HR and Professional Development Manager in London

We're working with a highly respected international law firm that works with governments, businesses and private clients across the globe. With a close knit team who pride themselves on being a collaborative firm with an exceptional culture and a genuinely people-first approach.

This is a standalone HR role that has evolved significantly over recent years. Whilst you'll retain responsibility for the full employee lifecycle and generalist HR function, there is now a much greater focus on professional development, coaching and influencing senior leaders to help drive performance, engagement and career progression across the firm.

If you're someone who enjoys building trusted relationships, coaching professionals at all levels and wants to play a strategic role within a high-performing professional services environment, this is an exceptional opportunity.

The Role

Reporting directly to the Managing Director and working closely with the COO and Partners, you'll be responsible for leading all aspects of the firm's HR function while driving learning, development and employee engagement initiatives. This is a varied role where no two days are the same, combining operational HR with strategic people development.

• Act as the firm's first point of contact for all HR matters.
• Provide expert guidance to Partners and managers on employment law, HR best practice and people management.
• Lead on employee relations matters, including disciplinary, grievance and performance management processes.
• Develop, review and implement HR policies, procedures and documentation.
• Manage the full recruitment process, partnering with hiring managers to attract high-quality talent.
• Coordinate onboarding and induction programmes for new employees.
• Manage annual salary and bonus reviews alongside performance appraisal processes.
• Oversee annual leave, absence management and family leave processes.
• Maintain accurate HR records and continuously improve HR systems and processes.
• Produce HR reports and people analytics to support business decision-making.
• Support workforce planning and succession planning across the firm.
• Conduct exit interviews and identify trends to improve employee retention.

Professional Development & Employee Engagement

• Coach and support employees to maximise performance, career progression and personal development.
• Partner closely with the firm's Partners, helping influence and develop leadership capability.
• Identify individual and firm-wide learning and development opportunities.
• Facilitate regular feedback between employees and senior leadership.
• Monitor workloads and employee wellbeing, helping create a positive and supportive culture.
• Develop initiatives that enhance employee engagement, retention and overall experience.
• Champion the firm's values and act as a trusted advisor across all levels of the business.

About You

We're looking for an experienced HR professional who enjoys working autonomously within a professional services environment and has a genuine passion for developing people.

You'll bring:

• Previous HR Generalist or HR Manager experience within a law firm or professional services environment.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
• Experience managing the full employee lifecycle.
• A genuine passion for coaching, mentoring and employee development.
• Confidence influencing and building relationships with senior stakeholders and Partners.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with high emotional intelligence.
• Strong judgement, resilience and the ability to manage confidential matters with discretion.
• Experience working independently as the sole HR professional would be advantageous.
• CIPD Level 5 (or equivalent) is desirable.
• A recognised coaching qualification (ILM, EMCC, ICF or similar), or demonstrable coaching experience, would be highly beneficial.

What's on Offer

• £65,000 - £70,000 FTE (pro rata)
• Part-time position working 3 full days per week (9:00am-6:00pm)
• Opportunity to work from home one day per week following probation
• A genuinely supportive, collaborative and international working environment.
• The chance to shape the future of HR and professional development within a highly respected law firm.

Why Join?

This isn't a traditional standalone HR role. The foundations are already in place, and now the focus is on taking the firm's people strategy to the next level. You'll have the opportunity to influence senior leaders, develop talented professionals from around the world and make a visible impact within a close-knit team where your expertise will be genuinely valued.

If you're looking for a role where you can build meaningful relationships and shape culture, engagement and development, we'd love to hear from you.