HR Advisory Director
A&O Shearman

Job Info

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A&O Shearman is a new global industry-leading law firm, with nearly 50 offices in 29 countries worldwide. Our fluency in English law, US law, and the laws of the world's most dynamic markets, enables us to provide unmatched insight and seamless delivery to clients. We work on challenging and important deals and disputes that have the potential to shape the future.

We offer exceptional opportunities for our people; opportunities to work for the world's leading businesses; to transform the status quo, and to deliver your best work, helping you and your career to thrive, while delivering unparalleled outcomes for our clients.

Whether you're helping clients solve complex challenges, transforming the ways we manage our business, or ensuring the smooth-running of our operations, this is an environment where you can belong and excel. We provide first-rate training and development, we are committed to diversity, equity and inclusion and we provide support and ways of working that help you optimize your wellbeing.

What truly defines a career with us? We recruit the best and ask for the best of you. And together, we will redefine success.

Role purpose
Based in New York, this position provides strategic counsel on complex issues and acts as a trusted HR advisor with direct and primary responsibility for the assigned practice groups and business teams.

Key relationships

• Director, HR Advisory & Compliance
• HR Advisory and the broader HR team
• Practice Group and Business Team Heads and members
• US Management

Role and responsibilities

• Provide strategic advice and counsel to partners and business team managers on a wide range of HR matters, including career development, talent management, organizational and staffing needs, and employee relations.
• Build strong partnerships with leaders to develop and drive the people agenda to support firm objectives.
• Actively engage with internal clients to develop a full understanding of their business operations, organizational structure, staffing, and potential human resources issues and opportunities.
• Work closely senior leadership to develop and implement programs, policies, and initiatives to address the needs of the assigned client base and broader firm.
• Lead various projects and processes, including salary and bonus review, promotions, secondments, employee value proposition discussions/communications, employee engagement initiatives, and other ad-hoc projects.
• Drive talent discussions, monitor check-in meetings, follow-up on objectives/issues, and manage the talent pipeline in accordance with our talent management system. Provide overall performance management guidance to people managers through coaching, counseling, and career development and performance improvement conversations.
• Collaborate with the Professional Development and Learning & Development teams to ensure that development needs are assessed and appropriate training is delivered.
• Partner with the broader HR team, including the Recruitment, HR Transactions, Global Mobility, Benefits, Payroll, Compensation, and Wellbeing functions.
• Provide coaching to business professionals in partnership with internal and external resources as appropriate.
• Oversee the induction and integration of new joiners as well as transition and off-boarding processes.
• Monitor and evaluate HR related reports and data to identify areas that require attention and the ability to implement process improvement.
• Conduct employee relation investigations and resolve in partnership with the Director of ER & Compliance.
• Lead, coach, and mentor a team of HR professionals.
• Partner with HR administration on the tactical aspects of the employee life-cycle.

Key requirements

• Qualified candidates will have a minimum a Bachelor's degree and at least 12 years of experience as an HR practitioner, preferably in a professional services organization or law firm.
• Technical competence in all aspects of the role and responsibilities as noted above.
• Hands-on, self-motivated, and able to work well on their own as well as on a team.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to operate under pressure.
• Excellent track record of working with leadership within a matrix organization.
• Strong commercial/business acumen with the ability to influence strategic thinking/direction through creative and pragmatic issue resolution.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interface with all individuals and particularly to win the respect of the senior management community and build and develop strong client relationships.
• Collaborative team player with the ability to nurture others and work in a fast-paced, intellectually rigorous environment.
• High energy individual who enjoys both the operational and strategic sides of this role and demonstrates great flexibility.
• Resilient; able to understand that credibility has to be earned and may take time.
• A person of sound judgment, able to establish a high level of credibility in the organization and act as a trusted advisor to management.

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