HR Advisor (Maternity Cover) in London

We are looking for an HR Advisor to join our HR team to cover a period of maternity cover. This is a generalist role, and you will provide professional practical HR advice and support across the firm, managing general HR queries, including ER casework. Led by the Head of HR, the core HR team consists of two HR Business Partners, two HR Advisors and a HR Administrator. The wider HR department also comprises a Payroll specialist, an L&D, Benefits & Systems, and Recruitment team. Due to the nature of this role, we are looking for someone with HR/People Advisor level experience.

Some of your day-to-day tasks will include:

• Support and lead on generalist HR tasks and provide advice on general HR matters that arise from the business.
• Lead on Employee Relations processes including probation management, absence, conduct, performance and grievances.
• Manage flexible working requests, advising employees and managers on the process and seeing the hearing process through from receipt of request to outcome.
• Manage leave requests in relation to policies, including maternity, paternity and shared parental leave process from beginning to end.
• Manage the probationary process – including mid review check-ins and advising where capability is not on track.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone already operating at the HR/People Advisor level (or similar), looking for a new challenge in a supportive, fun and entrepreneurial team. You will be able to call upon solid generalist experience, and your theoretical knowledge of ER legislation and good practice in HR. Ideally you will have some experience in a professional services setting, but we will consider candidates from other sectors as well, who want to work within a thriving and growing law firm. As this is a maternity cover vacancy, it would suit someone who would be confident in building their personal brand quickly and taking on a caseload and running with it.

Winckworth Sherwood is an exciting, diverse, and growing business. We are a full-service law firm with a diverse client base, that prides itself on providing advice across a broad range of sectors and markets. Delivering a first-class service is key to everything we do. Our clients range from some of the UK’s largest businesses and institutions, housebuilders and developers through to investors, professional partnerships, family offices, not for profit organisations and private individuals – all of which benefit from the flexible, practical approach of our lawyers. We recognise that our people play a key part in our success and as a result we are committed to their development and well-being. We promote a healthy work-life balance and flexibility, keeping our people motivated and stimulated to deliver great things.

Your application journey includes:

• Application review: Your profile will be screened by a member of the WS recruitment team. If your CV is shortlisted, you will be invited to have an initial call with our Recruitment Manager to discuss your interest in the vacancy and provide an overview of your experience.
• 1st Interview (in person at our London office): This will be with one of our HR Business Partners and the Recruitment Manager, who will discuss your interest in the role, what you are looking for professionally, and ask some competency/behavioural questions that relate to the key skills/behaviours needed for this position.
• 2nd interview (in person at our London office): At this stage, you will meet the Head of HR and the HR Advisor you will be working alongside, who will ask you some additional competency/behavioural questions.
• Offer of employment: If you are successful and accept our offer of employment, we will submit your details to our background screening company, who will conduct a series of background checks.