HR Adviser

We are recruiting for an experienced HR Adviser to work within the HR Advisory team.

For more information and to view the job description, click here.

Full job description (attached PDF)

Role overview

We are recruiting for an experienced HR Adviser to work within the HR Advisory team. The role is a permanent, full-time position and will report into one of the team's HR Managers. Human Resources ('HR') is responsible for supporting and developing the firm's people to help drive and shape the future success of the firm.

The HR Adviser will be responsible for providing support to the HR Managers for Legal Groups and Business Services departments to ensure a comprehensive, proactive, and considered HR service to the firm.

Our HR Advisory team offers a comprehensive range of HR support, partnering with Partners and Business Services leaders to develop and implement people strategies that drive organisational success. Working closely with the broader HR function-including Early Careers Development, Early Careers Recruitment, Recruitment, Diversity and Inclusion, HR Systems and MI, Global Mobility, and Reward and Benefits-this role ensures an integrated, proactive, and high-impact HR service.

Key responsibilities

The key responsibilities of this role are set out below and there may be others which are not listed. You may be required on occasion to work outside our normal working hours of 9:30am to 5:30pm.

Advisory:

• Working alongside HR Managers to deliver a comprehensive, proactive HR service across the full employee lifecycle, with clear accountability for defined populations, processes and outcomes.
• Acting as a trusted adviser to partners, directors, managers and employees, building strong working relationships and providing high-quality, pragmatic and risk-aware HR advice and guidance.
• Managing employee relations matters end-to-end, including probation, sickness absence, health and wellbeing, performance management, disciplinary and grievance processes. This includes responsibility for handling cases independently within agreed parameters, with exposure to more complex ER matters where appropriate, working closely with the Head of Employee Relations and HR Managers on higher-risk issues.
• Owning and managing flexible working requests and changes to terms and conditions of employment on an end-to-end basis, including advising managers, attending formal meetings where required, and preparing outcomes and documentation.
• Managing the family leave process, working proactively with departments to support employees before, during and on return from leave, keeping abreast of legislative and policy developments and contributing to continuous improvement.
• Owning and proactively supporting performance review processes for allocated populations, providing guidance to managers, ensuring consistency of approach and supporting appropriate follow-up actions.
• Managing fixed-term contracts and contractors, including tracking end dates, advising on extensions and ensuring timely and accurate completion of documentation.
• Carrying out leaver feedback meetings, producing analysis and insights to inform wider people initiatives and improvements.
• Collating, analysing and interpreting management information, identifying trends and supporting evidence-based decision-making in partnership with HR Managers and the wider HR team.
• Working closely with HR Managers on internal moves, visas and international secondments, including responsibility for visiting lawyer, visiting barrister and secondment processes where allocated.
• Maintaining accurate HR records and ensuring HR systems and data are kept up to date, including taking responsibility for activity within Workday to support accurate data management, workflow processing and strong system governance, and providing guidance to managers and colleagues on appropriate use of the system.
• Collaborating effectively with other HR Advisers to ensure consistency of approach, shared learning and high-quality delivery, and contributing to the successful implementation of HR projects and initiatives across the firm.

General

• Keeping abreast of industry trends and developments, through a strong network of external contacts both within and outside the legal sector and making recommendations for change within the firm where appropriate.
• Working closely with the wider HR team, providing support and guidance where required to provide a seamless service to the business.
• Any other duties that fall within the parameters of this role.

Candidate profile

Candidates for this position must have:

• Experience working in a similar role within a professional services environment.
• Preferably CIPD qualified or part qualified.
• Client focused with the ability to adapt approach and service.
• Good working knowledge of employment law and best practice HR Management.
• Experience of using HR systems and producing management information; experience of working with Workday (or a comparable HRIS) would be advantageous, with the ability and appetite to develop system and process expertise.
• The ability to build strong business relationships with internal and external contacts and the resilience to deal with demanding individuals.
• Proactive, prepared to take a hands-on approach, to managing their workload using their own initiative.
• Comfortable accepting instructions and guidance from different team members and managing several priorities at one time.
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team but comfortable working on their own.
• A willingness to provide feedback, share information, contribute ideas and suggestions as necessary.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, written, spoken and presentational, including strong influencing skills.
• Ability to express views clearly and succinctly in a variety of communication settings and styles.
• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to multi-task, keep calm under pressure and work to tight deadlines.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Skilled in data analysis and HR systems, with the ability to interpret trends and suggest appropriate next steps.
• Experience of handling confidential matters with discretion and professionalism.
• Experience of working in a diverse team whilst fostering an inclusive team culture.
• High level of professionalism and integrity; displaying the highest standard of professional ethics.

