HR Advisor - EME - #1785232

UK Job Description

Description

We are currently recruiting for a HR Advisor to join our Leeds office to support the delivery of the firm’s people objectives.

The successful candidate will report to the HR Manager based in Leeds. Supporting the HR Manager in the provision of operational support to specific business services groups .The HR Advisor works closely with and receives guidance from the HR Manager on many of the responsibilities listed below. The level of autonomy will vary depending on the individual’s experience and development needs

The Firm

Reed Smith is a global law firm with more than 1,700 lawyers in 30 offices throughout Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the United States.

Operating as one global partnership, we represent leading international businesses from FTSE 100 corporations to mid-market and emerging enterprises; advising clients on cross border transactions, international commercial disputes and regulation. We specialise in industries including financial services, life sciences, health care, energy and natural resources, entertainment and media, shipping and real estate.

We all share a common culture, with core values supporting the firm’s commitment to add value, achieve excellence, and promote professional development. London is our largest office with approximately 700 people, including over 350 fee earners across the full range of commercial practice areas. Consistent with the firm’s strategy, the office has grown significantly over the past five years. Key to this growth has been our ability to successfully integrate new hires into our business and give them a platform to flourish. We place a huge significance on listening to our people and incorporating their ideas wherever possible.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for the operational HR cycle for relevant groups including support for local contacts in allocated EME offices.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders. Hold regular meetings with Partners / managers to understand their HR needs. Oversee and coordinate the new joiner / induction process for groups.
• Conduct exit interviews (where required) and new joiner meetings (exc Partners).
• Manage straightforward disciplinary and grievance procedures autonomously.
• Depending on experience, manage more complex disciplinary and grievance procedures with support from the HR Manager.
• Manage family leave processes.
• Manage flexible working requests in line with policy and business needs
• Support / manage client and inter-office secondments.
• Monitor absence and highlight any concerns to Line managers.
• Lead long term sickness absence meetings.
• Advise managers on all other general employee relations issues.
• Support HR Manager on Performance review / salary review process.
• Provide informal, on-the-spot coaching to line managers on people management related matters. Escalating or recommending formal training areas to the HR Manager where development needs are identified.
• Support Manager with small scale restructures.
• Review, suggest changes and write HR policies. Ensure consistent and fair implementation of policies.
• Keep and record appropriate file notes.
• Is GDPR compliant.
• Delegate appropriately to HR administration team and review output from that team to ensure a high-quality service provided to the business.
• Support on HR department projects and other initiatives
• Approve people transactions via PeopleSoft and ensure all people changes recorded / notified to all relevant teams and noted in all related reports e.g. budgets / LOA reports.
• Supporting HR Manager with ad hoc administrative duties.
• Ad hoc travel to London office as and when required (2 – 3 visits per year).
  
  

Key Skills, Attributes and Experience

• HR Advisor experience, preferably gained within a legal or professional services environment but not essential
• Good knowledge of employment law.
• Strong influencing and advisory skills with the ability to challenge constructively.
• Has a working knowledge and understanding of GDPR in an HR capacity.
• Strives to provide excellent customer service.
• Pro-active with a self-motivated approach.
• Broad HR knowledge across the full employee lifecycle.
• CIPD qualification or working towards is desirable but not essential
• Excellent organisational and administration skills with strong attention to detail.
• Confident user of HR systems and Microsoft Office and able to work with digital tools effectively.
• Collaborative working style.
• Able to juggle multiple competing priorities and show re silience with demanding clients.
• Flexibility and willingness to take on additional responsibilities related to role.
  
  

At Reed Smith, we welcome direct applications either in response to one of our advertised vacancies or on a speculative basis. Please click on the “Apply Now” button to submit your details and we will be in touch.

No search firms/agencies please.

Reed Smith's success depends heavily on the effective utilization of qualified people, regardless of their race, ancestry, religion, colour, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, disability, veteran's status, or any characteristic protected by law. As a firm, we adhere to and promote equal employment opportunity for all.

We are committed to making all stages of our recruitment process accessible to candidates with disabilities or long-term health conditions. If you have a disability or a long-term health condition and require adjustments to be made for you within the recruitment process, please contact a member of the Recruitment team. For more information on our approach to diversity and inclusion please visit our website .