Head of HR Operations and Executive Support Services

Ideally located in the Cambridge office although Birmingham or Norwich will be considered. Regular travel to other offices will be expected.

Full or part time to FTE 0.8

The role 

The role is based within the firm’s wider HR team and is a key member of the HR senior leadership team.

The role will ensure HR Operations and Executive Support Services (ESS) provide outstanding client service to the business and evolve and develop to support the wider business strategy while also reflecting the external developments in the provision of HR Operations and ESS in the legal sector.

The role holder will ensure key operational work, processes and projects are delivered in a planned, timely, effective and cost-efficient way, whilst also maintaining effective levels of resource to meet business demand. The role holder will work closely with the Chief People Officer (CPO), Managing Partner, National Service Line (NSL) leaders, Business Services Directors / Heads to align the firm's HR and Executive Support Services operational activities with strategic goals.

This role is responsible for leading the HR Operations and ESS on delivery of these for the 2030 strategy and beyond.

The role of Head of HR Operations and Executive Support Services is a new one for Mills & Reeve and so the role will inevitably evolve and develop over time depending on the emerging needs and priorities of the business.

This role will report into the CPO. The Senior HR Managers and, Regional Executive Support Services Managers will directly report into the Head of HR Operations & Executive Support Services.

The person 

It is expected your background and experience will include:

• CIPD qualified or equivalent post-graduate HR qualification

• Experience in the professional services sector preferred, ideally with some exposure to working within legal services

• Experience of working either at Senior HR Manager and / or Head of HR level (or equivalent) and in a role of similar scale and complexity or someone working in a smaller firm looking to step up

• Experience of leading and engaging a team of experienced HR professionals ideally across multiple locations

• A successful track record of building strong relationships with and influencing key stakeholders

You will be able to demonstrate the following:

• High levels of credibility and management experience with excellent people and client service skills

• High levels of drive, enthusiasm and commitment to achieve results and desired business outcomes

• An excellent communicator who is able to build consensus and trust at all levels

• Influential and consultative approach coupled with the ability to make decisions

• Proven track record of providing robust HR advice to senior stakeholders

• A pragmatic approach to applying HR technical expertise and knowledge to a range of business problems

• Proven leadership and management of an effective team and creating a sense of common purpose and cohesion

• An ability to develop others and provide open and honest feedback to individuals

• Well organised with good attention to detail and the ability to prioritise effectively

• An ability to delegate effectively whilst at the same time empowering direct reports to deliver with a high level of autonomy

• Excellent project management skills

• Political astuteness to read situations and influence and gain support from a broad group of stakeholders/people

• Challenging but not confrontational with a clear sense of direction but also with an understanding of the need to listen to the specific views of others

• Ability to build relationships with a transparent, inclusive and open communication style

• Commercial awareness, including an understanding of the drivers of business performance and the ability to provide commercially viable advice and/or solutions in a timely manner

• Financially literate with some experience of managing and meeting budgets

• Resilient and tough minded and so able to persevere in the face of obstacles and setbacks

Main duties and responsibilities

Leadership

• Leadership of the HR business partnering team to ensure operational HR activity is co-ordinated and delivered to consistently high service levels and performance standards across the firm and in line with the firm’s Outstanding Client Service (OCS) guidelines

• Line management of the Senior HR Managers and Regional Executive Services Managers, ensuring priorities and objectives are clearly defined and ongoing support is provided to enable them and their teams to provide effective support to the business

• Manage the HR business partnering and Executive Services teams ensuring high levels of engagement, performance and ongoing personal and career development

• Leading, inspiring and engaging others by role modelling the firm’s values, promoting a culture of collaboration and inclusion, and by being accessible to direct reports and colleagues

• Promoting a culture of mentoring, coaching, development and continuous improvement to equip their teams with the necessary skills and capabilities to deliver the services required by the firm

• Developing strong collaborative relationships and internal networks across all practice areas, offices and functions through good communication and engagement with all parts of the firm

• Take the senior lead for relevant HR projects alongside or in the absence of the CPO. Deputise for the CPO as required.

Operations

• Continuous improvement and development of best in class HR and Executive Services operations in support of the firm’s 2030 national and international growth ambitions

• Integrating the firm’s ESG and AI agenda into the HR and Executive Services operations

• Prioritisation and co-ordination of the firm’s investment in HR and Executive Services operations ensuring they are aligned with the firm’s 2030 strategic objectives

• Efficient, timely reporting and communication of operational information in a user-friendly format

• Establish key performance indicators and other quantitative / qualitative measures which demonstrate continuous performance improvement in HR and Executive Services operations

• Consulting with key stakeholders at regular intervals to ensure high levels of client experience are being consistently delivered by HR and Executive Services operations

Either directly or through effective line management, the role holder will have overall responsibility for;

• Assessing the impact of major policy and legislative change and initiate strategies and policies to address both the challenges and opportunities arising from policy and legislative changes

• Ensuring all relevant legislative requirements, including those relating to diversity and data protection are embedded in the development of project and policy work and in all the advice provided to line managers and others across the firm

• Working with HRIS colleagues to ensure the data and information held by HR is complete, accurate

• Managing complex employee relations issues and seeking legal advice internally as appropriate

• Ensuring HR processes used are clear, understood, up to date and engineered in the most efficient and user friendly way e.g. performance management, promotions, absence management etc

• Ensuring HR processes, policies and procedures (including changes) are communicated effectively to the relevant audience(s) across the firm

• Work with the Reward and Benefits Manager on the coordination of the annual salary and bonus review for layers, business and executive services

• Contributing to effective resource planning and supporting the preparation of the annual three-year rolling HR expenditure plans/budgets

• Networking with peers in legal and other professional services firms to share innovation, best practice and technological and process improvement in HR and Executive Services

The Mills & Reeve Business Services career structure

We have a firm wide Business Services career structure and a published career progression framework.  Within the firm wide career structure there are five career levels.  For the purposes of the framework, this role is at a Senior Manager level and the role profile that details the outcomes and activities expected of across the firm is included with this job description.  Further information on the firm’s Business Services career structure is available from the HR team.

Pre-employment screening

Please note that, in the event that we make an offer of employment, we will conduct pre-employment screening that includes, but is not limited to, a basic DBS check, right to work check, any disciplinary history recorded with the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and a self-declaration to assess your character and suitability for the role.  A full policy of the screening the firm undertakes is available on request.

And finally

Mills & Reeve is committed to providing an inclusive and supportive working environment. We are happy to consider flexible working arrangements and endeavour to achieve the right balance for both our people and the business. This attitude to flexible working ensures we continue to provide outstanding service to our clients, whilst allowing our people to develop their careers in the knowledge that personal priorities will remain just that.

Mills & Reeve is committed to promoting equality, diversity and to providing an inclusive and supportive environment. Please click the link below to find further information regarding our diversity policy.

https://www.mills-reeve.com/about-us/diversity-and-inclusion