Senior People & Culture Manager

Kilburn & Strode; London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Kilburn & Strode, a leading patent and trademark attorney firm, is seeking a proactive HR Manager/Senior Manager to join its People and Culture team on a 12-month fixed-term contract. The role involves advising on talent management, employee lifecycle processes, and supporting strategic initiatives within a dynamic and innovative work environment that values collaboration and inclusion.

Qualifications

• Experience in a fast-paced HR environment.
• Proven ability to manage employee relations cases.
• Strong relationship-building and persuasion skills.

Responsibilities

• Managing daily operational HR requirements.
• Advising on talent management processes.
• Handling complex employee relations cases.

Skills

HR experience

Employee relations

Change management

Talent management

Commercial awareness

Education

CIPD qualification

Job description

The patent and trade mark attorney sector is unique.

In some ways, these firms resemble law firms. They provide legal advice and services to clients and are usually organized as partnerships with practice groups of trainees, associates, and partners working alongside expert colleagues in business support teams.

However, they differ significantly. They focus solely on patents and trademarks, serving clients from the world's most innovative technology companies and brand owners. While top firms in this sector are smaller than leading law firms, they are highly profitable. Many attorneys in these firms are not solicitors but scientists or engineers.

The team

Our People and Culture (P&C) team has grown over the past 12 months, creating a fantastic opportunity for a driven and forward-thinking HR professional to join a supportive, progressive, agile, and ambitious team. We pride ourselves on the excellent work our P&C team does to support the firm and aim to lead with new initiatives, just as our patent and trademark attorneys do.

The opportunity

This is a 12-month fixed-term contract covering maternity leave. The Manager or Senior Manager role reports to the Director of People and Culture and supports the delivery and execution of the P&C strategy.

Working with our Senior Talent Acquisition Manager, supported by two HR Business Partners and a People and Culture Coordinator, this role ensures a consistent approach to people management across Kilburn & Strode. It involves advising Partners on talent management and employee lifecycle processes, as well as supporting strategic initiatives such as employee engagement and gender pay gap reporting.

We are open to applications on either a full-time or part-time basis.

Other key responsibilities include

• Managing daily operational HR requirements at Kilburn & Strode
• Advising on talent management processes such as promotions, career development, retention, and succession planning
• Line management and mentoring of HR team members
• Partnering with business leaders, including international offices in the Netherlands, San Francisco, and Boston, to ensure global alignment
• Overseeing employee engagement strategies and developing action plans based on feedback
• Handling complex employee relations matters independently
• Driving reward and benefits strategies and overseeing annual compensation reviews
• Ensuring compliance with policies and regulations, such as whistleblowing and modern slavery policies
• Promoting a culture of open communication, inclusion, and employee well-being
• Living our firm values: curiosity, commercial thinking, collaboration, ownership, and positive impact

Key skills

This role suits someone experienced in organizational change and business improvement, capable of working under pressure and meeting tight deadlines. The ideal candidate will have:

• Proven HR experience within a People and Culture environment, with knowledge of HR processes, policies, and procedures, ideally in an international context
• Confidence in managing complex employee relations from start to finish
• Experience across the full employee lifecycle
• Strong relationship-building, persuasion, and influence skills
• Commercial awareness
• Line management experience, including mentoring and development
• Creative problem-solving abilities and policy development skills
• CIPD qualification is preferred

Why us?

Kilburn & Strode stands out in this sector. As one of Europe's top patent and trademark attorney firms, we are highly praised in sector guides. We serve some of the world's most innovative companies, including Aston Martin, Boeing, and Cisco.

Despite over 100 years of history, we focus on the future with a clear vision, strategy, and plans for growth. Our progressive outlook drives us to innovate and lead change within our sector.

We believe our reputation depends on the quality of our people. We seek individuals who excel professionally and share our enthusiasm and outlook. We are committed to diversity, believing it enriches our firm and makes it a better place to work. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, appreciating the creativity that diversity brings.

If you're interested in this role, please follow this link and submit an up-to-date CV.