Senior HR Business Partner

Fieldfisher; Belfast; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading law firm, Fieldfisher, is seeking a Senior HR Business Partner to strengthen a robust HR function across its UK offices. You will manage relationships with senior stakeholders while leading on employee relations, talent management, and strategic HR projects. This hybrid role requires proactive HR support and effective line management of junior team members while fostering a high-performance culture. The firm offers a comprehensive benefits package and promotes diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Benefits

Private medical insurance

Health cash plan

Dental insurance

Life assurance

Critical illness insurance

Matched pension contributions up to 7%

Holiday trading

Training and Development support

Social & community engagement opportunities

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of England and Wales employment law; Northern Ireland law knowledge is a plus.
• Excellent project and time management skills.
• Experience managing and developing junior HR colleagues.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain relationships with senior stakeholders as a trusted advisor.
• Lead sensitive employee relations issues like performance and disciplinary matters.
• Drive strategic HR projects supporting the firm’s people strategy.

Skills

Stakeholder Relationship Management

Employee Relations

Talent Management

Performance Management

Project Management

Education

Generalist HR experience

Job description

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The HR department is responsible for the provision of a full range of HR services to the Firm, including recruitment and resourcing, talent management, compensation and benefits, performance management, employee relations, staff welfare, compliance and maintenance of personnel records.

As a Senior HR Business Partner, reporting into the Head of HR, you will be the operational interface between HR and your designated business units across our UK offices. Your role will be to embed best-practice approaches to human resources development and management to support front-line delivery. You will also have line-management responsibility of a Junior HR Business Partner (Belfast) and HR Advisor (London).

The firm adopts a hybrid working policy. This, and the role, requires the successful candidate to attend the office three days per week. Previous experience of working in a law firm or professional services is desirable.

A bit about the Senior HR Business Partner role

Stakeholder Relationship Management

• Proactively develop and maintain strong, influential relationships with senior stakeholders, acting as a trusted advisor.
• Lead the development and delivery of business unit people plans aligned with Group and HR strategies.
• Provide strategic input into business planning and change initiatives.

Employee Relations

• Provide commercially sound solutions to complex and high-risk HR issues, balancing legal compliance with business needs.
• Lead on sensitive employee relations matters including performance, disciplinary, grievance, absence management, redundancies, and flexible working.
• Coach and challenge senior leaders in the effective application of HR policies and practices.

Talent Management

• Partner with senior stakeholders to identify and develop high-potential and high-performing talent.
• Lead on the design and implementation of retention strategies and development plans for key talent.

Performance Management

• Drive a high-performance culture by setting expectations and supporting leaders in managing performance proactively.
• Lead business unit appraisal and salary moderation and contribute to firm-wide calibration to ensure fairness and consistency.

Project Management

• Lead and deliver strategic HR projects in support of the firm’s people strategy.
• Collaborate with other HR Business Partners to ensure alignment and consistency in project and policy development.

Team Management and Leadership

• Line manage and develop a Junior HR Business Partner and HR Advisor, providing coaching, guidance, and performance feedback.
• Contribute to leadership of HR Operations team and act as a senior figure within the wider-HR team
• Promote knowledge sharing and continuous improvement across the HR team.

A bit about you

• Generalist HR experience, ideally gained within the legal or alternatively professional services industry.
• Commitment to deliver first-rate, pro-active and appropriate HR support for their business areas.
• Extensive knowledge of England and Wales employment law. Knowledge of Northern Ireland employment law desirable, but not essential.
• Excellent proven project and time management skills.
• Experience managing and supporting the development of junior HR colleagues.
• Comfortable with analysing various datasets to inform decisions.
• A positive and resilient disposition as well as being a strong team player

What We Offer:

• Inclusive & Supportive Environment: We’re a firm with real entrepreneurial drive and we don’t believe in squashing people’s individuality. Our hybrid working model and open plan workspaces encourage a sense of camaraderie.
• Comprehensive and Flexible Benefits Package: Our offering includes private medical insurance, health cash plan, dental insurance, life assurance, critical illness insurance, matched pension contributions up to 7%, holiday trading, plus many more. Visit: for further information.
• Modern Office Space: Located in the iconic Titanic Quarter with excellent commuter links and parking nearby.
• Training and Development: We’ll give you bespoke support to develop your career with our people development and IT training teams.
• Social & Community Engagement: Participate in clubs, networks, inclusive events, and charity initiatives.

Inclusion at Fieldfisher:

At Fieldfisher, led by the social model of disability, we are working towards removing accessibility barriers and maximising disability and neurodiversity inclusion in our recruitment processes.

Should you have any accessibility requirements, please contact a member of Fieldfisher's recruitment team, who will work with you to implement suitable adjustments at any stage of the recruitment process. All conversations are treated in the strictest of confidence, and we would appreciate your feedback to ensure we can provide an accessible and enjoyable recruitment process.

For accessibility information on our Belfast offices, visit:

Recruitment process:

• An online application form (completed by clicking the apply now button) and CV submission.
• 20–30-minute introductory call with one of our experienced recruiters.
• The interview process varies depending on the role you apply for. However, your recruitment contact will always let you know what to expect from the process, so nothing should come as a surprise.
• For hybrid opportunities, candidates will be invited to visit our offices and meet the team face-to-face.
• Our average process takes around 2-3 weeks, but we will always work around your availability. You will have the chance to speak to our recruitment team at various points during your process, but if you have any specific questions before this please contact us at.

Please note that we recruit on a rolling basis, meaning that your application will most likely be reviewed before the application deadline. We will continue to accept applications until we have successfully filled the role.

The Firm

We are not just a UK firm with offices in Europe. We are a European law firm at our core. While our head office is in London, we are spreading across Europe at a rate. In addition to our UK, China and Silicon Valley presence we have offices in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain. Look out for more to come.

We are growing fast. With 1,800 people across 25 offices in 13 countries you might expect an impersonal office culture but you will find a homely, family feel even in the largest offices. You won't find cake listed in our benefits but perhaps it should be. Regular treats in the kitchens, monthly office buffet lunches and social events throw everyone together.

Fieldfisher and you - a match made for success
Hopefully you decide we're right for you and we decide you're right for us. Quality on both sides. Across all our offices and jurisdictions are market-leading practices in corporate/M&A, finance, real estate, energy and natural resources, technology and life sciences.

We play with the big boys, counting as clients large corporations including major technology firms, pharmaceutical and life sciences companies, energy suppliers, infrastructure companies, global banks and financial institutions. Collaboration is not just something we talk about in our Values statement (although it is one of our Values). Our approach with clients is to work with them not just for them, maintaining a constant dialogue, tailoring our services to their needs and integrating cutting-edge legal technologies into our advice where we can - but only where we think it adds value.

The legal bit
We aim to ensure equality of opportunity and we are actively working towards improving the diversity of our staff. All applications will only be considered on merit and the applicant's suitability to meet the requirements of the role.