Role Location: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain or Riyadh
Role Purpose
Manage and execute all non-partner (Graduate, Associate/Fee-earner
and Business Professional) recruiting activities for the Dubai and
Gulf offices (Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Doha, Jeddah & Riyadh),
providing high quality recruitment expertise and delivery that is
consistent with local country office/s and EMEA+ Recruitment strategy
and is aligned to wider Regional and Global Recruitment strategy,
ensuring implementation of agreed recruiting objectives.
Working closely with the Associate Director of Recruitment, EMEA+,
the regional Recruitment team, local Talent leads and Talent Business
Partners, UAE / Gulf leadership and Practice Group Leads / senior
functional leads to ensure that the Firm is attracting and hiring top
quality, diverse talent and that all candidates receive a world-class
candidate experience throughout the recruitment and selection process,
with a focus on continuous improvement.
Main Responsibilities
Overall Responsibilities
Manage and execute Associate / Fee-earner recruitment, Graduate
Recruitment (and associated programmes and activity) and Business
Professional recruitment, across multiple offices
Drive creative sourcing methodologies, reducing dependency on
agencies and focusing on direct sourcing in support of the direct
hiring strategy across all populations
Lead and/or actively participate in one recruitment work-stream
and the agreed sub-streams to develop and implement recruitment
objectives, whilst ensuring recruiting professionals are aligned on
recruitment execution
Ensure effective coordination with the E2E team across all service
level requests to ensure support is seamless, efficient and provides
high quality candidate experience
Effectively and proactively manage all internal and external
relationships, developing trusted advisor status - ensure all
internal clients are kept fully informed around the status of their
vacancies, working closely with stakeholders to ensure a first class
recruitment experience; ensure external contacts, including
recruitment agencies / head-hunters and candidates are kept up to
date with progress and of any wider firm updates and appropriate
communications / collateral to support the Firm's brand as an
employer of choice and to ensure a first class recruitment experience
Provide regular MI reporting, metrics and status updates as
required to key stakeholders, including Recruitment Leadership Team,
working with E2E team
Work closely with Talent Management on key programmes (e.g. the
Emiratisation Employment and Work Experience Programmes) and to
ensure seamless transition post candidate acceptance, providing a
first class candidate experience
Network with Firm partners, legal recruiters and other law firm
recruitment professionals in an effort to stay abreast of trends and
activity in the legal community
Mentor and develop junior recruitment professionals, as required
Graduate Recruitment
Manage and execute full cycle Graduate Recruitment activities,
including but not limited to, innovative graduate attraction
strategies; screening, interview / assessment; offer management;
effective applicant tracking; professional, timely communications
(with candidates, universities, careers services, graduate, student
and diversity related organisations etc.); On-campus and outreach
activities and events; Summer and Intern programmes (offer
management / employment terms and conditions; pre-joining
communication; travel arrangements; orientation & integration;
plan, coordinate and execute activities / programmes; manage and
attend events; work with practice groups / stakeholders on work
allocation; act as key point of contact for students, ensuring
pastoral care; assess students and gather business feedback); keep
in touch programmes; open days and insight days, presentations and
recruiting collateral to support the Firm's brand
Ensuring first class Graduate Recruitment programmes, timely
hiring decisions and processes supporting the attraction and hiring
of high quality, diverse talent, in adherence to local market
practices and regulations e.g. the Emiratisation Employment and Work
Experience Programmes
Lateral Associate / Fee-earner Recruitment
Manage and execute recruitment activities, including but not
limited to, managing vacancies, developing and managing relations
with preferred agencies/search firms and other legal industry
organisations to promote the Firm and lateral opportunities;
proactively working with regional practice groups and hiring
managers to manage recruitment process from sourcing to hire,
advising on and implementing best in class recruiting processes,
with support from E2E teams; collaborate with Talent Business
Partners e.g. on hiring forecasts, talent pipelines and post offer
as required
Business Professional Recruitment
Manage and execute recruitment activities, including but not
limited to, managing vacancies, developing and managing relations
with preferred agencies/search firms, sourcing, interviewing and
assessment for Business Professional positions, as required
Additional Duties
Annual recruitment budget development for designated offices and
monthly compliance of same
Conducting interviews as and when required and possible
In conjunction with Recruitment Team Leadership, conduct reviews
of processes and procedures to ensure recruitment best practice and
local / regional compliance, whilst ensuring Baker McKenzie is the
employer of choice
Develop recruiting initiatives that positively impact the overall
recruitment of diverse candidates, ensuring that all recruitment
activity and processes support and are aligned with the firms
Diversity & Inclusion ("D&I") strategy, working
closely with other recruitment, talent and D&I professionals
Develop and lead / participate in a minimum of one FY recruiting
project as it relates to a designated recruitment work-stream and
sub-streams; Participate in one FY recruiting project outside their
designated work-stream; Participate / lead ad-hoc recruitment
projects as and when required
Provide support, as and when required, to the Recruitment
Leadership Team and other offices on key pieces of recruitment
activity or projects
Participate in various recruiter organisations to increase
personal networking, knowledge sharing and promotion of the Firm
Travel requirements
The role will require travel (e.g. between offices, to manage campus
events and for recruitment meetings, if and when required)
About the team
Function
The Firm's People function has responsibility for recruiting,
supporting and developing all of the Firm's people, including our
Partners, Lawyers and Professional & Business Services, working
closely with the Firm's leadership to design and deliver the Firm's
people strategy, building on the firm's core commitments to
collaboration, excellence and inclusivity. The function includes:
Talent Management
Recruitment & Mobility
Diversity & Inclusion
Leadership & Learning
Careers & Performance & Rewards, and
Partner Services
This role will report to the Associate Director of Recruitment, EMEA+.
