Human Resources Manager

Job title:       Human Resources Manager

Reports to:   Head of HR (APAC)

Location:      Singapore

About Withers KhattarWong LLP

Withers KhattarWong LLP is amongst the largest international law firm in Singapore. We are a fully integrated global law firm with lawyers located across five continents in 17 offices.

Our broad global platform allows us to guide clients through the legal challenges inherent in the ever-changing international landscape. As our client, you will receive quality advice on diverse legal and tax issues through the services of one law firm with a single communication.

Internationally, we have made a reputation for ourselves as the leading law firm for private capital; our clients include public and private companies founded by successful families, MNCs, financial institutions, international brands, family offices and HNWIs, charities and not-for-profit organisations, amongst others. We pride ourselves for our role in helping our clients achieve success.

Areas of focus and responsibilities

In this role, the incumbent will support the Singapore office's fee earners and secretarial team within the groups.  Within your dedicated groups, you will perform in a generalist HR role and support your client group through their full employee lifecycle experience. 

The HR Manager will be responsible for establishing a high-quality HR presence within the nominated Divisions as well as across the wider Singapore office with support from the HR Ops and Talent Acquisition teams.   The role will also act as the APAC lead for support on global people related projects, and to ensure collaboration and delivery across this region.  This is not a stand-alone role, and it is expected that the HR Manager will collaborate and coordinate with their peers and colleagues in the region for successful review, coordination and/or implementation of Withers initiatives and compliance requirements.

Responsibilities

Generalist

• Provide generalist HR advice and support to the partners and support function managers to enable them to manage and develop their people
• Advising and supporting on all employee relations issues, including performance management, flexible working requests, disciplinary and grievances
• Support in the management of new joiner processes
• Manage off-boarding processes
• Preparing correspondence and contractual changes as required
• Managing the annual the mid-year and annual performance review appraisals
• Working alongside the Head of HR (APAC), other HR Manager(s) and the Regional Divisional Leaders to support the headcount planning process, providing knowledge and advice to team structure and divisional needs

Projects

Working in conjunction with the HR Manager, Projects (currently located in the US), and under the general direction and guidance of the Assistant Human Resource Director:

• Support with Global HR Business Planning
• APAC HR Section of Intranet - Maintaining and developing the HR offering for the APAC region on the intranet, Within.  Keep the intranet current making regular updates and being the admin for the pages.
  • Long term plan to try to use the intranet more effectively, particularly with policies/handbooks. 
• Maintaining APAC HR Precedent Bank
• Maintain APAC Employee Handbooks and develop new policies as required (and in conjunction with global updates to the extent appropriate).  Ensuring all are up to date ahead of annual declarations
  • Survey Monkey Enterprise
• Develop the team's skill level in using Survey Monkey
• Manage global HR surveys, specifically across the APAC region
• Health & Safety Policy and Guidance
• Global and Local Engagement Surveys
• Supporting HR initiatives being generated by the Withers Tree of Life – we have noticed an increasing demand for our time on projects or policies generated by the Withers Tree of Life eg. Trans, Pregnancy Loss, Menopause, Domestic Abuse, Sabbatical, Fertility policies.
• Appraisal process – this needs to be reviewed and managed centrally, globally annually.
• Projects – any HR related projects coming out of the Way We Work program such as DPC restructure, Divisional Support Review, Global Mobile Working as well as cross-functional projects such as Anti Money Laundering background screening.

Developing our people

• Ensuring effective talent management of people within nominated Divisions; including overseeing the annual appraisal process, identifying secondment opportunities, assessing and advising on technical and practice management skills development for the fee-earning and support teams

Compensation and benefits

• Working alongside the Head of HR for the region, support in the preparation and coordination of the annual salary review and bonus process for the Singapore office
• Maintain knowledge of the local market and continually assess & review our financial rewards and benefits to ensure we remain competitive on recruitment , retain and motivate high calibre individuals
• Provide input and advice in the annual review of the office's benefits and wellbeing offerings; providing market research, knowledge and staff feedback as appropriate

Process and compliance

• Support with the business planning and budgeting processes for the Singapore office, including monitoring and reporting on annual budget and headcount planning
• Ensuring full compliance with employment law through effective application of HR policy and procedures
• Keep abreast of policies and procedures within other Withers offices, look for opportunities to provide a consistent and aligned approach
• Contribute to the annual HR budget setting and oversee/authorise expenditure

