Human Resources Project Manager

Owen Reed is looking to recruit a highly motivated Human Resources Project Manager for a top law firm in London.

Areas of focus and responsibilities:

• Work with key stakeholders (including Assistant HR Director, HRIS Manager, CEO, CPO, COO, and Divisional CEOs) to define the target state of Withers' HR capability and operations.
• Define, implement and manage appropriate project controls and governance at executive, project and workstream levels.
• Work directly with the global HR team to ensure the project delivers on all the objectives as scoped.
• Understand the complexities of a global law firm and navigate all competing demands.
• Lead and own the HR Project approach and plan, including all project and workstream-level dependencies, both internal and external to the project, through collaboration with other project leads and Subject Matter Experts.
• Partner with Comms and Training Workstream Leads to drive delivery of outcome-based plans and ensure appropriate visibility, reporting, stakeholder engagement and communication activities.
• Work with PMO, and internal and external delivery teams to ensure that appropriate resources are in place throughout the project.
• Manage the project to ensure active management of project and workstream plans, risks, actions, issues, and dependencies and escalate matters as appropriate.
• Provide effective vendor management - control costs, reduce risk, ensure service is of expected quality and to plan, and unlock the potential vendor value in the long term.
• Ensure the project is managed against the defined scope to time, cost and quality constraints.
• Provide day-to-day project leadership to motivate project teams to deliver against agreed project objectives and schedules.
• Manage project sponsor and stakeholders across both fee earners and business services teams to ensure alignment of objectives, expectations, priorities and activities.
• Develop and execute change management and communication plans in a global, multi-disciplinary environment.
• Undertake financial project management, in liaison with the PMO, finance and delivery teams.
• Provide accurate project status reports demonstrating progress against milestones, project expenditure against budget, and highlighting pertinent risks and issues to relevant stakeholders.
• Prepare and effectively communicate required project documentation including Project Sponsor updates, Steering Group sessions, Project Board information, project proposals, initiation documents, exception reports and options papers.
• Utilise the Withers Delivery Management Framework and project management tools to plan, manage and communicate throughout each stage of the project.

This list of duties and responsibilities is not exhaustive. It is intended to describe the general content of, and requirements for the performance of this job, and as such, the role may also include the undertaking of additional tasks as required.

Key attributes and skills:

• Must have had full responsibility for the delivery and management of global HRIS system implementations for a law firm, enabling the wider delivery of HR capability and process transformation.
• Ability to successfully manage multi-disciplinary teams (internal and external) across global locations.
• Ability to cope with uncertainty through driving consensus on scope and requirements – for example by resolving different/contradictory viewpoints from diverse stakeholders.
• Possess excellent problem-solving skills, working with colleagues and vendors to define pragmatic solutions to problems, within project constraints.
• Extensive experience in HR operations and functions including but not limited to Core HR, compensation management, payroll, people planning and performance management.
• Demonstrable success in project delivery through a full life-cycle using industry-standard methodologies.
• Be willing to challenge/remove blockers that stop the project team successfully completing their jobs, be it from internal or external factors.
• Demonstrate a hands-on approach to project delivery, and be prepared to wear “more than one hat” when necessary.
• Demonstrate cultural sensitivity and awareness in dealing with global customers and suppliers.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in order to engage with stakeholders at all levels and from diverse backgrounds/skillsets.
• A strong customer-centric approach.
• A strong team player, willing to work closely with colleagues from multiple teams in a mutually collaborative manner.
• Flexibility and pragmatism in dealing with change, whilst maintaining focus on objectives.
• A strong desire to contribute to a positive and supportive learning environment.
• Knowledge and experience of Microsoft Office software, including Project, PowerPoint, Word and Excel.

Qualifications and experience:

• Prince2, APM or other recognised project management qualifications.
• 5+ years' experience as a Project Manager within a Law Firm or other professional services organisation – delivering HR transformation projects and change delivery.
• 10+ years' experience as a Project Manager – delivering technology and business change projects.

The Essentials:

• 9:30am to 5:30pm but flexibility is a must.
• 12 week probation period.
• 12 week notice period.
• Flexible benefits package including pension, private medical, season ticket loan, subsidised gym memberships, lifestyle discount scheme, on-site café plus more.