Human Resources Advisor

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.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for an experienced, detail oriented and driven Human Resources Advisor to support our Milan and Padova offices.  Based in the Milan office, the Human Resources Advisor will be responsible for providing a high-quality HR presence within the Italian offices. 

The Human Resource Advisor is a 'people-person' and is skilled in managing the day-to-day activities and HR requirements in Italy.  It is a varied role, requiring the incumbent to have strong decision making, influencing and excellent communication skills.  This position suits an experienced advisor with strong people, communication and problem-solving skills, all developed within an international law firm environment.

This is a permanent, full time position working Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.  Flexibility is required from time to time.

This role will report to the Italian Office Managing Director, Office Manager and the Head of EU HR (Business Partnering).

Areas of focus and responsibilities

• Primary liaison for general partner and staff employment related queries.
• Work closely with the London Recruitment team in recruiting of support staff and fee earners, producing job descriptions, placing adverts, working with recruitment consultancies, organising interviews and managing the induction process.
• Coordinate the new joiner process for support staff and fee earners e.g., preparing offer letters, requesting references, coordinating activities to ensure office and IT equipment is set up liaising with the Milan IT Support Analyst as necessary.
• Coordinate any leavers e.g., sending documentation, notifying all relevant parties (Italian bar and Insurance Broker) and instructing payroll services as required.
• Co-ordinate the fee earner, staff and secretarial appraisals, probation reviews and training in conjunction with the HR.
• Ensure firm and office policies and procedures are being implemented within the Italian offices and work alongside the London HR team with annual updates to the policies and procedures manuals.
• Provide the Italian office input to the salary review process by researching salaries and ensuring they are in line with the local firms and market, co-ordinating the Italian salary review process and helping to communicate salary and bonus payments.
• Maintain accurate and up to date records of all absence and holiday and coordinate the overtime records across the office.  Manage any parental leave requests to include maternity, paternity or adoption leave.
• Working with the London HR team to coordinate the annual performance appraisal process and mid-year conversations.
• Contribute to the annual HR budget setting and oversee/authorise HR expenditure.
• Prepare the Italian monthly payroll instruction and liaise with the external payroll company.
• Assist in the coordination of secondees to/from the Italian offices.
• Support the provision of learning & development initiatives, identify training and development needs, ensure ongoing provision of coaching and counselling, support staff welfare and wellbeing initiatives, and support the firm's benefits offering.
• Manage any performance or employee relations matters to include time keeping and attendance.
• Act as a specialist on Italian employment law (working as requested with outside counsel locally).
• Work with the global HR team on any HR related initiatives and projects.
• General ad hoc HR administration tasks as 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.

Technical skills and experience

• Educated to degree level, or equivalent
• Fluent Italian and English language skills are essential
• Ideally experience working in a law firm environment in an HR management role that covers the majority of the areas above
• Technically competent, with the ability to adapt, think laterally and apply software to produce the desired documents/outcomes
• Excellent IT skills

Interpersonal skills

• Good people-management skills and the ability to develop and improve working relationships
• Smart, calm and professional manner
• Highly self-motivated with the ability to present ideas in business-friendly and user-friendly language
• Be a team player that will integrate well with people from all parts of the business
• Ability to take command of individual projects with full support from senior managers
• Ability to plan out and work on a number of tasks and projects simultaneously
• Ability to analyse and solve problems quickly and efficiently
• Commercial approach with a robust attitude
• Flexible approach and a strong desire to provide an outstanding service
• Good interpersonal skills and good oral and written communication skills
• Ability to effectively prioritise and execute tasks in a high-pressure environment
• Keen attention to detail and able to organise effectively, with a sense of urgency
• Be reliable, enthusiastic and have total discretion
• Confident and comfortable dealing with fee earners
• Highly self-motivated and keen to learn new skills (enthusiastic and willing)

For further information, please contact the recruitment team.

Information for Recruitment Agencies

We endeavour to recruit and fill vacancies directly. However, when we do need to engage with agencies, we operate a preferred supplier list ('PSL') and will not be accepting unsolicited applications from non-PSL agencies for this role.

Equal Opportunities Employment Statement

It is the policy of Withers Worldwide 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.

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