The key relationships of this role are with the following:
In-market Talent Management
Regional Recruitment colleagues & those with a shared
workstream
Relevant Hiring Partners/Hiring Committee Members
Office Managing Partners & Practice Group Leads
About the candidate
Technical skills, qualifications and experience
Significant demonstrable recruiting experience, at Manager level
and across all populations, in a professional services organization
and/or large law firm, preferably with multi-office responsibility
and in support of a diverse base of legal practices / functions
Strong track record in direct sourcing methodologies and delivery
Strong management skills and able to develop others via coaching,
mentoring and delivering performance feedback
First class written and oral communication, interpersonal and
presentation skills, with a proven ability to relate to and gain the
confidence of people / influence at all levels within an organization
Able to bring good judgement and empathy to sensitive situations
Strong organizational skills and must be able to meet deadlines
and multi-task in a matrix, fast-paced, professional services environment
Bachelor's degree or equivalent
Arabic language skills desirable but not essential
Personal qualities
These personal qualities represent the shared characteristics of high
performers across Baker McKenzie, regardless of job level and location.
Know how
Keeps across key developments in all relevant areas and
demonstrates the ability to develop substantive authority in
relation to the Firm's specialist fields
Demonstrates the ability to identify the real issue, and to
anticipate requirements and potential consequences; distils a range
of possibilities by thinking in a considered, prudent manner
Able to move through a variety of tasks requiring different
approaches, knowledge, and expertise, with agility of mind and
capacity for analysis and synthesis
Dedication
Driven by a strong personal sense of integrity and upholds
exemplary quality standards
Prepares thoroughly, takes responsibility, uses initiative and is
self reliant to ensure work progresses to the fullest extent possible
Hardworking and diligent with a keen understanding of client demands
Demonstrates composure when dealing with difficult situations
Personal Impact
Creates a positive impression at all times; develops relationships
through collaboration and reciprocity
Negotiates to achieve outcomes that are mutually satisfactory;
shows good judgement on when to stand strong and when to compromise
Invests in, nurtures and builds a network of productive relationships
Humanity
Respectful to others, regardless of their position, and earns the
respect of others by being transparent
Has care and concern for others and a genuine interest in others
as people
Treats delicate or confidential issues with grace and discretion.
Why Join Us?
Baker McKenzie is a truly global law firm. Founded in 1949, we advise
many of the world's most dynamic and successful business organisations
through our 13,000 people in 77 offices across 47 countries. Yet big
does not mean impersonal. We work hard to ensure that everyone knows
their role and has the support they need to perform it to the highest
standard. Our culture encourages this - how we work, think and behave
in a collaborative and fulfilling way.
In the Gulf region Baker McKenzie has been active for more than three
decades and our practice now boasts over 100 lawyers based in our
seven offices in the Middle East - Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Cairo, Doha,
Dubai, Jeddah, and Riyadh. As a pioneering firm, we were most notably
the first to enter both the Saudi and Egyptian markets.
The firm has built established and substantial presence in the Middle
East & Africa region, with all offices working in close
collaboration to service clients' needs on a range of matters,
including banking and finance, project finance, Islamic finance,
corporate/M&A and dispute resolution. We work closely with key
local players — including governmental and regulatory entities,
financial institutions, family-owned conglomerates and corporates
across all industry sectors — as well with global investors and
corporations establishing and consolidating their presence in the region.
Have a look at our YouTube
channel to find out more about us!
To Apply
We welcome direct applications.
Please click on the Apply button on this advertisement to complete
the application form.
For more information about this position or to discuss any
adjustments you may require during the process please contact, in
confidence, Sarah Peachman, Recruitment Manager, EMEA (Business
Professionals) on sarah.peachman@bakermckenzie.com
NO AGENCIES PLEASE
Please note we do not accept unsolicited CVs.
Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity & Equity
Baker McKenzie helps clients overcome the challenges of competing in
the global economy. We solve complex legal problems across borders and
practice areas. Our unique culture, developed over 65 years, enables
our people to understand local markets and navigate multiple
jurisdictions, working together as trusted colleagues and friends to
instill confidence in our clients. This is an exciting time to join us
as we invest in and further develop our Professional & Business
Services organisation, providing rewarding and challenging career
opportunities in all of our world-class business functions.
Baker McKenzie has a culture of diversity and inclusion in its DNA -
since our beginning, the differences of our people have helped us to
work fluently across borders, cultures and practices. This is
intrinsic to everything we do and underpins Baker McKenzie's vision to
be the global law firm of choice. We understand that organisations
work best when people with different backgrounds and points of view
are brought together. We also know people perform at their best when
they can be themselves at work. Baker McKenzie is committed to serving
our clients with innovative solutions brought about by a diverse
talent pool and an inclusive community.