HR Manager

Owen Reed; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension

Private medical

Season ticket loan

Gym membership (subsidised)

Lifestyle discount scheme

On-site café

Job summary

Owen Reed, a London-based law firm, is seeking an experienced HR Manager to provide strategic HR guidance and drive compliant people practices across the business.

The role is a 12-month fixed-term contract with hybrid working (minimum 2 days in the office), 9:30am–5:30pm, and a remit covering partner lifecycle, policy development, AML screening, onboarding/offboarding, and key HR projects.

Qualifications

• Experience as HR manager/business partner in professional services.
• CIPD certification desirable.
• Degree-level qualification desirable.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple HR processes and projects.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate partner-related HR documentation and onboarding/offboarding.
• Oversee onboarding/offboarding for partners with regulatory obligations (SRA).
• Maintain HR precedent bank and align with legislation.
• Lead annual review/update of employee handbooks across jurisdictions.
• Develop, review and publish HR policies and procedures.
• Manage AML screening, DBS checks and background screening.
• Support employee engagement initiatives and feedback analysis.
• Develop and publish HR guidance and intranet resources.
• Coordinate HR training sessions across the team.
• Monitor regulatory developments and update policies accordingly.
• Lead HR projects and process improvements.
• Undertake additional duties to support HR function.

Skills

HR Management

Stakeholder management

Policy development

Compliance

Employee relations

Project management

Communication

Education

Degree-level qualification

CIPD certification

Tools

HR systems

Job description

Owen Reed is looking for an experienced, detail-oriented and driven HR Manager to join a top law firm in London on a 12-month fixed-term contract.

What Are We Looking For?

We are looking for an experienced, detail-oriented and driven HR Manager to provide support, expert advice and guidance across a broad range of HR activities. The role will be responsible for managing key HR processes and compliance requirements, supporting partner lifecycle matters, maintaining HR policies and documentation, and leading projects such as the employee engagement platform. Working closely with stakeholders across the business, the HR Manager will play a key role in ensuring the firm's people practices remain compliant, efficient and aligned with business objectives.

Areas of Focus and Responsibilities

• Coordinate the preparation of partner-related documentation, including offer letters, changes in status agreements, partnership agreements, and leaving arrangements.
• Oversee onboarding and offboarding processes for partners, ensuring compliance with all regulatory and professional obligations, including SRA requirements.
• Maintain the HR precedent bank, ensuring documentation remains accurate, compliant, and aligned with current legislation and business needs.
• Lead the annual review and update of the employee handbooks globally, coordinating input from key stakeholders across jurisdictions and managing the production of new handbooks where required.
• Develop, review and update HR policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with employment legislation and best practice.
• Manage the firm's annual anti-money laundering (AML) screening process, including conducting DBS checks, adverse media searches, and other regulatory background screening requirements.
• Support the firm's employee engagement initiatives, including the management of engagement surveys, analysis of feedback, and support the implementation of action plans.
• Develop, maintain and publish the HR guidance pages, resources and tools on the firm's intranet.
• Coordinate HR training sessions to enhance capability and consistency across the generalist HR team.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments, recommending and implementing changes to HR policies, processes and documentation as required.
• Lead and contribute to HR projects, process improvements and strategic people initiatives in support of the firm's objectives.
• Undertake additional duties and projects as required to support the wider HR function and business priorities.

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.

Skills and Attributes

• Relevant degree-level qualification (desirable)
• CIPD certification (desirable)
• Evidence of relevant HR experience in an HR manager/business partner role - the ideal candidate will come from a professional services background
• High work standards and detail oriented
• Ability to develop strong working relationships with internal clients - must demonstrate strong interpersonal skills to build confidence, trust and respect amongst partners and managers
• A team player, with evidence of supporting the wider HR team to deliver a first class HR service to all internal clients
• Demonstrate evidence of ability to work with people at all levels
• Strong service orientation with attention to detail and a sense of urgency
• Ability to manage projects at the same time, using appropriate resources
• First class written and verbal communication skills
• Organised and driven to achieve efficiency
• Proactive, confident, tenacious, resilient and flexible
• The Essentials
• 12 month fixed term contract
• 9.30am to 5.30pm but flexibility is a must
• Hybrid working policy with a minimum of 2 days per week worked in the office
• 12 week probation period
• 12 week notice period
• Flexible benefits package including pension, private medical, season ticket loan, subsidised gym memberships, lifestyle discount scheme, on site café and more