Employee Relations Senior Manager

Overview

Freshfields LLP is a leading international law firm with over 2,400 lawyers in 28 offices worldwide. We provide top-tier business law advice to national and multinational corporations, financial institutions, and governments. Our goal is to be the go-to firm for critical legal advice, wherever our clients need us.

Our people are the cornerstone of our firm. We strive to create a welcoming and supportive environment where everyone can thrive. Diversity is our strength, fostering fresh perspectives and innovative ideas. We are passionate about our work and committed to delivering outstanding results, especially when working in teams.

We operate globally, acting as one unified firm across the world. Cross-border work is our specialty, and we excel at navigating different legal systems and commercial environments, bridging language and cultural gaps.

Our mission is to add value in everything we do. We are dedicated to helping our clients succeed by leveraging our experience and creativity to guide their decisions and achieve their goals. We aim to make a meaningful impact in the communities where we operate.

Role summary/purpose of job

You will report to the Global Head of HR, Business Services, and collaborate closely with the Employee Relations and People team to deliver exceptional ER guidance and support to the business. As the primary point of contact, you will provide HR colleagues and business stakeholders with expert advice on all employee relations matters, aiming to foster a culture of high performance, integrity, and employee engagement.

Key responsibilities and deliverables

The ER Senior Manager will lead the ER team and work closely with HR colleagues to support business stakeholders by:

• Develop and implement proactive ER strategies to enhance workplace harmony and productivity.
• Contribute to the overall HR strategy by integrating ER insights into talent management, compensation, and organizational development initiatives
• Manage complex employee relations cases and conduct thorough, impartial investigations.
• Provide expert guidance and coaching to managers on performance management and corrective action.
• Develop, interpret, and ensure consistent application of HR policies and compliance with labour laws across multiple regions/locations.
• Identify and mitigate ER risks through trend analysis and preventative solutions.
• Design and deliver ER training programs for managers and employees.
• Track and analyse ER metrics to provide actionable insights to leadership.
• Collaborate closely with HR Business Partners, Legal, Compliance, and other internal stakeholders to ensure a cohesive approach to people management and risk mitigation.
• Keeping to date with developments in terms of employment legislation and employee relations issues, and utilising this knowledge to advise, guide and direct HR and the business where necessary and maintaining company policy and procedure accordingly
• Working closely with HR Services to identify ER services that can be provided by HR Services and to ensure an excellent level of operational delivery of ER services by HR Services

Key requirements

Essential

• Strong knowledge and practical experience of independently managing core ER procedures and processes to a high standard
• Extensive HR experience, including significant expertise in advising on complex employee relations matters, preferably within professional services
• Able to build and maintain strong and trusting relationships with a wide range of people gaining credibility at all levels
• Good working knowledge of employment law
• Experience of working on own initiative within a demanding environment with the highest professional standards

Desirable

• Experience within a professional services organisation or an organisation known for ER/HR excellence
• Experience of managing the delivery of ER work product
• Relevant professional qualification (e.g. CIPD or employment law qualification)

Competencies

• High level of integrity and conscientiousness
• Excellent judgement, with a logical, meticulous and pragmatic approach to decision-making
• Highly adaptable — calmly, intelligently and readily responsive to unforeseen circumstances
• Ability to build strong and trusting relationships at all business levels.
• Able to prioritise multiple requests and then take charge to meet those deadlines
• Effective interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to gain others' confidence quickly
• Effective communication skills (both orally and in writing), with strong attention to detail
• Good feedback skills, both giving and receiving
• Someone who drives things forward, is organized and ensures that deadlines are met

Inclusion

Freshfields is an equal opportunities employer and all applications received by the firm will be considered by the firm on the basis of their merit alone and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background. All offers of employment will be conditional on the candidate having/securing the right to work in the UK and providing the firm with evidence of that right (as required by the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006) prior to employment commencing.

Freshfields is a Ban the Box employer. We ask applicants to disclose criminal convictions only when a conditional job offer is made. A conviction does not automatically lead to withdrawal of the offer: we make decisions on a case by case basis and take a number of factors into account (eg the role you are applying for and the circumstances of the offence). You would have the opportunity to discuss the matter with us before we make a decision.