At Kainos, we’re problem solvers, innovators, and collaborators - driven by a shared mission to create real impact. Whether we’re transforming digital services for millions, delivering cutting-edge Workday solutions, or pushing the boundaries of technology, we do it together.
We believe in a people-first culture, where your ideas are valued, your growth is supported, and your contributions truly make a difference. Here, you’ll be part of a diverse, ambitious team that celebrates creativity and collaboration.
Ready to make your mark? Join us and be part of something bigger.
We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Early Careers Program Manager to lead and execute the Early Careers program across the Americas. This role owns the end‑to‑end lifecycle of Early Careers colleagues—from pre‑hire engagement and onboarding through development, deployment, and program exit—ensuring a high‑quality colleague experience aligned to both business and talent outcomes.
The successful candidate will be accountable for delivering the Kainos Early Careers strategy regionally, attracting, developing, and retaining top early‑career talent while balancing commercial delivery needs with long‑term workforce development goals. This role requires a leader who brings positive energy, strong ownership, and a genuine passion for developing early‑career talent, creating an environment where individuals can thrive while delivering meaningful impact for the business.
Key responsibilities will include:
Program delivery & operations
Own and manage the full lifecycle of Early Careers colleagues, ensuring a consistent, engaging, and high‑quality experience throughout the program.
Execute the global Early Careers program within the Americas, adapting where required to meet regional business needs while remaining aligned to global standards.
Ensure compliance with all applicable employment laws, regulations, and internal policies related to early careers programs.
Recruitment & early engagement
Act as a key stakeholder in the Early Careers recruitment process, including interviewing, participating in selection decisions, and coordinating recruitment and office events.
Partner closely with Talent Acquisition and People teams to ensure a strong candidate experience from offer through start date.
Staffing, utilization & workforce planning
Proactively manage Early Careers staffing by building strong relationships with Delivery, Capability, and Practice leaders.
Leverage Kainos systems and data to place Early Careers colleagues on appropriate assignments aligned to both development goals and business demand.
Monitor and analyze utilization, capacity, and forecasts, using insights to identify risks, opportunities, and required interventions.
Learning, development & career progression
Execute the global Early Careers training plan, leveraging Workday Academy and central OD&L offerings.
Design and deliver supplemental training and development initiatives that build professional skills, business acumen, and role‑specific capability.
Own and deliver the Early Careers mentorship program, including mentor assignment and ongoing oversight.
Provide career coaching and guidance to ensure progression pathways align with individual aspirations, capability, and business needs.
Stakeholder management & governance
Act as the primary interface with senior stakeholders for Early Careers within the Americas.
Lead Steering Committee forums and deliver clear, structured updates to Executive Sponsors, ensuring transparency, alignment, and timely escalation of risks and decisions.
Track and report on key program metrics (e.g. retention, utilization, progression, engagement) to inform decision‑making and continuous improvement.
People Management
Your role will involve managing people. Your responsibilities will include:
Agreeing, setting, and reviewing goals for yourself and your team aligned to Kainos and the Workday Business Unit.
Providing ongoing support and coaching to enable your team to achieve their objectives.
Reviewing and refining goals to ensure continued relevance and performance alignment.
Reviewing performance against goals and providing regular, constructive feedback.
Conducting 1:1s, project completion reviews, and development conversations.
Requesting and providing feedback in Workday.
Completing end‑of‑year reviews and agreeing outcomes.
Reviewing weekly workload forecasting, staff allocations, timesheet completion, and utilization.
Desirable experience
Proven experience managing, mentoring, and developing people and teams.
Strong consultancy and stakeholder management skills, with experience operating in a professional services environment.
Experience designing, delivering, or scaling early careers, graduate, or apprenticeship programs is desirable.
Comfortable influencing across matrixed teams and balancing commercial priorities with people outcomes.
At Kainos, we believe in the power of diversity, equity and inclusion. We are committed to building a team that is as diverse as the world we live in, where everyone is valued, respected, and given an equal chance to thrive. We actively seek out talented people from all backgrounds, regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, or any other characteristic that makes them who they are. We also believe every candidate deserves a level playing field.
Our friendly talent acquisition team is here to support you every step of the way, so if you require any accommodations or adjustments, we encourage you to reach out.
We understand that everyone's journey is different, and by having a private conversation we can ensure that our recruitment process is tailored to your needs.
