HR Manager - 14 Month FTC

Where you'll work

The HR department provides a first class service to the business, offering strategic HR business advice at the business partner level and quality support services in the full range of HR functions such as learning & development, resourcing, reward, employee relations, payroll, systems and HR administration, across the firm’s 1000 plus employees and partners across nine offices.  The department currently consists of 32 employees.  We are proudly the People in Law Award winners for HR Team of the Year 2021.

The purpose of this role is to support the Director of HR in the provision of a proactive generalist operational HR service to UK based employees based in Manchester and Birmingham, in support of the business plan. 

What you'll be doing

General business support

• Work as a fully integrated and trusted advisor to the partners and line managers within the designated offices
• First point of contact for all HR queries in relevant locations providing support and advice as required
• Develop close working relationship with partners/managers to understand how to best support them and their practice
• Attend monthly partner meetings updating on local and national HR related matters
• Work closely with the Director of HR and members of the internal client groups to ensure clear organisational structure, clear definition of roles and responsibilities and efficient deployment of employees.
• Prepare information for the Director of HR as required.
• Maintain accurate attendance notes of meetings and other file notes

Recruitment & onboarding of employees

• Assist and liaise with recruitment team to provide professional advice and guidance to partners and managers on the recruitment of employees
• Meet all new starters within your locations as part of induction

Performance management

• Provide support to partners and managers on the management of probationary periods
• Assist partners and managers with "Check-in's" (performance management) as required
• Manage on-line performance management system, resolve issues as they arise and liaising with partners, fee earners and external service provider as required.
• Assist with the delivery of "check-in" training

Employee Relations

• Provide advice to employees on terms and conditions of employment and policies for the firm on employment related issues
• Provide advice to employees on family friendly policies and provide counselling and support where appropriate
• In conjunction with the Director of HR provide advice and guidance to partners and managers on disciplinary, grievance and counselling issues
• With the guidance of the Director of HR liaise with our external employment law advisors to ensure solutions to employee relations issues are appropriate within the employment law context
• Facilitate flexible working requests, liaising with partners and managers as necessary

Payroll

• Work with colleagues to provide accurate payroll data to the payroll team
• Advise employees on basic payroll matters in the absence of the payroll specialist e.g. queries regarding reduced pay

Absence management

• Provide advice and assistance to departments in managing sickness absence
• Review with other HR generalists to ensure consistency of approach and manner of dealing with absence
• Manage referrals to occupational health and handle any follow up action
• Advise partners/managers where sick pay is to be stopped for an individual in line with firm policy and manage this process i.e. meet with the individual and monitor on an ongoing basis

Terminations

• Manage dismissals including negotiating Settlement Agreements, without prejudice conversations and redundancies
• Ensure administration relating to resignations is appropriately documented and advice provided to payroll and employee accordingly
• Undertake exit interviews and disseminate information as appropriate, sharing any trends and issues with the other HR Managers

Other

• Supervise and help develop the generalist HR Administrator/Assistant
• Maintain close working relationships with specialist HR teams in recruitment, reward, learning & development and graduate recruitment
• Contribute to the successful use of the HR information system
• Attend in-house committees and communication groups as required and following up on issues raised as appropriate
• Undertake projects and ad hoc responsibilities as required by the HR Director
• Deal with ad hoc queries and act as a point of contact for enquiries on a range of issues
• Keep up to date with current and impending legislation and developments and changes in the external and internal environment and propose changes to current HR policies and practices
• Keep other members of the HR department up to date with developments in a designated locations, share ideas and provide assistance to them as appropriate
• Travel to other UK offices as required

What you'll need

• Experience at HR Manager level in a professional services organisation or similar environment (legal experience preferred)
• Numerate and familiar with managing Excel spreadsheets
• Experience of managing disciplinary hearings and performance management meetings
• Educated to degree level or equivalent by experience
• CIPD qualified or studying towards qualification (preferred)

Person specification

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to establish credible relationships at all levels
• Flexible approach, with the ability to adapt to changing priorities and juggle several tasks
• Able to use initiative and provide proactive and pragmatic solutions to problems
• Strong team player, able to work with a wide range of colleagues and external service providers
• Analytical approach, with ability to provide clear and reasoned explanations and advice on issues
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Common sense
• Good humour
• Polite and professional manner