Our recruitment process

We anticipate this being a two-stage process:

1st interview - Two HR Managers

Practical assessment - Short-listed candidates will be asked to complete a short practical assessment

2nd interview - Senior HR Manager, Legal Groups & Senior HR Manager, Business Services

We are committed to ensuring that our recruitment processes are barrier-free and as inclusive as possible for everyone. This includes making adjustments for people who have a disability or long-term condition. If you have any questions or require any adjustments to be made to one or both of the application or interview processes, please contact the Recruitment Team.

We are a Disability Confident Committed employer and will offer an interview to applicants with a disability or long-term condition who best meet the minimum or essential criteria for our Business Services roles. If you would like to apply through the Disability Confident 'Offer An Interview' commitment, please apply via our online application form and not via LinkedIn. You are disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a 'substantial' and 'long-term' negative effect on your ability to do normal daily activities. For more information about the Disability Confident scheme, please see the government website here.

We welcome applications irrespective of race, colour, ethnic or national origin, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, belief or marital status.

The purpose of this description is to provide guidance in relation to the general requirements of the position referred to. It is by no means an exhaustive list of the responsibilities that will be involved.

Any offer of employment with us is subject to the firm's receipt of a satisfactory report from its third party screening and vetting provider in respect of the successful candidate. Your adviser will be able to explain how this process works in practice in the event of any questions.

At Slaughter and May, we take the protection of your personal information seriously and we are committed to safeguarding the privacy of the personal information that you share with us, or is collected by us, during the course of our interactions with you. Our Recruitment Privacy Notice ("RP Notice") supplements, and should be read alongside, the firm's Privacy Notice.

These privacy notices are always available to view within the Legal and Regulatory section of our website.

Who we are

Slaughter and May is a leading international law firm, recognised throughout the business community for its exceptional legal service, commercial awareness, and commitment to clients. We advise across the spectrum of legal matters including high-profile, ground-breaking, and complex transactions, contentious matters and all aspects of risk. We deliver innovative and bespoke solutions to our clients, domestically and internationally. We provide clear legal advice that spans the globe whilst tackling the cultural nuances between jurisdictions. Our lawyers understand how to coordinate and manage matters in the jurisdictions most relevant to our clients.

Excellence is central to everything we do, and it remains one of the first words mentioned when others are asked about the firm. We are very proud of that reputation. One reason we are known for excellence is because we have always been guided by a set of values that have been an implicit part of who we are and how we operate.

Our four core values are:

1. The highest standards;

2. Independence of thought;

3. Collective endeavour;

4. Respect for all.

They are not simply a list of characteristics. They are part of a framework, as they demonstrate our commitment to our four stakeholder groups (Our clients; Our people; The firm; Society).

At Slaughter and May, with over 1,400 partners and staff worldwide, everyone's contribution is valued, and we all enjoy an open, friendly and supportive environment. We have an underlying sense of pride in who we are and what we do, and our inclusive culture gives rise to a unique diversity of thinking, which is critical to our success and helps maintain our position as a true market leader.

Business Services Development

We offer a variety of learning and development opportunities to members of our Business Services team, including sessions open to everyone on topics ranging from personal impact and resilience to written communication. We also run a series of development programmes for supervisors and managers, as well as various bespoke team and one-to-one sessions.

Our Network of Networks

The firm has eleven employee networks run by employees and supported by partners. Collectively, we form a Network of Networks, and our aim is to foster a spirit of inclusion, both amongst the networks and the firm more widely. We work collaboratively to create a more open minded and inclusive work environment.

We strive to make people feel comfortable about bringing their authentic selves to work.

Each network offers an informal support mechanism for employees with shared backgrounds, perspectives or interests and hosts a number of exciting formal and informal events throughout the year, which are open to everyone. They're a great way to meet new people in the firm, as well as to celebrate difference and learn about a variety of experiences and perspective