Senior Recruitment Officer

Farrer & Co is an independent law firm, with a rich history. A centuries-long tradition of advising private families, individuals and charitable institutions is today complemented by our work with Businesses, Financial Services, Individuals, Families and Family Offices (IFFO), Education and Not For Profit organisations.

We look to be the market leader in our chosen areas of expertise, advising clients on the contentious and non-contentious legal, business and personal issues they face.

Our reputation and success is based on the goodwill of numerous close client relationships. We are trusted advisers, acting in our clients' long-term interests and paying careful attention to quality and personal service.

Our clients tell us they value us for our integrity, good judgement and professional excellence, as well as our broad perspective, practical solutions and value for money. They describe us as 'a likeable bunch' t

The HR Team is responsible for the development of HR strategy in line with the firm's vision and values, and effecting this through the design and implementation of HR policies, practices and initiatives across all areas of people management including professional development, recruitment and selection, diversity, employee relations, pay and benefits, and organisational change and development.

To continually review and develop the Firm’s Recruitment processes (including the use of digital recruitment) to ensure that it continues to attract and retain the highest calibre of candidates. To review and enhance existing recruitment materials in line with the Firm’s strategy, vision, values, while promoting and monitoring equality and diversity. To provide a prompt, comprehensive, pro-active and efficient recruitment support service to the HR Team and firm, ensuring a positive candidate experience and image of Farrer & Co.

Recruitment & Selection

• Manage and co-ordinate the end-to-end recruitment process for vacancies at all levels across the Firm, from role analysis through to offer and acceptance
• Co-ordinate the Recruitment Authorisation Process for all vacancies
• Create job descriptions for all roles and maintain a suite of precedents
• Prepare internet advertisements and maintain a suite of precedents
• Prepare vacancy briefings for agencies and maintain a suite of precedents
• Act as the central point of contact throughout the recruitment process for vacancy holders, recruitment agencies and candidates
• Screen all incoming applications, forwarding appropriate candidates to the vacancy holder for consideration and declining all unsuccessful candidates, providing feedback where appropriate
• Prepare interview packs for each member of the interview panel where required
• Conduct interviews and guide and support the vacancy holder through the recruitment process
• Ensure timely and effective communication of interview outcomes; arranging 2nd interviews, making offers to successful candidates, declining unsuccessful candidates providing feedback where appropriate
• Coach and train managers / vacancy holders where necessary in effective recruitment practices
• Build relationships with peers from competitor firms with a view to maintaining a professional network to be used for benchmarking the Firm’s activities within the marketplace
• Act as the key point of contact for all recruitment queries, both internally and externally
• Continually update teams on progress of their vacancies

Management Information

• Manage the recruitment summary spreadsheet/report, ensuring the progress of all vacancies is continually up to date
• Oversee the administration of the 'Farrer Careers' email account, responding to all queries in a timely and professional manner
• Maintain internal vacancy list on intranet
• Maintain and update Agency Terms & Conditions folder
• Run recruitment reports as and when required
• Ensure the Allhires system is up to date at all times to ensure that the wider HR Team can assist and support where necessary including covering in the absence of the Recruitment Officer.
• At the final offer stage, ensure appropriate documents are on file, e.g. CVs and interview notes.

Process Improvement

• Monitor and review the Firm’s selection processes including all recruitment forms, make recommendations for improvements and implement agreed changes
• Explore and embed digital recruitment such as using Linked in.
• Annually review the existing PSL including tenders and negotiate competitive rates
• Feed into salary benchmarking exercises with knowledge obtained from recruitment consultants.
• Improve the quality of interview notes and scoring processes.
• Evaluate and implement the impact of GDPR for recruitment at the firm
• Design interview questions in line with Job Descriptions and Career Development Frameworks.
• Create a suite of recruitment tests for business services and secretarial staff, where appropriate
• Update and improve the external website, including vacancy advertisements, in order to attract the highest quality candidates
• Maintain Farrer & Co “key facts” document for use with agencies and candidates
• Keep up to date with relevant employment legislation appropriate to the recruitment process and brief the wider Recruitment & HR team

Other Responsibilities

• Look for ways to continuously improve the recruitment process
• Act as a role model, championing HR and Recruitment across the Firm
• Ensure the Firm meets its legal and ethical obligations in relation to recruitment and selection
• Keep up to date with all SRA regulations and developments
• Assist with ad hoc projects as and when required, as requested by the Management Board and/or HR Management Team

• Circa 5 years of recruitment experience within a recruitment agency and/or in-house environment (legal preferred).
• Project management skills and meticulous attention to detail.
• Strong commercial awareness.
• Knowledge of the legal talent market.
• Strong time management, decision making and problem solving skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.