Senior HR Advisor

This job is with Lewis Silkin LLP, an inclusive employer and a member of myGwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community.

About the Team:

This role sits within the Human Resources team which comprises over 30 specialists based in our London and Cardiff offices, working closely together to provide excellent employment conditions for the firm’s people, covering all aspects of the employee lifecycle.

About the Role:

The primary focus of this role will be to proactively support the HR Business Partner (HRBP) to deliver the full employee lifecycle effectively and efficiently for all Business Team employees across the firm. The post holder will also have the opportunity to work with the wider HR team on firmwide people projects. Please note, this role is an 18-month Fixed Term Contract.

Key Responsibilities

• Working closely with the HRBP, providing proactive support to the line managers and relevant Chief Officers across Business Teams on all people-related matters, including employee relations issues.
• Acting as first point of call, and trusted advisor, to all departments within Business Teams.
• Supporting line managers with performance management issues and providing best practice guidance.
• Advising employees and line managers on all matters of HR policy and process and culture.
• Responsible for managing parent leave arrangements, including the provision of new parent support.
• Managing the flexible working process, including individual flexible working requests, as well as wider hybrid working patterns.
• Managing the probationary review process and supporting line managers with any performance management concerns and next steps in line with the firm’s policies, where appropriate.
• Working alongside the Talent Acquisition team, supporting the recruitment process for roles across all departments. This will include liaising with stakeholders, clarifying role requirements/budgets and shortlisting and interviewing candidates.
• Working closely with the People Operations team, having oversight of, and ensuring joiner and leaver procedures are effectively implemented and maintained. This will include coordination of onboarding arrangements and presenting induction programmes, as well as having regular new joiner catch-ups to ensure effective integration of new staff.
• Undertaking exit interviews as needed and analysing leaver data to draw out any themes which may require further investigation.
• Absence management and follow up, including conducting return to work interviews where sickness absence trigger points have been reached and making occupational health referrals where necessary.
• Providing advice and support to employees and line managers in relation to ongoing health and wellbeing concerns and/or disabilities, ensuring appropriate external advice is sought as required, and that reasonable adjustments are implemented effectively, and regularly reviewed.
• Ensuring payroll changes are provided to the People Operations team in a timely and efficient manner and employment paperwork and changes to terms and conditions are updated as required within the relevant systems.
• Create and produce management information to inform and evaluate Business Team management’s priorities and activities.
• Provide input to regular reports and papers as required by the Chief Officers or Operations Board.
• Ensure the timely delivery of the firm’s appraisal, salary review, bonus and promotion processes, working closely with the HRBP and Reward team and taking a proactive approach throughout to completion.
• Keeping the HRBP up to date with all HR activity across Business Teams, providing regular updates on activity and on-going matters.
• Additional ad hoc people projects, as required.
• Any other reasonable duty in line with the level of the role.

About You:

You will have a professional manner, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and have previous relevant experience working within an HR role. You’ll be highly organised, with great attention to detail and be able to demonstrate a proactive approach to your work and be able to work autonomously when required. You’ll enjoy working in a busy team environment and have a flexible and cooperative nature, as well as excellent stakeholder management skills. We are looking for someone who is passionate about being a team player, who is keen to support others.

Our ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate:

• Educated to degree level (or equivalent by experience), and ideally CIPD qualified.
• At least two to four years’ experience of working at HR Advisor level within a law firm or professional services, partnership environment.
• Experience of using employee database software and online management tools.
• Ability to meet deadlines and work under pressure, with the ability to communicate with internal and external stakeholders, across varying levels.
• Demonstrate excellent organisation, attention to detail and prioritisation skills with the ability to manage a varied and demanding workload often to tight deadlines.
• Possess an interest in, and be active in, keeping up to date with HR trends and legal updates, remaining mindful of potential impacts on the duties of the role, or wider HR policies and procedures.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to build successful relationships at all levels.
• Excellent numeracy skills with experience using Word and Excel.
• Strong team player skills demonstrating enthusiasm.
• Flexibility to work additional hours where resource requirements dictate.

Additional Information:

At Lewis Silkin our ethos is simple. We strive to do the best for our clients, our people and the communities in which we operate. We recognise that an inclusive workplace allows for all kinds of ideas and thoughts, a variety of points of view that can trigger discussions or deliver innovative results, and a wide range of versatile skills and expertise. We are proud of the diversity within Lewis Silkin and of our culture that allows people to be themselves at work, ensuring we provide the best possible service to our clients. We are committed to supporting candidates throughout the recruitment process by supporting anyone who requires adjustments, in order to ensure they have the opportunity to perform at their best. All applicants will be considered equally and fairly. If you’d like to request any adjustments throughout the recruitment process, or would like to discuss flexible working patterns, please email the recruitment team in confidence (recruitment@lewissilkin.com).