Job description

We are currently recruiting for an HR Specialist to join our London office to provide a high level of both HR operational support and HR advice to the Practice Groups within our Corporate department in London on a 12 month contact basis. 

Role and responsibilities
To be a trusted advisor to the London  Corporate HR team and deliver an integrated HR service to the London Corporate fee earning groups, including but not limited to:

Operational HR

• Support individual employees on day-to-day HR issues/ policy queries (e.g. maternity/paternity leave, flexible working, salary and benefits queries)
• Monitor and report on sickness absence, manage occupational health referrals and conduct return to work or absence review meetings as appropriate
• Provide support to international secondees (international and client) e.g. check-ins, collecting end of secondment feedback
• Manage the end-to-end client secondment process e.g. supporting on business case and approval, on-boarding, briefing and supporting the secondee throughout
• Managing relationship with NQ’s and paralegals  insuring a smooth transition into the practise group, liasing with partners as necessary.
• Collate statistical information and report on exit information, including trends analysis across practice groups and where appropriate, conduct exit interviews.

Reward

• Provide assistance as required to the HR Managers and Reward Manager in delivering the salary and bonus review for associates, counsel and ‘support in the line’ staff in London, taking specific ownership of the paralegal review and supporting the group manager on the PA review.

Resource Planning and Management Information

• Provide administrative support to the HR Managers on key management processes and Managing Partner meetings (e.g. budget review and preparation, My Say analysis)
• Keep up-to-date with all staff movements (leavers, joiners, secondments etc.) so that resource requirements are planned for
• Provide assistance as required to the HR Managers to produce a manpower plan for the practice groups and closely monitor headcount
• Provide monthly and ad hoc reports on quantitative and qualitative data as required, providing analysis as appropriate and ensure integrity of data as required
• Support the HR Managers, Resourcing team and Group Managers on recruitment

Performance management / employee relations

• Coordinate and manage the Compass timetable for associates and ‘support in the line’ staff alongside the HR Managers
• Support in preparing for quarterly talent discussions
• Provide general support around Compass  engagement strategy
• Involvement in performance improvement plans where appropriate
• Assist the HR Mangers in providing advice and support to managers on ER matters
• Provide ad hoc support to the ER team (e.g. assisting with disciplinary and grievance investigations, subject access requests and disclosure exercises)
• Work with the HR Managers and Group Managers on motivation and retention strategies, in particular for legal PAs and paralegals

Talent & Development

• Liaise with the Training & Events/third party suppliers to coordinate learning & development activities for the practice groups
• Provide support to ensure London Corporate talent pool data remains up to date

Diversity & Inclusion

• Work with HR managers to drive forward various DE&I  initiatives across London Corporate including, but not limited to REACH mentoring, Reverse mentoring and various female network events.

Mental Health and Wellbeing:

• Work with HR managers to embed various mental health and wellbeing initiatives across the department including the Mindful Business Charter, promoting resources and events and engaging with mental health allies to increase engagement

General

• Advising staff on policies and procedures
• Helping to ensure consistency of practice and application of policy across London Corporate
• Providing confidential guidance and career counselling
• Providing HR operational service to staff
• Answering ad-hoc internal/external HR queries
• Liaising with a wide range of contacts e.g. Global Mobility team, BD, international HR teams, London support HR teams, HR advice in Belfast
• Assisting the HR Managers with ad hoc projects and tasks
• Build good working relationships with other HR Specialists to share best practise and ensure consistency across practise groups

Key requirements

• Proven HR experience
• Ideally CIPD qualified or similar certification
• Can demonstrate strong relationship building and influencing skills
• Good knowledge of current employment law particularly in relation to performance management and absence management
• Experience of working with HR systems (we use PeopleSoft)
• Ability to be flexible and work across a wide range of client groups
• Excellent attention to detail, prioritisation and organisational skills
• Excellent communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills
• Proven ability to combine excellent technical knowledge with sound commercial judgment and to influence decisions
• Resilient; able to understand that credibility has to be earned in this environment and may take time
• Collaborative team player with the ability to work in a fast paced, intellectually rigorous environment
• Proven ability to work well under pressure
• Ability to work with diplomacy and tenacity and able to take the lead to conclude decisions
• Demonstrates a can do attitude and is pro-active and professional in all client contact

Should you require additional support at any stage of the recruitment process due to a disability or a health condition, please do not hesitate to contact a member of our recruitment team who will work with you to provide any adjustments as required.

We are an equal opportunities recruiter and do not discriminate on the basis of race, colour, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other protected characteristic.

We recognise that our people are our most valuable asset, which is reflected in the wide range of benefits that are available to our employees. Some of these benefits include: our occupational pension scheme, group income protection cover, private medical insurance, mental health resources and free apps, health and wellbeing services encompassing an onsite gym, wellbeing centre and GP service, emergency back-up care support, parental and special leave, holiday entitlement increasing with length of service, holiday trading, season ticket loans and online discounts and lifestyle management services.

We recognise the value of flexible working and embraces hybrid working, allowing our people to work from home up to 40% of their working time. We do however remain committed to working together in person for the remaining 60% of time so that we can learn, grow and succeed together.

Additional information - External

A&O Shearman is a new global industry-leading law firm, with nearly 50 offices in 29 countries worldwide. Our fluency in English law, US law, and the laws of the world’s most dynamic markets, enables us to provide unmatched insight and seamless delivery to clients. We work on challenging and important deals and disputes that have the potential to shape the future.

We offer exceptional opportunities for our people; opportunities to work for the world’s leading businesses; to transform the status quo, and to deliver your best work, helping you and your career to thrive, while delivering unparalleled outcomes for our clients.

Whether you're helping clients solve complex challenges, transforming the ways we manage our business, or ensuring the smooth-running of our operations, this is an environment where you can belong and excel. We provide first-rate training and development, we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and we provide support and ways of working that help you optimise your wellbeing.

What truly defines a career with us? We recruit the best and ask for the best of you. And together, we will redefine success.