Human Resources Advisor

New York, NY

Reports to:  Office Managing Partner (New York), HR Manager, Disputes (London) 

Objectives

• Ensure the delivery of best practice HR operations
• Coordinate all recruitment activities for the office
• Manage routine staff moves (e.g. maternity leave, transfers etc.)
• Provide staff with general HR policy advice
• Manage annual processes such as Performance Reviews and Salary Review
• Act as the primary HR contact to staff and partners
• Oversee the implementation of global or regional people initiatives

Key Relationships

• Office Managing Partner
• UK/US region HR advisers
• Financial Controller, New York
• Reward and Benefits Manager
• Disputes HR team
• UK HRD
• Office Manager
• US Legal Recruitment Director

Primary Responsibilities

Business partnering and day to day operations

• Manages all day to day HR matters effectively and efficiently;

• Submits monthly payroll instructions on joiners and leavers and salary changes, including unpaid leave and maternity calculations;
• Updates the HR Information System with all new joiners’ information and subsequent changes to personal details;
• Provides partners and staff based in the office with a first point of contact for HR issues and involves the wider global HR team as necessary;
• Partners with other business services colleagues to ensure end to end processes are seamless;
• Acts as a trusted adviser and sounding board.

Employee Relations

• Provides guidance and support to partners and business services managers and ensures all employee issues are resolved promptly;
• Co-ordinates the delivery and communications of the annual performance review process;
• Advises managers on managing poor performance and ensures issues are being dealt with in the appropriate way;
• With guidance from HR management, leads on straightforward ER issues such as disciplinaries and grievances;
• Assists with the successful implementation of new employment policies and practices;
• Monitors and manages all office sickness absence (including referrals to Occupational Health as necessary);
• Manages long term leave processes (eg maternity and sickness) for employees.

Resourcing

• Maintains resourcing plans for the office and works with the relevant managers and partners to provide cost efficient and effective recruitment solutions which are in line with the needs of the business;
• Interviews or assesses candidates as necessary and ensures selection processes are in line with best practice;
• Provides advice and guidance to recruiting managers throughout the process;
• Assists with the production of recruitment business cases and JDs;
• Produces offer letters, contracts and manages the pre-screening process;
• Builds good relationships with external recruitment agencies and manages the service provided;
• Manages client and intra-office secondments, working closely with the Business Finance and International Mobility teams.

Joiners and Leavers

• Co-ordinates and delivers the induction process for new joiners;
• Conducts new joiner chats, collates feedback and communicates to the appropriate people as necessary;
• Conducts exit interviews and communicates feedback to the appropriate people as necessary;
• Oversees the probation review process, liaising with managers as necessary.

Reward and Benefits

• Leads on delivering the annual salary review and bonus processes, in conjunction with the London-based Reward and Benefits Manager;
• Supports the administration of staff benefits and resolves queries.

Development

• Identifies training needs and works with Learning and Development Managers in London to deliver solutions.

Project Work

• Leads small-scale people projects;
• Works on global or regional strategic projects as required;
• Influences and supports the implementation of various change management initiatives.

Qualifications, Skills & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• An extremely well organised, commercial and intelligent HR generalist with a minimum of 2 years HR generalist and business partnering experience at adviser level, preferably with some professional services experience although those with less or more experience will be considered provided they can demonstrate the core skills and experience required for the role;
• Proven track record in recruitment;
• Sound understanding of current US labor law;
• Good knowledge of employee relations processes particularly in respect to performance management;
• Experience of payroll is desirable;
• Track record of building strong relationships with internal clients built upon sound technical knowledge and excellent interpersonal skills;
• Confident, with strong influencing and negotiating skills;
• PC literate (Microsoft Office suite).

Behavioural Competencies

Personal Leadership

• Positively impacts those around them, makes quality decisions and develops themselves both personally and professionally
• Demonstrates sound knowledge in their field
• Anticipates potential problems and identifies a range of possible solutions
• Adapts their interpersonal style to suit different audiences in a genuine way

Builds Authentic Relationships

• Takes time to get to know people beyond their role
• Treats people with respect and in a fair and consistent way
• Recognises when colleagues are under pressure and volunteers to assist them where possible

Collaborates with others

• Works within teams and across boundaries to share knowledge and achieve results
• Identifies and builds relationships required to achieve the best outcomes for the firm
• Engages people with the right skills, knowledge and expertise to provide advice and assist with tasks
• Connects other people in the firm who have mutual interests or work objectives
• Generously shares their time, knowledge, expertise and talent to support others’ success

Enhances the Client Experience

• Creates opportunities to enhance the experience of the firm’s clients through their daily tasks
• Behaves consistently with the firm’s values in their interactions with others
• Conducts themselves in a way that reflects positively on the firm’s brand, both inside and outside the firm

Achieves Results

• Maintains focus and drive to achieve quality outcomes
• Focuses their time and efforts on issues that will have the greatest impact on agreed objectives
• Anticipates responses and plans their approach accordingly
• Looks for the most effective way to achieve outcomes
• Maintains perspective and optimism when faced with setbacks