Head of Early Careers & Program Management , EMEA - Director
London, LND, GB, EC2M 2AT
SMBC: A trusted partner for the long term
Here at SMBC Group, we want to help you find the next step in your career so read on to discover if this opportunity is the one for you. We like to recognise potential in our people, so we welcome your application even when your experience doesn’t perfectly align with the job description. Whilst we’ll always strive to be better, we’re proud of our inclusive culture, and encourage our applicants and colleagues to be their authentic, unique selves.
Who we are
United by a sense of purpose towards our customers – to be a trusted partner for the long-term – and our universal banking platform in EMEA, SMBC Group has an international growth agenda and award-winning products, meaning we provide exciting opportunities to work on a diverse range of projects and initiatives. We deliver a full suite of corporate finance products and solutions to our customers as well as investment banking and advisory services, and a range of innovative solutions in global capital markets. Read on to find out how you could enhance your skills and gain valuable experience, by joining us to support our clients transition to a sustainable future.
Role Summary
SMBC has an exciting opportunity for a Head of Early Careers & Program Management, EMEA (Director). This strategic role encompasses responsibility for both the sourcing, attraction and recruitment of all Early Career hires as well managing the end-to-end life cycle of the Analyst Programs.
This role leads the regional team of Early Career recruiters, program managers while also being responsible for developing the attraction and engagement strategy and maintaining university relationships so as to build SMBC’s brand in the region and globally as the Employer of Choice. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to support ongoing Global Early Careers change management and lead regional project deliverables.
Position Description
This role will report to the Global Head of Early Careers & Program Management and matrix locally into a regional line.
Strategic Leadership & Governance
- Lead the development and implementation of the regional Early Careers strategy aligned to the Global Early Careers and Program Management framework.
- Set strategic direction for attraction, assessment, development and program management across EMEA, ensuring global consistency while tailoring to regional needs.
- Act as the senior Early Careers advisor to EMEA business leaders, providing market intelligence, future talent insights, and strategic recommendations.
Team Leadership & Capability Building
- Lead, coach and develop the regional Early Careers team (Recruiters and Program Managers), ensuring clarity of responsibilities, high performance and continuous professional development.
- Drive a culture of innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement within the Early Careers team.
Attraction & Recruitment
- Define regional attraction and sourcing strategies, including university partnerships, diversity outreach, branding, early identification programs and assessment practices.
- Oversee execution by regional Recruiters; ensure alignment to global brand, marketing guidelines and diversity goals.
Program Management
- Provide strategic oversight of Analyst and Internship Programs, ensuring they deliver consistent, high‑quality development experiences aligned with global design principles.
- Partner with Learning & Development and the Global Head to enhance program design, development pathways and assessment methodology.
- Monitor program effectiveness, ROI, retention metrics and business feedback to refine strategy and gain continued business sponsorship.
Stakeholder Partnership & Influence
- Establish and maintain strong partnerships with senior business leaders, HR Partners and global Early Career leaders to embed Early Careers into workforce planning and talent strategy.
- Present regional updates, program data, recruitment insights and strategic recommendations to global leadership and business sponsors.
Global Collaboration & Project Leadership.
- Collaborate with Regional Heads to ensure global consistency of Global Program Management, including employer branding, assessment, program framework and internship conversion.
- Lead project delivery of global initiatives as required (example: global recruitment framework / university relations strategic framework / global programs framework) etc.
- Lead POC for a global business (example S&T, IB, Infrastructure etc)
Key Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent working experience, leading and developing Early Career programs.
- Proven experience in early careers recruitment, including interns and graduates, across undergraduate and MBA levels.
- Strong people management and stakeholder management skills including the ability to operate effectively within a matrix structure across all levels, internally and externally.
- Creative thinker with experience designing and implementing attraction and assessment strategies aligned with business goals.
- A regional leader and a change agent with an agile approach who has an ability to operate across regional lines, drive consensus and influence outcomes.
- Results oriented professional who drives outcomes to successful conclusion in a timely manner.
- Able to build trust, be credible and ‘hold their own’ at different levels, within and outside the organization.
- Consultative style along with the determination and patience to achieve results.
- Constructively critical with the desire to drive continuous improvement.
- Excellent project management skills
- Coaching and facilitation skills
- Strong understanding of diversity and inclusion principles and ability to integrate them into recruitment strategies.
- Willingness to travel as required and a solid understanding of the current recruitment
Competencies
What we offer
For all the expertise and experience you bring to help us make a difference, it’s only sustainable if we support you to build your career and be your best self so we offer competitive company benefits, centred around promoting positive well-bring and work-life balance. We also believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, where all team members perspectives and contributions are valued. Initiatives in place which promote a diverse and inclusive culture and healthy work life balance include hybrid working, Sport & Social Clubs and Diversity and Inclusion networks.
As an employee of SMBC you have access to a host of both useful and exciting benefit offerings. See below some of the benefits on offer to you:
- Hybrid and flexible working
- Competitive paid leave days
- Benefits to support your physical wellbeing, including private medical insurance and life and invalidity insurance
- Various policies to support your mental wellbeing, including a robust behavioural health network with counselling and coaching services
- Access a wide range of learning and development opportunities and career progression opportunities
- Ambitious remuneration package
So, if you like a challenge and want to continuously grow and develop in a role where you will be supported along the way by a dynamic and diverse team, apply today!!
We recognise our role as a bank to support social change and welcome all applications, including those from groups often under-represented in financial services. We value the uniqueness of professional and personal, backgrounds and perspectives as they play a vital role in continuing the sustainable growth of our organisation. We’ll ensure reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process are offered due to a disability or long-term condition whenever requested.