HR Manager 12-month FTC

We are recruiting a HR Manager to join our Human Resources (HR) department on a 12-month fixed-term contract.

About Macfarlanes

Macfarlanes is a pre-eminent law firm that serves a global client base in Private Capital, Private Wealth, M&A and Disputes. Personal connection, an entrepreneurial spirit and a commitment to excellence are at the heart of our firm. These values drive our ability to deliver exceptional outcomes for our clients.

We are big enough to undertake the most complex and demanding mandates yet small enough to know each other well and to be agile, adapting to the needs of our clients. We seek to strengthen the firm by recruiting talented people from all backgrounds who want to build long-lasting and impactful careers with us. Our culture is challenging and supportive, creating an environment where individuals can thrive.

What this means for you

Joining Macfarlanes means being part of a collaborative, approachable team who want you to succeed. You’ll be encouraged to get involved and recognised for your contribution.

We take your development seriously. Our learning and development programmes are second to none and are designed to help you strengthen your skills.

Above all, you’ll be part of a firm where we all work together as part of a cohesive and supportive team, value your efforts and help you to thrive.

The team

Macfarlanes’ HR Department consists of 45 employees which fall into several different teams: Advisory, Resource Management, Operations, Recruitment, Early Careers, Learning & Performance, and Inclusion and CSR.

The Advisory team comprises of a Chief People Officer, Head of HR, three Senior HR Business Partners, two HR Managers and one HR Adviser.

The role

The individual will be required to carry out a broad range of good quality work. Key duties will include:

• building trusted relationships with line managers across business services, providing advice and guidance across a broad range of people matters; 
• managing complex employee relations matters, including performance management, disciplinary and grievance cases;
• coaching and supporting managers to drive performance, deliver effective feedback and facilitate meaningful career conversations; 
• leading and contributing to HR projects, policy development and process improvements;
• coordinating firmwide accreditations and external submissions, such as the firm’s Disability Confident Leader revaluation, working collaboratively with relevant stakeholders;
• analysing people data to identify emerging trends and provide insights to support decision making;
• overseeing the delivery and ongoing development of the Business Services Academy and Guardian’s programme; 
• developing HR guidance, communications and resources to support managers and employees;
• working collaboratively with HR Business Partners and the wider HR team to share knowledge and good practice;
• supporting firm processes, including performance and salary review; and
• managing relationships with external partners, including those supporting neurodiversity, wellbeing and inclusion, working alongside the Inclusion and CSR team where appropriate.

This job description encompasses the main duties of the role and is by no means exhaustive. It is anticipated that duties may vary from time to time according to the needs of the department.

The candidate

The ideal candidate will have the following experience and skills:

• experience working as a HR Manager or experienced Senior HR Adviser, ideally within a law firm or professional services environment;
• a proactive, solutions focused approach, with the ability to look beyond technical HR advice to add value to the business;
• excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and work autonomously;
• ability to adapt their communication style to different audiences; and
• a collaborative, flexible approach and willingness to contribute to the wider HR team. 

Application screening

Any offer of employment with us is subject to our pre-employment checks which are conducted by a third-party screening provider. These may include but are not limited to your professional and academic qualifications, any criminal records and employment references. These checks will be initiated with your consent and your offer will be subject to the successful completion of these checks.

Our commitment to inclusion

Inclusion is one of our key priorities and it is a goal we are actively working towards. We believe that an inclusive, forward-thinking culture is intrinsically important and enables us to provide innovative solutions to our clients.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, bringing different perspectives and experiences, making Macfarlanes an exciting and stimulating place to work. We seek to recruit the best candidates, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, social or economic background, religion, disability, sexual orientation or any other characteristic.

As part of this commitment, we will ask you certain diversity data questions. We would really appreciate you and/or your recruiter completing these questions when submitting an application to Macfarlanes as this data enables us to measure our progress and identify any actions needed to continue to support an inclusive culture. This data is anonymised to maintain the privacy of applicants. If you have any questions relating to how this data is used, please contact a member of the recruitment team.

Should you require any adjustments during the application and/or interview process, please do not hesitate to inform your recruiter or a member of the recruitment team. Please note, the job description is available in other accessible formats (for example, large print).

We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who best meet the essential criteria for the role. If you would like to apply through the Disability Confident Interview Scheme, please email the recruitment team at [email protected].