Employee engagement

• Investigate, develop and manage a Withers APAC mentoring programme, with consideration to similar programmes in other Withers offices and the specific needs within this region
• Support and manage any firm employee satisfaction survey, including preparation, communications, reviewing data and liaising with the business on future planning
• Employee wellbeing.  Working alongside the HR teams, and in line with employee benefits, identify and manage opportunities to bring wellbeing initiatives to the APAC offices.
• With the regional support of the Head of HR (APAC) and key stakeholders in each of the APAC offices, provide support and guidance to the regional employee affinity networks – Pro bono, Giving Back, Communications Business Sustainability and D&I:
  • providing support to the networks as needed
  • identify opportunities to join up both regionally as well as globally
  • develop and roll-out strategies to engage employees across the networks

Support to the wider HR function and projects

• Engage and support the Talent Acquisition Manager, in the recruitment of all legal, support and secretarial roles for the Singapore office as well as provide support to the trainee programme where required
• Attend and be involved in regional and global HR team meetings/calls as required.
• Through the day-to-day partnering within the business, and in collaboration with the wider Singapore HR team, seek and create opportunities to innovate and engage our people.
• Support the International Head of L&D and Head of HR with the identification development needs and provision of professional development training including monitoring the budget, managing attendee lists
• Actively look for opportunities to collaborate on global and regional projects.
• Undertaking ad hoc projects as and when required.

This list of duties and responsibilities is not exhaustive.  It is intended to describe the general content of, and requirements for the performance of this job, and as such, the role may also include the undertaking of additional tasks as required.

Skills and attributes

The Human Resource Manager is a 'people-person', experienced in partnering with the business and undertaking the breadth and depth that the HR function can bring.  This is a decision-making role and requires the incumbent to have strong facilitation, influencing and communication solving skills.  This position suits an experienced manager who enjoys working within the business, problem solving, developing talent as well as bringing forward a collaborative and engaged workforce

Qualifications and experience required

• Minimum 5 years of relevant HR experience in a HR generalist or business partner role within legal or professional services sector
• Highly detailed and methodical approach to data integrity, record keeping and audit information
• High service delivery standards in every respect and the ability to win the confidence and respect of others
• Use of initiative in day-to-day tasks to ensure efficient ways of working with a keen focus on process improvement
• Able to prioritise, adapt to changing deadlines and to work under pressure
• Team player with a collaborative approach and working style
• Genuine interest in the development of employees and their engagement within the workplace
• Methodical and flexible approach
• High work standards and detail oriented
• Ability to develop strong working relationships with internal clients – must demonstrate strong interpersonal skills to build confidence, trust and respect amongst partners and managers
• Strong service orientation with attention to detail
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Organised and driven to achieve efficiency
• Proactive, confident, tenacious, resilient and flexible
• HR professional qualification would be desirable

The Essentials

• Reporting to Head of HR (APAC), this role will work closely with, and have a line of responsibility to, the partners in the Singapore office with support from the HR Ops and Talent Acquisition teams.
• From time to time, the incumbent will have the opportunity to be involved in our wider firm social & cultural activities.  We think this is a great thing!
• Our Firm operates under a 'Mobile Working' arrangement.  As such, and with due consideration for the needs of the business, requirements for in-office activities as well as maintaining strong engagement with colleagues within the office, the HR Manager will have the opportunity to divide their time working in or external to the office
• We provide 21 annual leave days per annum + an annual "Wither's Day"

About Withersworldwide 

For the past 125 years, Withers has supported some of the world's most remarkable people and organisations at defining moments in their lives.

We are the only international law firm focused on successful individuals and private capital, working closely with founders, investors and family offices. We also advise governments, charities, global brands and start-ups of all shapes and sizes.

Many of our clients are shaping the future and creating solutions to tackle many of the world's problems.  It makes for a fascinating and challenging practice. Our role is to get to know each individual client, find out where they want to be, and help them to get there – whether they are building a business, looking after their family, involved in a complex dispute or protecting their finances for the future.

To meet their unique needs we are exceptionally collaborative, working together across teams and time zones.

We are agile, focusing on strategy rather than rigid ideas and traditional hierarchy. It is a truly flexible working culture that puts people first.

Join us to be part of a team that is always looking to the future. Where initiative, big ideas and bold moves are always encouraged. Where you can truly be yourself.

Information for Recruitment Agencies

Withers KhattarWong LLP endeavours to recruit and fill vacancies directly. However, when we do need to engage with agencies, Withers KhattarWong LLP operates a preferred supplier list and will not be accepting unsolicited applications from non-PSL agencies for this role.

Equal Opportunities Employment Statement

It is the policy of Withers KhattarWong LLP to provide equal opportunities for all employees in relation to recruitment, training and promotion.  Decisions in these areas will be made only by reference to the requirements of the job and shall not be influenced by any consideration of ethnic origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation or disability.