HR Specialist

Job Description

At K&L Gates, we are looking for smart, imaginative and hard-working people with diverse backgrounds, experiences and ideas to join us.  Perhaps our search for talented visionaries and your search for important and impactful work lead to the same place.

We are seeking an HR Specialist to join the Pittsburgh office. The HR Specialist is responsible for a wide variety of human resources activities for multiple locations and/or firm-wide functional departments under the general oversight of more senior HR professionals.  Responsible for conducting new employee orientation, staff exit interviews, entry and maintenance of HRIS data, maintaining personnel files, preparation of HR reports, primary HR contact for the locations and/or designated staff functions, providing guidance, as directed by an HR Business Partner to personnel regarding policies, practices, procedures relevant to the firms’ policies and procedures.  The HR Specialist works on a variety of projects that may be local, national or global in nature. Candidates must be self-starters who possess the ability to work independently and as part of a team. Excellent communication skills and a commitment to providing the highest quality client service are strongly preferred.

Key relationships
HR Business Partners, Local and global HR team members, business unit leaders, lawyers and staff members

Essential duties
•Maintain the highest level of professionalism while working regularly with information that requires a high degree of confidentiality and discretion
•Serves as the first point of contact for the HR function via Ask HR, answers general questions, responds to employment verifications, research, troubleshoot, and escalate issues as appropriate
•Proactively keep affected staff and lawyers aware of status and take ownership of ensuring that outstanding issues are addressed in a timely and satisfactory manner
•Support HR Business Partner team with administrative tasks, performance management processes and conducting exit interviews
•Act as the liaison and first point of contact between the immigration team and the firm’s employees for any visa related inquiries and cases
•Facilitate the new onboarding process, including preparing orientation schedules, drafting new hire welcome announcements and conducting new hire orientations
•Processing of separations including exit procedures, interviews, coordination of final payroll, collection of firm property, final review and closure of personnel file, etc.
•Creates, maintains and/or audits personnel files for assigned locations; file transfers and update departed employee files
•Responsible for maintaining and modifying HRIS data and other HR reports for personnel in the assigned locations/functional areas
•Prepare and distribute monthly HR reports, including 30 day new hire surveys, staff and associate exit surveys
•Serve as I-9 Administrator ensuring timely completion of I-9 documentation; train newly assigned I-9 administrators on process and keep up to date on I-9 compliance updates
•Participate in team meetings and actively contribute to HR projects and other support duties
•Additional duties as assigned

Experience and skills required
•Bachelor's degree and two years of previous HR experience supporting an HR Generalist team
•Previous experience within a law firm or professional services environment required
•Solid experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel and PowerPoint)
•Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written to interact with a wide range of individuals
•Can effectively establish and maintain productive relationships internal and external clients, demonstrates customer focus
•Ability to take initiative and see through a complex issue from beginning to end, using critical thinking skills
•Self direction and exemplary attention to detail to assure quality work and assure requirements are maintained
•Ability to function effectively in confidential situations, to think clearly, to maintain complete confidentiality, to utilize prudent judgment and execute tactfully
•Demonstrates basic project management skills, the ability meet deadlines, prioritize tasks, and communicate progress, exemplary attention to detail
•Focuses on continuous improvement and demonstrates an innovative approach
•Ability to handle multiple priorities in an environment that is constantly changes and requires quick turnaround

Additional Abilities Required
This job operates in an office setting and is largely sedentary, requiring the routine use of a computer and other standard office equipment.  The ability to open file cabinets, lift files, bend and stand on a stool may also be required. Information contained in this description represents the general nature and level of work being performed.  This is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position.  Reasonable accommodations will be considered in appropriate circumstances; however, as the nature of an accommodation may vary depending on the needs and desires of an individual with a disability, it is impossible to describe in advance specific accommodations that will be considered.

Note: Nothing in this job description restricts the firm’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this position at any time. Information provided represents the usual method of accomplishing the duties in this job.  Reasonable accommodations will be considered in appropriate circumstances.
 

ABOUT THE FIRM

K&L Gates is a fully integrated global law firm with approximately 2,000 lawyers across five continents. We have experienced dramatic growth in the past decade and now rank among the largest U.S. based law firms in the world.  We take pride in constantly striving for innovation, imagination and an entrepreneurial spirit. We come up with big ideas and then roll up our sleeves to get the job done, guiding our clients through their most complex issues in a variety of industry sectors and across multiple regions of the world.

The industry recognition the firm has garnered in the past five years emanates from the foundation of a global community aligned on behalf of our clients. The people at K&L Gates are committed to working together to create a legacy for each other, the firm, our clients, and the communities in which we serve. We thrive in an inclusive and socially conscious environment that embraces diversity and takes a holistic approach to the career evolution of all our professionals.

For more information or to view other job opportunities, please click here to go back to our careers page.

Notice: We participate in E-Verify in certain Firm locations for purposes of verifying employment eligibility.

BENEFITS

We offer a dynamic work environment and excellent benefits.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Firm is an equal opportunity employer. It is the policy of the Firm that employment decisions shall be based on merit, qualifications and competence. Employment practices shall not be influenced or affected by virtue of a person’s race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, disability, military status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. This policy governs all aspects of employment including, without limitation, recruiting, hiring, compensation, benefits, promotion, assignment and dismissal. In addition, it is the Firm’s policy to provide an environment that is free of unlawful harassment of any kind including, without limitation, that which is sexual, racial, age-related, disability-related or ethnic background-related.