Human Resources Manager

Cooley LLP; Palo Alto (CA); Hybrid; USD 155,000 - 195,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Dental

Vision

FSA (dependent care/medical)

Commuter benefits

Life insurance

AD&D

Long-term disability (LTD)

Paid time off (PTO) 21 days

Paid holidays 10 days

Parental leave

Fertility benefits

Backup care for children/adults

Job summary

Cooley LLP in Palo Alto, CA, seeks an experienced HR Manager to align people strategy with business goals across designated administrative departments. You will partner with management to advise on coaching, employee relations, compensation, development and recruiting, while championing a compliant, confidential, and inclusive work environment.

The role requires 5+ years in HR, state and federal employment law knowledge, and the ability to lead at multiple levels in a fast-paced law firm.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of HR experience; eligible for Senior designation with 7+ years and 2+ years of management experience
• Familiarity with state and federal employment laws
• Prior law firm experience preferred

Responsibilities

• Serve as HR manager and business partner to designated administrative departments
• Attend periodic meetings with management of respective business units
• Monitor the evaluation/feedback process to provide insight into department dynamics
• Conduct full life-cycle recruitment with in-house recruiter support
• Collaborate with compensation during merit and quarterly market reviews
• Manage and resolve complex employee relations issues
• Improve work relationships, morale, and retention
• Identify training programs and development goals and monitor outcomes
• Create department-specific core competencies and track progress
• Assist with department restructures, workforce planning and succession planning
• Advise on HR policies and compliance
• Route benefits/leave questions to benefits department and liaise with management
• Maintain knowledge of legal requirements to ensure regulatory compliance
• Assist HR leadership with tasks/projects
• All other duties as assigned

Skills

HR leadership

Confidentiality

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Time management

Employment law knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in HR or related field

HR certification (PHR/SPHR/SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP) preferred

Tools

Workday

MS Office

iManage

Job description

Human Resources Manager

Cooley is seeking an HR Manager to join the HR team.

About Cooley: Cooley is a global law firm with an expansive practice and more than 3,000 employees and partners worldwide. We value and celebrate diverse perspectives and strive to create a workplace where every individual can thrive. At the core of Cooley’s success is the exceptional talent and unwavering spirit of our people. We embrace individuality while fostering a ‘one-firm’ culture where collaboration and creativity thrive. Our people are the foundation of our success and the driving force behind everything we do.

Hybrid Schedule Philosophy: As part of the Cooley culture, we recognize and appreciate the value of being together, in person, to build comradery with others in the office and to be a contributing member of the Cooley office. However, we also appreciate the benefits and flexibility that come from remote working. As such, the default assumption for employees and partners is a hybrid schedule: some in-office presence and some work from home days absent certain essential in-office roles that require five (5) days/week in-office.

Position summary: The HR Manager is responsible for aligning business objectives with employees and management in designated administrative departments. The position formulates partnerships across the HR function to deliver value-added service to management and employees in assigned departments through HR guidance on coaching/mentoring, employee relations, counseling/disciplinary actions, compensation, career development and/or recruiting/hiring needs. Specific duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Position responsibilities:

• Serve as HR manager and business partner to designated administrative departments. Provide HR guidance to those departments as noted below:

• Attend periodic meetings with management of respective business units

• Monitor the evaluation/feedback process to provide insight into dynamics/structure of designated departments

• Conduct regular staffing needs assessments with department management and handle the full life-cycle recruitment process for the department, utilizing in-house recruiter for overflow recruiting assistance, as needed

• Collaborate with the compensation team during the annual merit & quarterly market review processes to align performance and compensation strategies

• Manage and resolve complex employee relations issues

• Work closely with department management and employees to improve work relationships, build morale, and increase productivity and retention

• Collaborate with department management to identify training programs and professional development goals as well as individual coaching needs; monitor training programs to ensure that training objectives are met

• Work with assigned groups to create department-specific core competencies and monitor employee progress against department competencies model

• Provide guidance and input on department restructures, workforce planning and succession planning

• Interpret and advise assigned department management on human resources policies

• Route benefit/leave of absence/wellness questions and concerns to benefit department and liaise with department management, as needed

• Maintain in-depth knowledge of legal requirements related to day-to-day management of employees, reducing legal risks and ensuring regulatory compliance

• Assist HR leadership with various tasks/projects, as assigned

• All other duties as assigned or required

Skills and experience:

Required:

• After orientation at Cooley LLP, exhibit proficiency in the Microsoft Office suite, iManage and other firm applications
• Ability to work extended and/or weekend hours, as required
• 5+ years of experience in HR (Eligible for consideration of Senior designation with 7+ years applicable experience in the field with 2+ years of exempt/management experience in relevant roles, mastery of assigned area and demonstrated ability to work more independently.)
• Familiarity with state and federal employment laws

Preferred:

• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in Human Resources or related field

• Prior law firm experience

• Working knowledge of multiple HR disciplines

• HR certification (PHR/SPHR/SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP) strongly preferred

• Prior HRIS experience (e.g., Workday)

• Supervisory or management experience

Competencies:

• Comfortable speaking in large group setting
• Must be able to maintain absolute confidentiality regarding department information
• Ability to handle multiple tasks quickly and efficiently
• Strong analytical and math skills
• Ability to function in fast paced hectic environment while still producing error-free work
• Excellent communication (verbal, email and writing) skills
• Exceptional interpersonal skills as well as the ability to interact with all levels of staff and management
• Professional demeanor
• Ability to adapt quickly to changing priorities
• Unquestionable business and personal integrity and ethical standards
• Ability and focus to keep apprised of federal, state, and local HR, compensation laws and regulations in order to ensure firm compliance

Cooley offers a competitive compensation and excellent benefits package and is committed to fair and equitable employment practices.

EOE

The expected annual pay range for this position with a full-time schedule is $155,000 - $195,000. Please note that final offer amount will be dependent on geographic location, applicable experience and skillset of the candidate. Senior level candidates may be considered for this position and would be eligible for a higher salary range based on experience.

We offer a full range of elective benefits including medical, health savings account (with applicable medical plan), dental, vision, health and/or dependent care flexible spending accounts, pre-tax commuter benefits, life insurance, AD&D, long-term care coverage, backup care for children and/or adults and other parental support benefits. In addition to elective benefit options, benefited employees receive firm-paid life insurance, AD&D, LTD, short term medical benefits as well as 21 days of Paid Time Off (“PTO”) and 10 paid holidays each year. We provide generous parental leave and fertility benefits. New employees will attend a detailed benefit orientation to learn more about our many benefits and resources.