Head of HR France

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer; Paris; Sur place; EUR 140 000 - 210 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

International exposure

Professional development

Competitive compensation

Résumé du poste

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is seeking a Head of HR France to lead the people agenda for the Paris partnership and leadership team. The role shapes talent, culture and organizational initiatives aligned with business priorities.

Reporting to the Paris Managing Partner and Head of HR Continental Europe, you will partner with partners and HR colleagues to deliver pragmatic people solutions while ensuring compliance with French law.

Qualifications

• 8–10 years’ experience in a comparable HR leadership role
• Strong knowledge of French employment law and employee relations
• Relevant HR, legal or equivalent professional qualification
• Commercial judgement and credibility with senior stakeholders
• Strong organisational and analytical skills with discretion
• Fluent French and English

Responsabilités

• Define and deliver the France people strategy in line with firm priorities
• Lead and develop the local HR team to provide high-quality service
• Advise leaders on organisational change and risk management
• Oversee workforce planning, performance, rewards and succession planning
• Manage end-to-end recruitment and graduate recruitment strategy
• Ensure compliance with French employment law and regulatory requirements
• Partner with leadership to maintain strong employee relations and governance
• Oversee HR operations, data integrity and payroll governance

Connaissances

Fluent French

Fluent English

Stakeholder management

HR leadership

Analytical skills

Formation

HR, legal or equivalent professional qualification

Description du poste

The Head of HR France is a strategic HR leader and trusted adviser to the Paris partnership and leadership team, responsible for shaping and delivering the people agenda in support of the firm’s business priorities. Acting as a key business partner, the role drives talent, culture, and organizational initiatives to enable business success. The Head of HR France reports directly to the Paris Managing Partner and the Head of HR Continental Europe.

Working closely with partners, line managers, HR business partners and centres of expertise, you will translate business needs into pragmatic, high-quality people solutions and ensure compliance with French employment law and local regulatory requirements.

Key responsibilities and deliverables

HR Strategy and Leadership:

• Partner with the partnership and business leaders to define and deliver the France people strategy in line with firm and Paris office priorities.
• Lead, develop and prioritise the local HR team, ensuring an effective, responsive and high-quality service.
• Advise leaders on organisational change, workforce priorities and people-related risks, and lead the local implementation of strategic HR programmes and systems.

Talent, performance and reward:

• Lead workforce and succession planning, identifying capability gaps and developing short- and long-term talent plans.
• Drive talent, performance and development processes, enabling individuals and teams to perform at their best.
• Oversee annual appraisal, salary and bonus reviews, ensuring fair, consistent and timely decision-making supported by accurate data.

Recruitment and workforce planning:

• Translate business demand into clear resourcing plans and ensure recruitment needs are met efficiently and inclusively.
• Oversee end-to-end recruitment for fee-earning and business services roles, and ensure the firm’s employer brand is represented consistently.
• Set the local graduate recruitment and law student internship strategy, working closely with relevant stakeholders.

Employee relations and French labour relations:

• Provide senior-level advice on complex performance, disciplinary, grievance and other employee relations matters.
• Ensure HR policies and practices meet firm standards and comply with French employment law and local regulatory requirements.
• Lead constructive relationships with employee representatives and the CSE, including required negotiations, consultations and elections.

HR operations, data and change:

• Oversee effective local HR operations, payroll governance, mobility processes and collaboration with HR Shared Services and centres of expertise.
• Use people data and management reporting to support informed decisions, while ensuring the compliant handling and integrity of HR data.
• Champion employee engagement, inclusion, communication and knowledge sharing across the Paris office and wider HR community.

Key requirements

Essential

• A minimum of 8 to 10 years’ experience in a comparable role, including leading and developing an HR team.
• Strong knowledge of French employment law and employee relations.
• A relevant HR, legal or equivalent professional qualification.
• Commercial judgement and the credibility to advise and influence senior stakeholders and notably partners in a complex, international environment.
• Strong organisational and analytical skills, with the ability to prioritise competing demands and handle sensitive matters with integrity and discretion.
• Fluent French and English.

Desirable

• Experience in a legal, partnership or other professional services environment.

What we offer

This is an opportunity to take on a highly visible HR leadership role at the heart of our Paris office. You will work closely with the partnership and senior leaders, lead a talented local HR team and help shape the people agenda for France within an international firm. We offer a collaborative and inclusive environment, international exposure, opportunities for continued professional development, and a competitive compensation and benefits package.