Senior Manager, Human Resources

White & Case; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

White & Case is seeking a Senior HR Manager on a 12-month fixed-term contract to cover parental leave and translate business strategy into talent imperatives. You will serve as a strategic HR business partner to Partners and senior stakeholders across the Melbourne and Sydney offices, delivering effective HR solutions and partnering with Recruitment and other HR functions.

You will lead performance, compensation processes, onboarding/offboarding, and ensure global/local HR strategies are applied

Qualifications

• Qualification and experience required: Bachelor’s degree or formal qualifications in HRM or Employee Relations
• Senior-level strategic and operational HR experience, and employee relations in legal, professional services or client-focused environments
• Proactive judgment to identify, resolve or escalate key business issues
• Positive, adaptable and delivery-focused under changing circumstances
• Willingness to manage strategic priorities and day-to-day operations
• Solution-oriented, client-focused stakeholder management with senior partners
• Comfort working with ambiguity and change
• Collaborative and flexible teamworking style
• Ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and maintain confidentiality

Responsibilities

• Act as a strategic HR business partner to Partners and people leaders on culture, engagement, talent, workplace relations and people matters
• Ensure global and regional People strategies are implemented consistently across the Australian offices while addressing local requirements
• Advise on workplace relations issues and lead employee-relations processes
• Partner with Engagement & Development and compensation teams on annual initiatives, including WGEA reporting
• Support Partners in developing teams, identifying talent gaps and planning progression and development
• Oversee onboarding and offboarding processes including visas, registrations, inductions, terminations and exit interviews
• Lead the annual performance evaluation process balancing global priorities with local needs
• Lead regional compensation strategy and annual compensation processes including salary benchmarking and bonuses
• Coach, develop and support direct reports to build a high-performing HR team
• Maintain HR data and streamline HR processes and handle additional projects

Skills

Strategic HR

Employee relations

Stakeholder management

People leadership

Change management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in HRM or Employee Relations

Job description

Our People team is responsible for managing and enhancing all aspects of human resources and employee experience. Our team oversees talent acquisition, including recruiting, interviewing and onboarding new hires, ensuring that the Firm attracts and retains top legal talent and business services professionals. We develop and implement HR policies, manage employee relations, and administer compensation and benefits programs to ensure a fair and supportive work environment. Additionally, the People team focuses on training, professional development, work allocation, mobility and fostering a positive workplace culture. We also handle performance management, employee engagement, and compliance with labor laws and regulations. Through our comprehensive HR strategies and initiatives, the People team ensures that the Firm’s workforce around the world is motivated, skilled and mobilized to deliver on the Firm’s objectives.

Our Senior HR Manager leads the HR function across the Melbourne and Sydney offices and acts as a Business Partner to Partners and senior business services stakeholders.

We are currently seeking a senior HR professional on a 12-month FTC to cover a parental leave in the team and support the business translate our business strategy into talent imperatives and ensure effective HR delivery across the offices. This role will work closely with our HR Manager and HR Advisor, as well as our Recruitment team and other key stakeholders to effectively deliver HR value to the business.

The roles and responsibilities include:

Act as a strategic HR business partner to Partners and people leaders on culture, engagement, talent, workplace relations and people matters.

Ensure global and regional People strategies are implemented consistently across the Australian offices while addressing local requirements.

Advise on workplace relations issues, manage employee-relations processes and keep leadership informed of relevant legislative developments.

Partner with Engagement & Development and compensation teams on annual initiatives, including WGEA reporting, to identify and address gaps.

Support Partners in developing teams, identifying talent gaps and planning employee progression and development.

Oversee effective onboarding and offboarding processes, including visas, registrations, inductions, terminations and exit interviews.

Lead the annual performance evaluation process, ensuring robust, consistent and efficient outcomes that balance global priorities with local needs.

Lead regional compensation strategy and annual compensation processes, including salary benchmarking, bonus proposals and compliance with global and regional policy.

Coach, develop and support direct reports, fostering a collaborative, engaged and high-performing HR team.

Maintain accurate HR data, improve and streamline HR processes and undertake other assigned projects and administrative responsibilities.

