Human Resources Manager

Role overview

Supporting the Head of HR for London, the HR Manager will act as a trusted adviser to partners and senior leaders, delivering proactive, high-quality HR support across the full employee lifecycle. This role blends operational HR with strategic project work ensuring HR initiatives support the delivery of exceptional client service and the growth of our legal talent, fostering a high-performance, inclusive culture in a fast-paced professional services environment.

Key activities / responsibilities

• Provide professional HR guidance to partners, practice group heads and business function leaders across all people matters
• Build strong relationships across legal and business function teams understanding business needs and delivering tailored HR solutions
• Coach managers on performance management, leadership, and employee relations
• Lead by example in role modelling behaviours that demonstrate our values
• Manage and develop junior members of the HR team (two Senior Advisors, an HR Coordinator and an HR Administrator)

Employee Relations

• Lead on ER matters including performance, capability, absence, and formal investigations providing expert guidance on complex matters ensuring compliance with employment law and SRA regulations, whilst providing commercial solutions
• Lead HR aspects of firm change, including restructures and talent management initiatives
• Work collaboratively with Risk and Compliance where appropriate, maintaining confidentiality and professionalism

Talent, Performance & Development

• Oversee annual performance review processes and support partners/managers with talent discussions
• Identify development needs and work closely with L&D to deliver relevant training for fee earners and support teams
• Support career progression pathways and succession planning initiatives

Recruitment & Resourcing

• Partner with the resourcing team to ensure effective recruitment of fee earners and business function roles
• Support workforce planning, headcount approvals, and market benchmarking
• Champion a high-quality candidate experience aligned with the firm's brand

HR Operations & Policy

• Manage a right first time HR operations function across the breadth of the employee lifecycle ensuring high quality and consistent service satisfaction
• Maintain and update HR policies to reflect employment law, SRA requirements, and best practice
• Analyse HR metrics (e.g., turnover, absence, diversity) and produce insightful people management information (including market trends and intel) to inform business decisions
• Ensure the delivery of a high quality day to day operational service
• Challenge existing HR processes and ways of working to drive up value and ensure maximum efficiency across all day to day activities

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

• Support the firm's DEI strategy, helping drive initiatives that foster a diverse and inclusive workplace

Projects & Change

• Lead and contribute to HR projects such as systems implementation, wellbeing initiatives, and process improvements
• Support organisational change including restructures, role design, and communications

Skills and experience - desired

• You will be a pro active and commercial HR generalist with proven HR management experience within a law firm environment
• Bringing a fresh perspective, you will have strong employee relations and business partnering experience
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders, including partners
• Strong UK employment law knowledge with confidence handling complex ER cases
• Demonstrable experience managing and improving HR processes in a fast-paced, high-performing environment
• Strong process, project and change management skills with proven experience of implementing change initiatives successfully
• Ability to influence at a senior level with a commercial mindset
• Attention to detail and passion for high quality, accuracy and service excellence
• Strong IT skills including proficiency in HR technology/systems
• Strong analytical and reporting skills
• Experience of leading and developing junior team members is essential

Personal skills/attributes

• Commercial mindset with practical problem solving skills
• Confident, calm, and credible under pressure.
• Collaborative and team oriented, with a genuine commitment to supporting people
• Passionate about creating an environment that provides a consistent and rewarding people experience
• Pragmatic and positive in approach
• Excellent judgement, discretion, and professionalism
• Organised, proactive, and comfortable balancing high volume operational and strategic tasks in a fast-paced environment
• CIPD qualified Confident communicator who is able to build trust quickly and offer proactive solutions

We offer a competitive benefits and wellbeing package for all employees.

Additional information

The Firm promotes a culture of agility and flexibility and is fully supportive of flexible working arrangements where these can be accommodated.

Equal opportunities

Diversity and inclusion are integral to the firm's strategy and underpin its efforts to attract and retain top talent. All employment decisions are made objectively, based on merit and ability and the firm is committed to inclusive and barrier free recruitment. As a Disability Confident employer, WFW welcomes adjustments for candidates with disabilities or long term health conditions and participates in the Disability Confident interview scheme. If you would like to apply through this scheme or require adjustments during any stage of the process, please contact .