Responsible Business Lead - INTERNAL ONLY

Responsible Business Lead - INTERNAL ONLY

Vacancy type Experienced hires

Scheme Specialist

Level Mid

Business area People Team

Duration Permanent

Hours Flexible

Location All UK offices

Reference number JP140

Job title Responsible Business Lead

Team People Team

Vacancy owner Jonah Philpott

We're recruiting for a Responsible Business Lead to build and lead a new, delivery-focused programme that brings together the firm's responsible business activity, from employability outreach and pro bono to community action and client social value, into one coherent, strategically led programme.

The role

As a Responsible Business Lead, you’ll lead programme design and governance in collaboration with the Head of DEI, mobilise colleagues across the firm, and personally anchor the highest-impact delivery items. You will take ownership of an ambitious agenda: professionalising and scaling the firm's Community Action and CSR programmes, moving from a model that has been loosely aligned to firm strategy and delivered informally to one that is strategically led, centrally coordinated, and positioned as a core pillar of the firm's identity.

Critically, you will also be the architect of the firm's Responsible Business identity, building its reputation, voice, and influence both internally across the firm's offices and teams, and externally across the wider legal sector, with clients, community partners, and beyond.

This role involves regular national travel to facilitate in-person delivery of projects, events, and community sessions, which could mean early starts, late finishes, and regular overnight stays across the UK and Ireland. The role is flexible but with regular travel to London, Nottingham and other UK offices, and sits within the People team, reporting to the Head of DEI, Engagement & Wellbeing.

What you'll be doing

• Design and lead the firm's new Responsible Business programme, consolidating pro bono, volunteering, community action, employability outreach, and client social value into a single, coherent programme that is strategically driven, centrally coordinated, and measurable.
• Build and deliver a scalable employability and outreach offering
  -including the new 'Day One' regional work simulation programme
  -alongside careers talks, CV workshops, interview preparation, and skills masterclasses, reaching significantly more beneficiaries than traditional work experience models.
• Support Client Relationship Partners, the Bids team, and BD colleagues with social value strategy and bid content, ensuring commitments are realistic, competitive, and aligned to the Procurement Act 2025 and the Social Value Model.
• Build and run the Responsible Business operating model — including governance, decision-making standards, and reporting cadence - and establish office champions and a partner sponsor structure to embed responsible business firmly across the firm.
• Create consistent measurement across all Responsible Business pillars and produce clear, compelling impact reports for internal leadership and external audiences, including an annual impact report.
• Proven experience building and delivering multi-stakeholder programmes in a professional services or comparable environment.
• A confident presenter and facilitator, comfortable designing and delivering in-person and virtual workshops and presentations to audiences ranging from young people to senior stakeholders.
• Strong writing skills across strategy documents, bid content, internal communications, and impact reports.
• Strong governance and operating model design skills, with the ability to turn good intentions into repeatable, scalable delivery.
• Competent in data analysis, reporting, and evidence management, ideally with experience in social value, CSR, ESG, social mobility, community engagement, or employability programmes.

Additional information

We celebrate diversity and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, social economic background or age.

We're a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who best meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role.

Take a look at our candidate interview pack for information about reasonable adjustments, what you can expect during the interview process, and guidance to help you prepare.