Qualification and experience required:

Bachelors degree or formal qualifications in HRM or Employee Relations

Senior-level strategic and operational HR experience, and employee relations preferably in legal, professional services or client-focused environments

Proactive judgment to identify, resolve or appropriately escalat key business issues

Positive, adaptable and delivery-focused approach, including under changing or challenging circumstances

Willingness to manage both strategic priorities and day-to-day operational work

Solution-oriented, client-focused stakeholder management skills, including with senior partners

Comfort working with ambiguity and change

Collaborative and flexible teamworking style

Ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and maintain confidentiality

This role reports to

Director of Human Resources, Asia-Pacific

Our People team is responsible for managing and enhancing all aspects of human resources and employee experience. Our team oversees talent acquisition, including recruiting, interviewing and onboarding new hires, ensuring that the Firm attracts and retains top legal talent and business services professionals. We develop and implement HR policies, manage employee relations, and administer compensation and benefits programs to ensure a fair and supportive work environment. Additionally, the People team focuses on training, professional development, work allocation, mobility and fostering a positive workplace culture. We also handle performance management, employee engagement, and compliance with labor laws and regulations. Through our comprehensive HR strategies and initiatives, the People team ensures that the Firm’s workforce around the world is motivated, skilled and mobilized to deliver on the Firm’s objectives.

Our Senior HR Manager leads the HR function across the Melbourne and Sydney offices and acts as a Business Partner to Partners and senior business services stakeholders.

We are currently seeking a senior HR professional on a 12-month FTC to cover a parental leave in the team and support the business translate our business strategy into talent imperatives and ensure effective HR delivery across the offices. This role will work closely with our HR Manager and HR Advisor, as well as our Recruitment team and other key stakeholders to effectively deliver HR value to the business.

The roles and responsibilities include:

• Act as a strategic HR business partner to Partners and people leaders on culture, engagement, talent, workplace relations and people matters.

• Ensure global and regional People strategies are implemented consistently across the Australian offices while addressing local requirements.

• Advise on workplace relations issues, manage employee-relations processes and keep leadership informed of relevant legislative developments.

• Partner with Engagement & Development and compensation teams on annual initiatives, including WGEA reporting, to identify and address gaps.

• Support Partners in developing teams, identifying talent gaps and planning employee progression and development.

• Oversee effective onboarding and offboarding processes, including visas, registrations, inductions, terminations and exit interviews.

• Lead the annual performance evaluation process, ensuring robust, consistent and efficient outcomes that balance global priorities with local needs.

• Lead regional compensation strategy and annual compensation processes, including salary benchmarking, bonus proposals and compliance with global and regional policy.

• Coach, develop and support direct reports, fostering a collaborative, engaged and high-performing HR team.

• Maintain accurate HR data, improve and streamline HR processes and undertake other assigned projects and administrative responsibilities.

Qualification and experience required:

• Bachelors degree or formal qualifications in HRM or Employee Relations

• Senior-level strategic and operational HR experience, and employee relations preferably in legal, professional services or client-focused environments

• Proactive judgment to identify, resolve or appropriately escalat key business issues

• Positive, adaptable and delivery-focused approach, including under changing or challenging circumstances

• Willingness to manage both strategic priorities and day-to-day operational work

• Solution-oriented, client-focused stakeholder management skills, including with senior partners

• Comfort working with ambiguity and change

• Collaborative and flexible teamworking style

• Ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and maintain confidentiality

This role reports to

Director of Human Resources, Asia-Pacific

Equal Opportunities

We are committed to creating a fair workplace and encourage applications from all ages, cultural backgrounds, First Nations communities, genders, sexual orientations, as well as people who have family or carer responsibilities. We encourage you to talk to us about any adjustments you may require to our recruitment process or the role itself. If you are a candidate with a disability, let us know how we can provide you with additional support.

The Firm may modify and amend any job description at any time in its sole discretion. Nothing herein creates a contract of employment or otherwise modifies the at-will nature of employment.

The above is only a general description of the essential duties associated with this position and does not represent an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all duties.

Note to Recruitment Agencies

Our internal Recruitment team manages all aspects of lateral hiring. All agencies must have signed terms of business—specific to the relevant office—before submitting any candidates. CVs or applications sent directly to White & Case partners or employees will also not be considered formal introductions. If you have questions, please contact the relevant Recruitment team. We work with our preferred suppliers when engaging agencies.