Human Resources Advisor

What are we looking for?

We are looking for a bright, enthusiastic and capable HR Advisor from a client facing role to provide generalist HR support to our Business Services and Dispute Resolution divisions. You will help drive our major HR processes in the UK, and where applicable, globally. This role is an excellent opportunity for someone with previous HR Advisor/HR Generalist experience to gain exposure to working across both fee earning and non-fee earning divisions.  The HR team works collaboratively and this is a position where you will have a varied and exciting role providing support to your designated divisions, as well as the wider generalist HR team.

Areas of focus and responsibilities

• Working alongside the HR Mangers to provide day to day HR advice and guidance to the divisions.
• Dealing with ad-hoc HR issues as they arise, providing advice and mediation on employee relations issues.
• Supporting the HR Managers and their client groups to design and deliver effective HR solutions.
• Playing a key role in the management of annual HR processes including the coordination and preparation of materials for appraisals, promotions, salary review and bonuses; attending meetings with HR Managers, Partners and Regional Divisional Leaders.
• Helping to facilitate the talent management and succession planning process, alongside the HR Managers by producing, maintaining and collating the relevant information.
• Responsible for checking all regular HR correspondence for the legal divisions drafted by the HR Assistant, ensuring it is accurate and complete.
• Responsible for drafting more complex correspondence such as unique contracts or complex flexible working responses, disciplinary and grievance and performance management matters.
• Responsible for reviewing and analysing management information such as the monthly staff report and flagging issues to the HR Managers.
• Acting as the point of contact for those taking parental leave, conducting maternity/paternity/shared parental leave meetings and ensuring the relevant paperwork is provided.
• Managing the flexible working application process for staff.
• Proactively managing absence through monitoring absence levels, dealing with long- and short-term sickness absence, ensuring appropriate occupational health referrals and liaising with the Reward team on PHI claims.
• Monitoring the HR Helpdesk inbox and supporting the HR Assistants in resolving queries received via the inbox.
• Running the end of probation review process – attending meetings, addressing any issues, making recommendations and ensuring all paperwork is returned.
• Conducting exit interviews as appropriate.
• Ad hoc project work – including writing policy, research, updating current systems/procedures.
• Assisting the generalist HR team with other duties and responsibilities as and when required.

Skills and attributes

• First class written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to influence and win the confidence and respect of others
• Team player with a flexible approach
• Excellent attention to detail and a sense of urgency
• Methodical approach to working
• Commercial aptitude
• Proactive and resilient

Qualifications required

• CIPD qualified with previous HR Advisor level experience within a professional services organisation
• Highly PC literate with strong systems skills. 
• Must have excellent Excel skills

The essentials

• 9.30am to 5.30pm but flexibility is a must
• 12 week probation period
• 4 week notice period
• Flexible benefit package including pension, private medical insurance, denplan, season ticket loan, subsidised gym memberships, lifestyle discount scheme, the ability to buy and sell holidays, flu jabs, doctors consultation service, cycle to work scheme, on site café and more.

About the HR team at Withers

The HR department at Withers has a complement of 30 HR professionals based in the London office, 12 in the US, 1 in Geneva, 7 in Asia and 2 remote workers who support the global HR function.  The department works with its global divisions on a business partner basis. 

The HR team is a hardworking and committed one and is closely integrated to deliver a valued service to the business. Our HR team enjoy the unique culture that Withers has to offer. We are proud to have won HR team of the year in 2019 at the HR in Law awards.

About Withers

A law firm focused on people and collaboration. 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 endeavours to recruit and fill vacancies directly. However, when we do need to engage with agencies, Withers 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 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.