Baker McKenzie

The Senior Graduate Recruitment Advisor will take ownership of the full cycle of attraction, selection, and engagement strategy for early talent in our Brussels office. As a key member of the EMEA Early Careers team, the role-holder will, on occasion, support the Amsterdam Recruitment Manager with Experienced Hire and Business Professional recruiting, when needed. This role is instrumental in building a strong, diverse pipeline of future legal talent, enhancing our brand presence across universities, and ensuring a seamless candidate experience aligned with the Firm’s global standards.

Main responsibilities: 

• Lead the recruitment cycle of trainee/junior associate and intern programmes in Brussels and assist the wider Experienced Hire Recruitment team in Amsterdam, from attraction through to onboarding
• Build and maintain strong relationships with target universities, student associations, and relevant law faculties to enhance campus engagement
• Design and deliver impactful attraction campaigns, including in-person and virtual events, law fairs, presentations, and networking opportunities
• Coordinate the assessment and selection process, including application screening, interviewer training, assessment centres, and feedback management
• Partner closely with local and regional stakeholders to align recruitment goals with strategic headcount targets
• Manage employer branding and digital strategy specific to the local market, while maintaining global brand consistency
• Provide insights and recommendations based on analysing data trends, competitor benchmarking and market knowledge
• Collaborate with the wider Early Careers and Recruitment teams across EMEA to support broader initiatives and global consistency in approach
• Drive innovation in recruitment and candidate engagement, particularly through technology and social media
• Oversee intern and vacation scheme programmes, including planning, delivery and conversion processes

Skills and experience:

• A bachelor’s degree is preferred, but not required
• Fluent written and spoken communication skills in English and Dutch; An intermediate level of French is highly desirable
• Proven experience in graduate or early careers recruitment, ideally within professional services or the legal environment
• Strong interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, including experience advising senior leadership
• Excellent organisational and project management abilities
• Able to work both independently and collaboratively across multiple locations
• Cultural sensitivity and adaptability in a multinational environment
• Passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion in recruitment and talent development
• A strong understanding of the legal education landscape in Belgium 
• Knowledge of the regulatory and cultural nuances impacting early careers in the EMEA region
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Experience with applicant tracking systems
• Able to analyse data to inform recommendations and business decisions
• Familiar with digital recruitment tools and social media platforms

Reports to: Senior Graduate Recruitment & Development Manager, EMEA

Travel requirements: Regular travel to university campuses and recruitment events across Belgium and Amsterdam. 

Position type: Regional

Development framework: Specialist

At Baker McKenzie we are different in the way we think, work and behave. With our team of 13,000 people, including over 6,500 locally admitted lawyers, in over 70 offices worldwide, we have a passionately collaborative community of 60 nationalities and are committed to world-class career development to everyone in every job at every level. Baker McKenzie can offer you both the uncompromising commitment to excellence expected of a top firm paired with a passionately global and genuinely collaborative working environment.

Baker McKenzie is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion for all. Our unique international culture is reflected in the drawing together of a worldwide family of individuals from diverse cultures and backgrounds in all of our offices. We encourage the best people - regardless of race, religion or belief if any, gender, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation or age - to fulfill their professional aspirations with us.  We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and accessible experience for all candidates.