HR Director

Director of Human Resources (Europe)

London

3/4 days a week in the London office.

Qualified Employment Lawyer.

Ryder Reid is partnering with a prestigious global law firm to appoint a Director of Human Resources to lead HR across London headquarters and a key European office. This strategic leadership role seeks a qualified Employment Lawyer who has transitioned into HR, bringing strong employment law knowledge and commercial people leadership expertise. Reporting to senior leadership, the HR Director will align regional people strategy with global objectives, ensuring a consistent high performing employee experience across both offices. The successful candidate will act as a trusted advisor to firm leadership, practice groups, and employees, providing expert guidance on broad workforce matters.

The role partners closely with senior stakeholders to manage complex employee relations, drive organisational change, support talent development and succession planning, and foster an inclusive high performance culture.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the HR function across two offices, aligning regional people strategy with global firm objectives.
• Ensure compliance with UK and European employment law, advising leadership on employment related risks and developments.
• Manage complex employee relations matters, including investigations, disciplinary issues, grievances, redundancies, and organisational change.
• Develop and implement HR policies and procedures that balance local compliance with global consistency.
• Oversee the full employee lifecycle for Business Services professionals, including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, engagement, and retention.
• Provide HR support to lawyers on employee relations, performance management, immigration, and policy matters.
• Partner with global HR colleagues to deliver firmwide HR programmes, processes, and initiatives.
• Utilise HR data and metrics to support strategic decision making and continuous improvement.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high performing HR team, fostering a collaborative and service focused culture.

About You

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree or relevant HR qualification preferred.
• Significant progressive Human Resources leadership experience, preferably within a professional services or law firm environment.
• Demonstrated expertise in UK employment law.
• Proven experience managing complex employee relations matters and advising senior executives.
• Experience leading multi jurisdictional HR operations across Europe.