HR Generalist

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE This is an exciting new opportunity within our HR Business Partnering team. The role is dedicated to supporting our European offices, including Germany (Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg and Munich), France (Paris), Luxembourg, Poland (Warsaw), with the potential to extend further as the firm continues its expansion across Europe. The role is based in Leeds, with some travel required to other UK offices and occasional visits to our European locations. The HR team for our EMEA offices provide comprehensive day-to-day and operational HR support to both our fee-earning teams and business services functions. While we deliver the same core HR and business partnering services as those provided to our UK offices, this role also involves navigating the added complexity and nuances of multiple jurisdictions, legal frameworks, time zones, and cultures.

In supporting the firm’s growth and development plans, you will regularly contribute to a range of ad hoc projects within the Central HR team, as well as provide support to colleagues in other locations or teams as required. As a result, you can expect a varied role. You can expect to work cohesively with the wider HR Team, key stakeholders and partners within the business providing guidance, support and coaching.

THE TEAM Our HR Team is spread across our London, Manchester, Leeds, Dublin, Dubai and Edinburgh offices and supports the firm Globally. The HR Team is made up of various smaller teams including Learning and Development, Reward & Wellbeing, Resourcing, HR Operations, HR Business Partnering and the CSR & Diversity team. This role sits within the HR Business Partnering Team. You can expect a varied, fast paced and diverse role within a collegiate, dynamic and friendly team. AG pride themselves on continual improvement and innovation and the HR team is pivotal to driving forward fresh initiatives, annual processes and projects and there is lots of opportunity to get involved in working with others across the team. AG have a modern approach to work and offer excellent opportunities for learning, training and career development.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS ROLE The following list is not exhaustive but provides an overview of the typical responsibilities of an HR Generalist.

• INTERNATIONAL HR DUTIES Our HR Generalist is expected to develop a solid understanding of the local laws and regulations which apply to the relevant jurisdiction including for example (and this list is not exhaustive): Local tax, visa, employment and regulatory requirements in order to ensure compliance on all employee matters, and in particular in relation to ER matters, new joiner onboarding and leaver processes; Secondment processes and requirements for both UK employees to our non-UK offices, and inbound secondees to the UK; Local recruitment methodologies.
• EMPLOYEE RELATIONS Working with line/HR Managers in handling a variety of employee relations issues (disciplinary, grievance, performance, management) through to exit where necessary, in line with both local regulations and AG policies/values; Providing timely support and appropriate advice; coaching line managers and maintaining appropriate records; Working with line/HR Managers in handling absences cases, including liaising with line managers to ensure effective management and reporting of short and long term sickness; providing appropriate support to individuals; and ensuring timely submission of any occupational health referral, statutory health insurance or income protection forms as applicable; Providing assistance and advice to both employees and line managers with regard to the day to day application of HR policies and procedures, as well as ensuring HR records are kept up-to-date; Providing day to day benefits information and advice as required. Being aware of the terms and conditions applicable to the various roles within the firm and across different jurisdictions, and working with relevant teams to ensure that the appropriate benefits are in place for staff in a timely manner; Dealing with all parental leavers/returners, including handling working flexibly applications in conjunction with the line/HR Manager.
• RESOURCING Working alongside the Resourcing team, providing support to the HR Manager in the provision of timely and cost effective and efficient resource management to client teams; Liaising with recruiting line/HR managers to establish a business case and authorisation of vacancies before commencing with appropriate sourcing and attraction methodologies. Supporting the selection process as needed; Leading on the offer approvals process with relevant input from the HR/Finance/Line manager as well as the Resourcing team, including providing guidance on relocation packages where needed; Working with Group Resourcing team on issuing offer paperwork and, in conjunction with the current HR Advisor, supporting all new joiners from point of offer to date of commencement, assisting with any queries raised throughout the offer process; Supporting leavers from point of resignation to leaving date. Conducting exit interviews as required, and feeding back appropriate MI; Managing secondment requests; Assisting the Early Careers team with their summer placement programme, trainee solicitor assessment centres and law fairs as required. As well as facilitating the successful implementation of training contracts in our European offices; Supporting the Early Careers team and the firm with annual Trainee seat move and qualification processes in the European offices.
• PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT Assisting in the provision of rigorous performance management support to client groups as required; Supporting the line managers with the firm’s regular Check in process to ensure meetings take place and any training and development needs and/or performance matters are dealt with in a timely manner; Assist HR/Line Managers with client group promotion processes; Supporting the annual salary review process for all client groups.
• PROJECTS & OTHER Produce MI and monthly reports to identify trends within client groups; Be involved in and take the lead on ad hoc projects both across the wider HR team and within the client group on a regular basis; Supporting on the delivery of the firm wide surveys for the groups and liaising with managers to identify appropriate actions to address survey feedback.

YOUR SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE Ideally you will be of graduate calibre and either part or fully CIPD qualified but this is not essential; Previous generalist HR experience at a similar level required, ideally but not necessarily within a professional services or similar fast paced environment; Experience of working with European jurisdictions would be advantageous, though not essential. However, a strong interest in, and aptitude for, learning about local compliance requirements in the regions covered by this role, both in relation to employment matters and in providing advisory support to the business; Have the ability to work autonomously with minimal supervision; A demonstrable ability to influence at senior levels; excellent written and verbal communication skills; A clear ability to manage a complex and changing workload, flexibly and efficiently; A strong team orientation; Ability to juggle multiple tasks and deadlines whilst maintaining a high attention to detail at all times; Highly computer literate, in particular strong Excel skills.

OUR FIRM Addleshaw Goddard is a place where you are valued, encouraged, and challenged to fulfil your potential in a supportive and collegiate environment. Our culture of improvement, growth and collaboration delivers results, drives innovation, and rewards ambition. We not only provide technical excellence and experience but, crucially, demonstrate real insight into our clients and what really matters to them and as such we are natural choice for FTSE100 clients and their equivalents in other markets. Our success has been built by people from the widest range of backgrounds, locations, and perspectives. We have a number of employee networks that provide space to discuss the differences that make us who we are and celebrate this at AG.

OUR APPROACH: IMAGINE THE BEST YOU CAN BE Everything we’ve accomplished can be traced back to our people and the way we work. Our reputation is something we are proud of, and constantly invest in. Here, you’ll do high calibre work, with high-character colleagues who care for one another and our clients. Are you up for the challenge?