme which gives our colleagues more choice over a hybrid way of working subject to role, team and client requirements.

We have been ranked in the Best Workplaces for Wellbeing for Large Organisations for 2024!

Our responsible business programmes are fundamental to who we are and our purpose. We’re committed to being a diverse and inclusive workplace where our colleagues can flourish, and we have established a number of inclusion network groups across our business to support this aim. 

Our commitment to Social Responsibility, community investment activity and tackling climate change is a fundamental part of who we are. It’s made up of four strands: Our People, Our Community, Our Environment and Our Pro Bono.

As part of the Irwin Mitchell Group’s on-boarding process all successful applicants are required to complete the group’s employment screening process. This process helps to ensure that all new employees meet our standards in relation to honesty and integrity therefore protecting the interests of the Group, colleagues, clients, partners and other stakeholders.

We carry out pre employment screening to establish your eligibility to work in the UK, criminal record and financial checks ­with our trusted 3rd parties.

The employment screening process will fully comply with Data Protection and other applicable laws.

Irwin Mitchell LLP is an equal opportunity employer.