We are seeking an experienced and strategic Vice President, Early Careers to lead the design and delivery of the bank’s UK early talent agenda. The successful candidate will oversee graduate, internship, apprenticeship, and analyst programmes across multiple business lines, ensuring the attraction, development, and retention of high-potential talent aligned to long-term strategic objectives.

This role requires a commercially focused HR leader who works within UK banking with strong stakeholder management capabilities, experience operating within a complex matrix environment, and a passion for developing diverse talent pipelines within financial services.

Key Responsibilities

Early Careers Strategy

Develop and execute the UK Early Careers strategy aligned to business growth, workforce planning, and future capability requirements
Partner with senior business leaders to identify emerging talent needs across Corporate & Institutional Banking, Asset Management, Operations, Technology, and Functions
Drive continuous improvement and innovation across early careers programmes and recruitment processes

Programme Leadership

Lead the end-to-end management of graduate, summer internship, industrial placement, and apprenticeship programmes
Design structured development frameworks including rotations, technical training, mentoring, and leadership development initiatives
Ensure a consistent and high-quality candidate and employee experience across all programmes

Talent Attraction & Employer Branding

Lead campus recruitment strategy across target universities and educational partners
Build and enhance employer brand positioning within the financial services market
Develop initiatives to strengthen diversity, equity, and inclusion across early careers pipelines

Stakeholder Management

Partner closely with HR Business Partners, senior leadership, and hiring managers to forecast hiring demand and align intake planning
Provide strategic insights and reporting on market trends, hiring performance, diversity metrics, and programme outcomes
Manage relationships with external vendors, assessment providers, and recruitment partners

Governance & Risk

Ensure all recruitment and development activity complies with regulatory, legal, and internal governance requirements
Manage programme budgets, vendor contracts, and resource allocation effectively
Maintain robust reporting and MI to support strategic decision-making and regulatory obligations

Skills & Experience

Proven experience leading Early Careers or Emerging Talent programmes within banking, financial services, or a large complex corporate environment
Strong understanding of graduate recruitment, apprenticeships, and campus engagement within the UK market
Demonstrated experience managing senior stakeholders within a matrix organisation
Strong commercial awareness and ability to align talent strategy with business priorities
Experience leading diversity and inclusion initiatives within talent acquisition or development
Excellent project management, communication, and influencing skills
Analytical mindset with experience using workforce and recruitment data to drive decisions

Meraki Talent

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