Gowling WLG (UK) LLP Hiring for Head of HR at Birmingham Full Time

This is the chance to join a forward thinking and ambitious HR team. You will be the HR leader ensuring core HR and recruitment services are delivered in the right way to our 1,200 people across our UK LLP offices. As a 14 month maternity cover, this is an opportunity to make an impact, bring innovative thought and creativity to our HR practices, and experience life at a leading international law firm.

You will lead a well-established team, with strong expertise who deliver excellent HR services. We are a firm that strives for continuous improvement to ensure we meet the diverse needs of our clients and push for more effective and efficient processes and systems.

Working closely with the HR Director and HR Leadership Team (HRLT), you will be responsible for ensuring the implementation of the people strategy across the firm. With 6 direct reports, you will provide operational and strategic direction to the Advisory team, HR Project & Engagement Manager, Resourcing team and HR Operations team.

Your key deliverables will include:
With HRLT colleagues, lead the design, development and delivery of the HR strategy;

Lead and manage the core HR and Recruitment service delivery teams, providing strategic advice on behalf of the firm on all people management issues;

Gather intel and best practice externally to work with the teams on driving change and responding to dynamic industry conditions;

Act as the change agent in managing organisational change, and lead / steer key HR projects;

Alongside the Head of Resourcing, develop and implement innovative and effective recruitment and selection techniques for Experienced Hire and Early Talent;

Work with the HR Operations Manager to provide a first class front-line HR service;

Business Partner HRLT colleagues;

Ensure effective use of data across the wider HR function, to drive intelligent decision making and build awareness in the right directions;

Coach, mentor and develop you the delivery teams to ensure continuous professional development and stretch.

Who you will be

We are looking for a dynamic HR leader with excellent relationship building skills. This role would suit an ambitious and forward thinking individual, who is both passionate about continuous improvement in HR delivery, and putting the client experience at the heart of any HR process and initiative.

You will have held a Head of HR or similar position in a professional services environment, with people management responsibility and a commercial outlook;

You will understand and thrive in complex working environments, ideally with some exposure to a Partnership model;

You will work collaboratively with your teams, while ensuring challenging conversations take place;

You will be decisive and future-focused, identifying those activities that add value to the HR proposition and directing energy and resources there;

You will be keen to understand the day to day workload of your teams while enabling autonomous working styles and empowering members of the team;

You will be well-versed in project and people management skills, able to support your team with ‘big picture’ thinking and a clear direction;

You will work closely with your HRLT colleagues to ensure the HR team activity is joined up and thoughtful in its actions;

You will have excellent communication and presentation skills, and have the proven ability to motivate, develop and lead others.

What we can offer you

The opportunity to work for a firm which has been recognised as one of the best places to work in the UK and has been ranked by Great Place to Work® for 22 consecutive years.

Excellent benefits, including:
A hybrid approach to office and remote working, with up to 50% remote working available;

25 days annual leave, with the option to buy up to a week’s extra annual leave;

Free private medical insurance, and the option to add family members;

A generous pension allowance;

Life assurance covering four times your annual salary;

A range of health and wellbeing programmes;

State of the art offices, in the heart of Birmingham City Centre, with an onsite restaurant;

Opportunities to flourish in your role through training and personal development.

Come and join Gowling WLG, the Official Legal Advisors of the B2022 Commonwealth Games.

Gowling WLG is committed both to promoting equality and diversity in the firm and to Equal Opportunities in employment. The firm believes in equality of opportunity regardless of race or racial group (including colour, nationality, ethnicity, and national origins), religion or belief, age, disability, sexual orientation, sex, gender re-assignment and gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy, maternity and paternity. This also includes any incidents of perceptive or associative discrimination and harassment.

At Gowling WLG we seek to attract and retain talented people from a diverse range of backgrounds and cultures, to create an exciting and rewarding place to work. Our aim is to fulfil everyone’s potential and together to achieve personal and business goals.