Human Resources Manager

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is a major international law firm, providing business law advice of the highest quality. We want to be the law firm that clients turn to for legal advice where it matters most, wherever in the world that may be. We deliver seamless service across borders, cultures and languages, and Freshfields’ Middle East and South Africa (MENA) practice is central to this vision. Whatever your area of expertise, this is a place where you can be yourself and really flourish. With a team of over 100 people in our MENA offices (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bahrain and Riyadh) and more than 20 different nationalities, we offer a truly multi-cultural and diverse working environment.
This is a fixed term position supporting the MENA region. This role acts as a competent trusted HR Business Partner to the Freshfields MENA partners and stakeholders, by advising and providing solutions on matters across all HR-related areas. In addition to business partnering, this role plays an active role in the annual performance review processes, leads on lateral and graduate recruitment activities and works closely with the HR team on matters related to our new entity being established in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

Key responsibilities and deliverables

• Building and maintaining effective relationships with the business, stakeholders and HR team

  
  

• Guiding business managers on best practice across all aspects of HR policies and procedures, helping them to understand how they are applied within the firm

  
  

• Attending regular team meetings to ensure information is shared and team morale maintained

  
  

• Providing guidance and advice to team members to ensure tasks are completed to a high standard

  
  

• For performance management and disciplinary issues, work with Regional HR Head and provide support as appropriate

  
  

• Actively participating in global and regional HR projects and processes

  
  

Recruitment, on boarding and induction

• Managing the full recruitment cycle of the bi-annual Dispute Resolution Internship Programme and working closely with partners and internship committee on the recruitment process

  
  

• Leading lateral recruitment for MENA region and seeking input from Regional HR Head where required on activities including drafting job descriptions, obtaining necessary internal approvals, managing candidates via Workday system, ensuring the necessary terms of business agreements are signed, arranging interviews, interviewing business services candidates, working closely with recruitment agencies and advising partners and hiring managers on offer proposals; delegating administrative tasks as appropriate

  
  

• Overseeing all components of the onboarding process including reference and security checks, new joiner administration, induction timetables and orientation of new joiners; ensuring the necessary processes are completed efficiently

  
  

• Managing mobility (secondments) requests and activities, coordinate with Global Mobility team, work with Regional HR Head to resolve any complex matters, delegating secondment letters and logistics as appropriate and overseeing progress

  
  

• Overseeing HR Executive in drafting offer letters, new employment contracts and contract renewals and advise if required

  
  

• Overseeing exit/ offboarding process and guide HR team as needed

  
  

Performance reviews

• Playing an active role in performance reviews including regular feedback catch ups, end of year performance and compensation review processes; working closely with Regional HR Head on necessary activities including track list, communications, reminders, salary letters and activities on Workday system

  
  

Learning & Development

• Overseeing the completion of Dubai Legal Affairs Department Continuing Legal Professional Development (CLPD) requirements by fee earners based in Dubai; guide HR Executive as needed

  
  

• Tracking fee earner global training attendance and recommending nominations

  
  

• Tracking business services global training and recommending nominations

  
  

• Suggesting and working with business services teams to organise lunch and learns and business services training and development programmes

  
  

Wellbeing and Diversity and Inclusion

• Work with HR team to organise wellbeing and D&I related events throughout the year

  
  

• Provide guidance and support to HR Executive where required on MENA wellbeing programme (reviewing newsletters, coordinating and promoting activities and initiatives)

  
  

HR systems and reporting

• Updating the intranet and supporting documents e.g. letters, application forms etc. in response to new legislation or policy changes

  
  

• Supervise HR Executive to ensure accuracy of data input on Workday and other filing systems

  
  

• Providing guidance and answering user queries relating to Workday

  
  

• Using HR information systems to check and gather data where required

  
  

• Overseeing and provide input on Workday reports such as headcount, sickness, annual leave and ad-hoc reports as required

  
  

Other HR Processes

• Confirming and communicating national holidays for MENA, seek relevant partner approvals

  
  

• Managing employee travel and working abroad requests (where there is still global requirement) and seek approval from COO and/ or the relevant teams as appropriate

  
  

• Collaborate with MENA HR Team and global project teams on HR projects and optimisation processes

  
  

Key requirements (Communication/skills/experience)

Essential

• Ideally CIPD qualified or obtained similar HR qualifications

  
  

• Solid HR generalist and business partnering experience within a commercial environment, ideally in professional services or law firm

  
  

• Excellent English communication skills (written and oral), at native or business fluent level

  
  

• Strong relationship management skills with stakeholders

  
  

• Excellent attention to detail

  
  

• Solid computer skills, ideally familiar with Workday system

  
  

• Friendly and helpful customer service approach

  
  

• Solid organisational and project management skills

  
  

• Strong sense of integrity, objectivity, confidentiality and professionalism

  
  

• Ability to prioritise and act on own initiative

  
  

• Able to work fast to tight deadlines

  
  

• Able to work autonomously

  
  

• Ability to adopt a flexible and proactive approach and retain a professional attitude under pressure

  
  

• Willingness to broaden experience and develop skills further

  
  

• Willingness to work overtime and/or outside of normal working hours including weekends as required

  
  

Desirable

• Knowledge or experience working with stakeholders in Middle East is an advantage

  
  

• Experience working in private practice law firm

  
  

• Experience using Workday system