Senior HR Specialist

You will work closely with the General Manager, HR Business Partners and key relevant stakeholders to deliver people priorities aligned to the firm's People and Talent Strategy. You will also work with your wider HR team where required to ensure that you deliver consistent, highly efficient people priorities and processes as well as a high-level employee experience across the local office.

You will act as a trusted advisor on all aspects of local HR topics for your local office, along with a view on compensation & benefits (including payroll) and with subject matter expertise in local employment law and regulatory matters.

What you will do

You will:

Employee Relations

• work closely with relevant stakeholders on employee relations matters as well as oversee all employee relations and administration, including terminations;
• instruct or strongly influence managers on sensitive ER issues and on the appropriate approach to resolve conflict, working with key stakeholders to prepare scripts for ER related conversations and terminations;
• provide, where appropriate, confidential employee counselling, guidance and coaching with the aim of resolving situations informally whenever possible;
• ensure all employee-related policies are communicated and implemented consistently (such as absence management, maternity, disciplinary procedures) and conduct grievance and disciplinary processes;
• work closely with other HR Specialists on regular training and compliance with Health & Safety and other HR risk management policies;
• ensure compliance with local employment legislation (laws, regulations, collective agreements, contracts etc.); reviewing regularly all legal and regulatory changes including local Bar regulations (registration and maintenance, including continuing education) as well as any changes to applicable collective agreements; updating payroll parameters in collaboration with the payroll team and external provider.

Policies and Processes

• ensure that all standard processes are administered efficiently and within agreed timescales (i.e. probation periods, references, visa documentation, bank transfers/salary letters) and work with Service Delivery to identify opportunities to improve, self-service/offshore/outsource standard processes (e.g. standard templates, self-service etc);
• establish processes and policies to ensure that joiners, transfers, secondments, leavers (including redundancies, dismissals) are dealt with fairly, accurately and consistently.

Compensation and Benefits, Global Mobility

• support the year end compensation process as well as provide advice on local compensation and benefits queries;
• provide HR payroll expertise in support of and in collaboration with the payroll team;
• act as primary contact for all international secondments, working with the Global Mobility team, relevant HR Business Partners and external tax advisors where required;
• with other HR Specialists, act as the primary point of contact for health and "prévoyance" cover, in charge of the relationship with the external providers and updating contracts accordingly; managing long-term sickness matters and supervising "IJSS" and "IJ Prévoyance" and the annual disability declarations.

People and Talent Strategy

• contribute to the development and deployment of all global and regional HR projects;
• proactively build knowledge and understanding of the key inclusion pillars and strategy;
• drive a culture of inclusion and diversity and empower business leaders and Partners to do the same; assist with the development and implementation of D&I action plans.

Skills & Experience

You will have:

• a proven track record of delivering best practice HR results;
• flexible and effective communication skills and the ability to build and manage effective stakeholder relationships, using appropriate influencing skills where appropriate;
• the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively and strong analytical skills with excellent attention to detail;
• strong problem-solving skills and the willingness to contribute to a positive learning environment;
• the ability to be an excellent team-player working with multiple teams across the global Firm and within a highly dynamic matrix organisation;
• demonstrable experience (at least 5 years) in a similar role, ideally in the legal or other professional services sector and in an international environment;
• expertise in payroll and French employment law;
• proficiency in the English language.

Qualifications

Graduate-level qualifications are desirable.

Whatever your area of expertise, you will find a range of career opportunities at Clifford Chance. And wherever you’re heading, Clifford Chance is where you can be true to your ambitions.

Our Firm, work and people span jurisdictions, cultures, and languages. In a world where commercial success increasingly relies on globalisation, we offer clients a truly international perspective, and we offer our people a rewarding and stimulating career.

We are proud of our approachable, friendly, and team-based way of working. Highly professional and self-assured, with an entrepreneurial streak, our people are more than happy to share their expertise and knowledge.

How we will support you

From your first day with us, you will have varied opportunities to continuously grow and development your skills and knowledge. From formal training, informal coaching and mentoring through to skills-based and technical training and on the job learning.

Equal opportunities 

At Clifford Chance we understand that our true asset is our people. Inclusion is good for our team and their families, our Firm and society.

We are committed to treating all employees and applicants fairly and equally regardless of their gender, gender identity and expression, marital or civil partnership status, race, colour, national or ethnic origin, social or economic background, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, or age.  This applies to recruitment and selection, terms and conditions of employment including pay, promotion, training, transfer, and every other aspect of employment.

Our goal is to deliver an equality of opportunity, an equality of aspiration and an equality of experience to everyone who works in our Firm.