HR Manager – 12 month FTC

Oakleaf Partnership; City Of London; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading professional services firm is seeking an HR Manager to provide strategic HR support across the business. This 12-month fixed-term role involves managing employee relations, overseeing a small team, and partnering with senior leaders. The ideal candidate will have prior experience in HR management within a law firm or similar environment. Strong knowledge of employment law and a collaborative approach are essential.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as HR Manager or HR Business Partner in a law firm or professional services.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and employee relations.
• Ability to advise senior stakeholders and manage multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Provide commercially focused HR guidance to leadership.
• Manage employee relations cases and performance management processes.
• Lead on HR policy development and ensure legal compliance.

Skills

Employee relations management

Commercial advice to stakeholders

Resource planning and recruitment

Job description

New exciting opportunity to join a leading professional services firm in a broad HR Manager role – with real influence and visibility across the business.

You’ll be working closely with senior leaders across a fee earner divisions to deliver high-quality HR support and strategic guidance. This is a true HR generalist opportunity with exposure to employee relations, resource planning, performance management, and project work. You’ll also oversee a small team, supporting their development and ensuring efficient delivery of HR services.

This is a 12-month fixed-term contract and would suit someone with previous HR business partnering experience within a law firm or wider professional services environment.

• Partner with senior leadership and stakeholders to provide commercially focused HR guidance

• Manage employee relations cases including performance, absence, and flexible working

• Lead resourcing plans and work with recruitment teams to attract and retain top talent

• Oversee onboarding, offboarding, and employee lifecycle processes

• Support divisional business planning and participate in monthly performance meetings

• Drive performance management processes across the divisions

• Collaborate with L&D to support training and career development

• Identify and develop key talent, supporting succession planning

• Lead on HR policy development and ensure legal compliance

• Sign off on payroll (shared rota with HR peers)

• Run annual salary review and bonus processes

• Contribute to global HR initiatives and lead on cyclical activities

• Identify process improvements and drive positive change

• Support wider HR projects as needed

Looking for:

• Previous HR Manager or HR Business Partner experience within a law firm or professional services environment

• Strong employee relations experience and a solid understanding of employment law

• Comfortable advising senior stakeholders, including partners and leadership teams

• Ability to manage competing priorities and projects simultaneously

• Approachable, collaborative, and commercially minded

Please apply and email [e-mail] for more information.