Talent Development Partner, Early Careers

THE ROLE & TEAM

At Brabners, our People Team sits at the heart of everything we do. We have a unique opportunity for someone who’s looking to deliver a successful Early Careers Programme as well as talent development programme. The Talent Development Partner role offers broad insight into shaping the success of the firm’s future talent as well as delivering a blended personal development offer.

You will lead the firm’s emerging talent pipeline, aligning early careers development with the firm’s growth, capability and succession priorities. You will have the opportunity to shape and deliver the emerging talent development framework, strengthening leadership capability to develop junior talent.

As a Talent Development Partner you will support and deliver the firms talent development strategy. You will build excellent relationships across the business, influencing and guiding employees to the most appropriate development solution.

This role will be based out of our Manchester office. We offer hybrid working to ensure work life balance.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the evolution of Early Careers into a strategic talent pipeline, shifting the focus from attraction volume to long-term capability, development and succession

• Partner with legal leaders and People Business Partners to algin future talent strategy with the business growth plans, workforce needs and future skill requirements

• Use data, feedback and insight to continuously strengthen the firm’s future talent offering and identify capability gaps across the pipeline

• Ensure the firm’s approach to emerging talent supports its reputation as a destination for high-calibre future professionals

• Own the firm’s future talent development framework, ensuring a structured pathway from induction through to qualification

• Strengthen leadership accountability for developing future talent by equipping supervisors and partners with the tools, expectations and confidence to coach and grow junior professionals

• Provide expert guidance on performance, progression and qualification decisions, ensuring rigour, fairness and alignment to firm standards

• Design and facilitate development initiatives including workshops, coaching and Action Learning Groups that support both trainees and supervisors

• Contribute to the wider Talent Development agenda by supporting the design and delivery of manager and leadership development initiatives

• Ensure strong governance and continuous improvement of the firm’s future talent development framework

• Build and develop the capability of the Early Careers Coordinator, embedding a development-first approach to programme delivery

• Work closely with the Talent Development Co-Ordinator and People Operations team to ensure effective programme processes and smooth delivery of key activities

• Manage the Early Careers budget and ensure value-driven investment in development activity

• Use learning systems, data and feedback to monitor engagement and evaluate capability development outcomes

ABOUT YOU

• Experience leading or partnering on early careers, graduate or professional development initiatives - ideally within the legal sector

• Strong understanding of SRA guidelines

• Strong business partnering capability

• Strong influencing and stakeholder management skills

• Understanding of talent development, succession planning and workforce capability

• Experience designing and facilitating development initiatives for professionals or leaders

• Strong understanding of adult learning approaches, including practical workplace

• Experience using learning systems, data and insight to evaluate and improve development initiatives

• Confidence working in complex stakeholder environments and managing sensitive conversations

• A natural team player with a can‑do mindset

BENEFITS

• Competitive salary

• Flexible approach to working hours

• Hybrid working

• Private Medical Insurance

• Discretionary bonus opportunities

• Pension scheme

• Life Assurance & Income Protection

• 25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays (increasing with length of service)

• Option to buy additional leave each year

• Additional discretionary leave days

• Enhanced Maternity, Paternity & Adoption Leave

• Career development and progression opportunities

• Wellbeing and Mental Health Benefit (24/7 Employment Assistance Program & Support)s

WHO ARE WE

Brabners is a purpose‑led, independent law firm and a certified B Corp, with award-winning environmental credentials, we seek to demonstrate that business can bring about positive change by being innovative, diverse and sustainable.

With over 200 years of history, we’re proudly anchored in the North but serve businesses and individuals across England and Wales.

We have won awards for being innovative at the Legal 500 Northern Powerhouse Awards and diverse as Manchester Law Society’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Champions. We are also recognised as one of the 25 best large companies to work for in the UK and have won The Legal 500 Future Lawyers awards for job satisfaction, quality of work, social life and work/life balance.