Talent Management Advisor

Michael Best & Friedrich LLP; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Michael Best & Friedrich LLP seeks a Talent Management Advisor to act as an HR business partner for designated offices and groups. You will guide leaders on employee relations, performance management, and policy interpretation while supporting workforce planning and talent development.

The role requires 3–5 years of HR experience, strong relationship-building, and the ability to balance business needs with risk. Milwaukee or Waukesha offices; SHRM-CP/PHR preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or related field preferred.
• 3–5 years of progressive HR experience including employee relations and policy interpretation.
• Experience advising leaders on people matters in a professional services environment preferred.
• SHRM-CP/PHR or related certification is a plus but not required.

Responsibilities

• Act as HR business partner for assigned offices, departments, or groups.
• Advise on employee relations, performance management, and policy interpretation.
• Support workforce planning, engagement, and talent development initiatives.
• Provide data insights to influence leadership decisions.
• Collaborate with Recruiting, Benefits, Payroll, HRIS and other teams.

Skills

Employee relations

Performance management

Talent development

Engagement

Workforce planning

Policy interpretation

Change management

Data analysis

Communication

HR systems

Education

Bachelor’s degree in HR or related

SHRM-CP or PHR preferred

Tools

HRIS

Microsoft Office

Reporting tools

Job description

Michael Best is seeking a Talent Management Advisor! The Talent Management Advisor serves as a practical HR business partner to assigned offices, departments, or business services groups. Reporting to the Talent Management Manager, this role partners with leaders, managers, attorneys, and staff to provide day-to-day guidance on employee relations, performance management, talent development, engagement, workforce planning, and the consistent application of firm policies and practices.

This position requires sound judgment, strong relationship-building skills, and the ability to balance employee experience, business needs, internal equity, and risk management. The Talent Management Advisor works closely with Talent Management, Recruiting, Benefits, Payroll, HRIS, and firm leadership to help resolve employee matters, support leaders through people decisions, and strengthen a consistent, professional, and responsive talent experience across the firm.

• HR business partner support: Serve as a trusted HR point of contact for assigned employee groups, providing practical guidance to leaders, managers, attorneys, and staff on routine and complex people matters.
• Employee relations: Support employee relations matters by gathering relevant information, coaching managers, helping document concerns, identifying escalation needs, and partnering with the Talent Management Manager on sensitive or higher-risk issues.
• Performance management: Advise managers on performance concerns, coaching conversations, documentation, performance improvement plans, and follow-up actions that are timely, consistent, and defensible.
• Talent development and engagement: Partner with leaders and managers to identify development needs, support engagement efforts, encourage effective feedback practices, and help connect employees with appropriate resources.
• Workforce planning: Support discussions related to staffing needs, role changes, team structure, retention concerns, and talent risks, helping leaders identify practical options and implications.
• Policy and practice guidance: Interpret and apply firm policies, procedures, and employment practices consistently, escalating questions or exceptions that may create risk, precedent, or internal equity concerns.
• Change and communication support: Assist with organizational changes, team transitions, manager communications, and employee-facing messaging to support clarity, consistency, and a positive employee experience.
• People data analysis and insights: Analyze engagement, turnover, exit survey, and other people data to identify root cause trends, summarize insights, and influence leader decision-making around talent.
• Cross-functional partnership: Collaborate with Recruiting, Benefits, Payroll, HRIS, Learning and Development, and other internal teams to resolve employee and manager needs efficiently.
• Other duties: Support talent management initiatives, HR projects, and related responsibilities as assigned.

Job Requirements

• This position can be based in our Milwaukee or Waukesha offices
• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, Organizational Development, or a related field preferred; equivalent progressive HR or professional services experience may be considered
• 3-5 years of progressive human resources experience, including employee relations, performance management, manager coaching, and policy interpretation
• Experience advising managers or leaders on employee matters in a professional services, law firm, or multi-office environment preferred
• Experience supporting talent management, engagement, retention, workforce planning, or organizational effectiveness initiatives
• Experience documenting employee matters, tracking follow-up items, and maintaining confidential information with discretion
• Comfort working with HR systems, Microsoft Office, reporting tools, and other business systems
• SHRM-CP, PHR, or related HR certification preferred but not required
• Strong HR judgment, discretion, and ability to recognize when employee matters require escalation
• Ability to build trust with leaders, managers, attorneys, staff, and HR colleagues across offices and functions
• Clear, practical communication skills, including the ability to coach managers and document issues in a professional, objective manner
• Working knowledge of core HR practices, including employee relations, performance management, policy interpretation, engagement, and talent development
• Ability to balance employee experience, business needs, confidentiality, internal equity, and risk considerations
• Strong organization and follow-through, with the ability to manage multiple employee matters, deadlines, and stakeholder expectations
• Comfort using data, trends, and business context to identify issues, recommend practical solutions, and support decision-making
• Required: Use approved AI-enabled tools responsibly and effectively to improve quality, efficiency, and decision-making, consistent with organizational policies, confidentiality, and applicable laws.
• Valid authorization to work in the U.S.

The Company

This is an opportunity to work with the Best. We are Michael Best & Friedrich, LLP. We are a full-service law firm with more than 350 lawyers and technical professionals who work in collaborative, interdisciplinary practices to serve clients around the world.

We work with companies in all kinds of industries, as well as trade associations, nonprofits, educational institutions, governments, family trusts, and high-net-worth individuals. Since our firm’s founding in 1848, we’ve continuously evolved to meet our clients’ changing needs and expectations. One thing remains the same: For generations, clients have relied on Michael Best for exceptional legal service and business acumen.

The Location

We have offices in Wisconsin (Green Bay, Madison, Milwaukee, Waukesha);Illinois (Chicago); Utah(Salt Lake City); Colorado (Denver, Broomfield); Texas (Austin); North Carolina (Charlotte, Durham, Raleigh, Wilmington); California(Los Angeles); Nebraska(Lincoln); and Washington DC. Our contemporary office spaces are ideal for concentration and collaboration; supporting our culture of working together to make great things happen for our Clients. This position can be based in our Milwaukee or Waukesha offices.

Why You Should Apply

Learning & Growth

Total Compensation

Planning for the Future

Culture & Workplace

Learning & Growth

We are committed to fostering an environment where every team member can thrive both personally and professionally. It's why we invest in and provide the following resources and guidance to help you grow your career with confidence.

• Challenging and Dynamic Role
• Professional Growth Opportunities
• Performance Management and Coaching
• Specialized Training Programs

Michael Best & Friedrich LLP and Michael Best Strategies LLC (collectively known as "Michael Best") are steadfastly committed to providing equal employment opportunity and maintaining a workplace for employees and applicants for employment that is free from discrimination based upon age, race, religion, color, disability, marital status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, veteran or military status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please contact our Recruiting team at [phone] or [e-mail] to let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.