HR Business Partner

About The Role

We are seeking an experienced and confident HR Business Partner to be based in one of our East Region offices (Cambridge, Northampton, London, Norwich) where you will have a regular presence. This is an autonomous role, supporting a number of legal teams across the firm which will be suited to an individual with HR Manager or junior HRBP experience who is comfortable working independently and building trusted relationships with senior stakeholders.

Working as part of a small, collaborative team of HR Business Partners and reporting into the Head of HR, this role offers the opportunity to be involved in the full employment lifecycle, from talent management and strategic workforce planning to day to day advisory and employee relations. You will play a key role in supporting the firm's continued growth while ensuring a consistent, commercial and people focused approach.

Key Responsibilities Strategic HR Partnership

• Build strong, credible relationships with Partners, Heads of Team and managers across the East Region, acting as a trusted advisor on people matters.
• Provide commercially aware HR advice aligned to business objectives and the firm's people strategy.
• Contribute to and support strategic people initiatives, enabling effective decision making at senior level.

Employee Relations & Advisory

• Lead and manage a wide range of employee relations matters, including performance management, capability, absence, disciplinary and grievance processes.
• Provide clear, pragmatic and legally sound advice on UK employment law and best practice.
• Coach and support managers to build confidence and capability in managing people issues effectively.

Talent & Performance Management

• Support talent identification, succession planning and career development across supported legal teams.
• Partner with managers on appraisal cycles, promotion processes and performance calibration.
• Contribute to retention strategies and engagement initiatives within the region.
• Work closely with Recruitment to support workforce planning, hiring decisions and senior hires.

HR Projects & Continuous Improvement

• Support firm wide HR initiatives and projects, contributing ideas, insight and practical delivery.
• Ensure HR policies and processes are applied consistently, while allowing for regional and team nuances.
• Identify opportunities to improve ways of working and enhance the employee experience.

About You Person Specification

• Proven experience in an HR Manager, Senior Advisor or junior HR Business Partner role, ideally within a professional services or similarly commercial environment.
• Strong, hands on experience managing the full employment lifecycle.
• Experience of working with senior stakeholders and supporting matrix or geographically dispersed teams.
• Demonstrable ability to work independently and manage a regional remit.

Skills & Attributes

• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills, with the confidence to challenge constructively.
• Able to use data to support business decisions and confident in the changing role of technology to support the development of HR in supporting the business.
• Commercially minded, pragmatic and solutions focused.
• Highly organised, with the ability to prioritise and manage competing demands.
• Comfortable working remotely from the wider HR team while remaining collaborative and connected.
• Willingness to travel regularly across both the allocated region, as well as other locations to support teams as needed.

Benefits of working with us as a HRBP include

• 28 days annual leave (plus public holidays)
• Bonus scheme
• Life Assurance
• Scottish Widows Pension Scheme
• Private healthcare
• 1/3 gym membership contribution
• Electric vehicle scheme
• Happy People/Perks at Work benefits portal
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Flu vaccinations

As HCR is an equal opportunities employer, we don't just accept differences, we celebrate them. We want to attract a diverse and ambitious workforce that reflects all backgrounds and skills to create a workplace that is supportive and inclusive, recognises and nurtures talent, and which works together to achieve the best outcome for our clients. We are privileged to be an armed forces friendly organisation.