Senior HR Manager

About the role

The will act as a trusted strategic advisor to senior leadership, shaping people strategy and organisational effectiveness within the London office. This role owns the delivery of high-quality, compliant HR support across a large and diverse global workforce, balancing operational excellence with long-term workforce planning. The successful hire will lead complex employee relations processes, ensuring consistency and fairness across multifaceted teams. They will drive positive employee outcomes by partnering with leaders across the associate lifecycle and business services populations. This position requires a confident HR professional who can navigate significant change while maintaining strict adherence to UK employment law. The role will lead and develop the HR Operations function to enhance engagement, diversity, and workplace culture.

Key facts

What you'll do

Provide expert strategic advice to senior leaders on people strategy, organisational effectiveness, and workforce planning to guide critical business decisions.

Lead and manage high-complexity employee relations cases, including disciplinary, grievance, performance management, long-term absence, restructures, redundancies, and settlement negotiations.

Ensure rigorous compliance with UK employment legislation and regulatory requirements, interpreting and applying firm policies to mitigate legal and people-related risk.

Design, lead, and oversee the end-to-end HR Operations function, guaranteeing efficient, consistent, and high-quality service delivery across the entire employee lifecycle.

Partner closely with Partner reviewers, US HR teams, and the Director of Administration to manage the Associate review cycle, including progression decisions, performance development, and departures.

Deliver strategic and operational HR support tailored to the distinct needs of fee earner and business services populations, recognising their different commercial and cultural dynamics.

Champion and lead large-scale organisational change initiatives, including restructures, TUPE transfers, integration activities, and broader transformation programmes.

Coach and develop line managers to build their capability and confidence in handling people matters effectively, consistently, and in alignment with firm culture, values, and policies.

Analyse HR metrics, workforce data, and people trends to identify risks and opportunities, translating insights into actionable recommendations for senior leadership.

Collaborate with the firm's CHRO, HR Directors, and international HR colleagues to ensure global people initiatives are implemented effectively within the UK legal framework.

Lead and contribute to cross-functional HR projects that enhance employee engagement, foster inclusion, develop talent, and strengthen overall workplace culture.

Drive continuous improvement in HR policies, processes, and service delivery, creating initiatives that promote an inclusive, high-performing, and engaging environment.

Own the development of robust HR frameworks and communications to ensure clear understanding and adoption across all departments.

Act as a subject matter expert, providing guidance and thought leadership on employment law changes and their practical implications for the business.

Requirements

Possess a CIPD Level 7 qualification (or equivalent) as a standard benchmark for advanced HR expertise and strategic capability.

Hold a degree level education or demonstrate equivalent professional experience through a substantial career history.

Show evidence of ongoing professional development to keep current with evolving employment law, regulations, and best practices.

Have additional qualifications in Employment Law, Mediation, Coaching, or Organisational Development to deepen specialist knowledge.

Bring significant HR experience gained within a Senior HR Manager, HR Business Partner, or equivalent leadership role.

Maintain a strong working knowledge of UK employment law and current regulator requirements, applying this pragmatically in a complex legal environment.

Demonstrate proven experience managing high volumes of complex employee relations cases across a large and diverse workforce.

Possess the ability to build credibility and communicate effectively with senior stakeholders, including partners, executives, and external advisors.

Show excellent judgement and decision-making capabilities, particularly when navigating sensitive and high-risk situations.

Exhibit strong analytical skills, using people data and HR metrics to inform strategic decisions and identify trends.

Have experience developing and implementing HR policies, processes, and systems that enhance efficiency and compliance.

Show a track record of leading organisational change and managing complex projects within a fast-paced professional services environment.

Nice to have

Preferred additional qualifications in areas such as Advanced Employment Law or Organisational Development.

Experience with HR analytics and data visualisation tools to enhance reporting and insights.

Knowledge of global HR practices and regulations beyond the UK market.

Practical notes

This is a full-time role based in London. The successful candidate will be expected to work within the UK legal and regulatory framework. Travel may be required between offices as business needs dictate. No specific visa sponsorship details are provided in this source document.