Manager: Recruitment

Mayer Brown is an international law firm positioned to represent the world’s major corporations, funds, and financial institutions in their most important and complex transactions and disputes. We are recognized by our clients as strategic partners with deep commercial instincts and a commitment to creatively anticipating their needs and delivering excellence in everything we do.

We are a collegial, collaborative firm where highly motivated individuals with an unwavering commitment to excellence receive the opportunity, support, and development they need to grow, thrive, and realize their greatest potential all while supporting the Firm’s client service principles of excellence, strategic partnership, commercial instinct, integrated strengths, innovation, and collaboration across our international firm.

If you enjoy working with team members whose defining characteristics are exceptional client service, initiative, professionalism, responsiveness, and adaptability, you may be the person we are seeking to join our Human Resources department in our Chicago office, as a Manager: Recruitment.

Responsible for providing support for all aspects of lateral business services recruitment for all U.S. offices.  Assists the lateral recruitment team in developing a high performing talent acquisition strategy for experienced lateral hires.  Serves as the lead in managing the Firm’s communications between the department and its needs to the external talent market.  Firm ambassador who develops strong relationships with department heads/practice leaders and external search firms and other sourcing contacts.  Serves as the primary point person/lead for specific functions in experienced lateral recruiting.

Essential Functions: 

• Manages all facets of the business services recruitment process including defining talent needs, obtaining aprovals for searches, sourcing candidates, screening, interviewing, collecting feedback and candidate selection. Works with interviewers and department leads to determine final candidates for entry-level to senior level business services positions from both internal and external sources. Negotiates and extends offers of employment to successful applicants and ensures successful transition into the Firm
• Serves as lead contact for non-standard business services recruitment issues, including visa transfers, relocation eligibility, and tax issues;stays up to date on legislation related to recruitment to ensure all internal polices and procedures are adapted accordingly
• Actively implements best practices for attracting candidates and works to meet the firm’s hiring goals
• Assists to develop a full range of candidate sourcing strategies and avenues, with an emphasis on strengthening direct sourcing capabilities and reducing our reliance on search firms for the full range of positions we fill
• Establishes a full slate of interviewers and provides support to implement best practices for effective in-person and virtual interviewing, candidate evaluation and feedback collection process; coordinating with local offices as necessary to coordinate an HR representative to greet candidates for meetings
• Maintains status report of open positions, status of candidates, recruitment outcomes, etc. and provides updates as necessary for weekly and ad hoc reports
• Manages integrity of data in applicant tracking databases and procedures
• Creates and maintains website components and other recruitment materials, including brochures
• Responsible for all aspects of experienced recruiting including developing and maintaining active relationships with search firms, including briefings on firm capabilities and firm strategy
• Maintains active communications with Directors, , HR Business Partners and Office Managing Partners on anticipated needs, status of candidates and open positions, desired improvements with recruitment process, etc.
• Assists to develop competitive strategic and business aspects for marketing the benefits of working at Mayer Brown
• Trains, develops and supervises direct/indirect reports in lateral business services staff recruitment

Education/Training/Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field. An equivalent combination of education and/or experience may be considered in lieu of the degree when the experience has been directly related to the functions of the job.
• 5 years+ of experience in the Recruitment industry; at a private sector law firm preferred

Technical Skills: 

• Knowledge of application tracking software tools such as LawCruit or iCIMS; experience with market mapping tools a plus; proficiency with MS Office Suite applications including Excel, Word and Outlook required.
• Advanced proficiency in virtual platforms such as WebEx, Microsoft Teams and Zoom

Performance Traits: 

• Ability to multi-task, take initiative, prioritize work and meet deadlines, strong service orientation, attention to detail and accuracy; high degree of professionalism; ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with the appropriate discretion; excellent verbal, written, organizational and interpersonal skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, able to communicate effectively and in a professional manner with all levels of the Firm and outside vendors
• Ability to work in a diverse team environment and effectively support the demanding needs of the Firm
• Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines with shifting priorities
• Must be a self-starter with a high level of initiative
• Strong customer service skills, able to anticipate needs and exercise independent judgment
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills and the ability to handle multiple projects
• Maintains confidentiality and exercises discretion
• Exercises solid strategic thinking and problem-solving skills

Management Accountabilities:

• Project management as assigned