Senior HR Business Partner

Clifford Chance

Job Description

We are recruiting this role on a fixed term contract to cover a period of maternity leave. The ideal start date will be beginning of November 2025.

The role

You will partner with the Regional Partners and stakeholders to develop and deliver people priorities aligned to the firms people and talent strategy, and the practice area strategy.

Who you will work with

You will work closely with the Regional Head of HR & Talent (RHRD), Regional HR Team members, Communities of Expertise (CoEs), global service delivery teams, and the broader HR function to deliver high impact and highly efficient people priorities and processes. You will work closely with and may also manage, coach and develop members of the Middle East and Turkiye HR team.

What you will be responsible for

You will build trusted advisor relationships with Partners and stakeholders e.g. Regional leadership teams to develop and deliver the priorities aligned to the firms people and talent strategy.

What you will do

The below key responsibilities are to be carried out in line with the global People and Talent Strategy, together with any additional regional HR strategic priorities.

People and Talent Strategy

• Partner with key stakeholders to develop and deliver the people and talent strategy aligned to the practice area/regional business function strategy.
• Partner with key stakeholders to embed the firms people priorities across the practice area, bringing together outputs of key regional processes, shaping the regional talent agenda (e.g. succession planning) and working on key talent processes.
• Actively contribute to the people strategy formation by representing client groups, collaborating with relevant HR colleagues (regionally and globally) and bringing market knowledge of leading practice HR to shape and deliver global and regional HR projects linked to the strategy.
• Be a trusted advisor to key stakeholders, providing HR support, coaching and direction on HR related and people issues.
• Manage, lead, and develop HR team members in implementing the people strategy with due regard to all applicable policies; monitor the quality and timely delivery of all activities and support the professional development of the team.
• Lead and participate in regional and global strategic projects aligned to People and Talent strategy as and when required.
• Oversee the strategic Early Talent programs for the region and be an ambassador for these schemes in the market.

Financial Management, Risk, Data and Analytics

• Work with key stakeholders to determine headcount forecasting and budget changes aligning to business plan and strategy.
• Understand and interpret business and commercial metrics and combine this with relevant interpretation of people data, analytics and reporting to support and optimise effective decision making.
• Use broader data from other sources of employee listening from across the firm, e.g. people survey, exit data, inclusion focus groups, etc. to give a broader perspective and insight on inclusion and wellbeing across the practice area.

Employee Relations

• Be a trusted advisor to the senior stakeholders on employee relations issues, anticipating risk and likely consequences, and identify early interventions.
• Provide, where appropriate, confidential employee counselling, guidance and coaching with the aim of resolving situations informally when possible.
• Provide input to help shape employee related policies to ensure all employee related policies are implemented fairly and consistently.
• Provide guidance and support in relation to ER for Partners and stakeholders.

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Qualifications

Your experience

Skills

• You will have flexible and effective communication skills, coupled with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.

Experience

• You will be an experienced Senior HR Business Partner, ideally having worked in a professional services organisation.
• Experience of working in a matrixed/global environment is strongly desirable.
• You will have significant HR experience across all areas and you will now be looking for a role that combines working at both an operational and strategic level.
• You will have a proven track record of developing and implementing HR initiatives that have demonstrably contributed to achieving business objectives and enhanced overall business performance. Ideally specific knowledge in reward, and learning.
• You will have experience of partnering with and influencing management teams and working collaboratively with key stakeholders to create joint expectations and deliverables, striving for positive results and engaging others in the journey.

Knowledge

• You will demonstrate strong commercial awareness and the ability to review and analyse data and asses risk.
• Knowledge of relevant labour laws and best practice, e.g. DIFC, ADGM, UAE onshore, KSA.
• Knowledge of a Partnership environment and the common law legal system.

Qualifications

• You will ideally have formal HR qualifications e.g. Masters Degree or industry qualification.

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.