Dir of HR Business Partners

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 a Director, HR Business Partners to join the Dallas* office. Provide strategic leadership and oversight for the HR Business Partner and Staff Recruiting teams in executing a wide range of activities and programs in accordance with the firm’s overall strategy.  Responsible for planning, directing, and delivering customized HR services in support of firm and department objectives and ensuring efficient use of resources resulting in high levels of customer satisfaction and effective business solutions.  Oversee employee relations by providing strategic and tactical direction to all levels of management to minimize firm liability related to the processes and practices associated with the development and retention of firm talent at all levels.  Serve as a primary liaison with firm counsel on all employee relations matters.  Serve as an advocate to employees, managers, and leaders and provide solutions to complex and critical issues involving firm personnel. 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.

*We will also consider housing this position any of our US offices.

Key relationships
Chief of People & Projects, HR Directors, global HR team, General Counsel, Office Managing Partners, Directors of Administration, Senior Administrative Staff, employees and managers at all levels

Key duties include but are not limited to
Essential duties

HR Business Partners
• Lead the HRBP team in the delivery of HR services to assigned client groups relating to onboarding new staff and lawyers into the firm, performance management, compensation and benefits, employee relations matters, and career planning; provide strategic HR leadership and consultation focused on creating innovative HR strategies to anticipate and assess emerging business and people trends, identify and implement the appropriate HR solutions; serve as strategic partner to the business, developing HR strategies, needs assessments, and resulting HR solutions; collaborate with firmwide HR Department to ensure a unified HR delivery approach to internal client groups
• Guide, coach and develop HR professionals to solve problems, advise in an ever-changing business enrivonment, and manage firm leaders’ expectations while delivering a high level of client service
• Work closely with firm leadership and employees to improve work relationships, build morale, increase engagement, performance and retention of talent
• Serve as HR Business Partner to the HR Department

Employee Relations
• Counsel firm leadership on HR concerns to manage business and legal risk and support employee engagement and performance management
• Review involuntary terminations and disciplinary decisions for fairness, consistency, and potential legal liability; ensure all formally lodged employment-related compliants and allegations of discrimination or unlawful treatment are properly tracked, investigated, and attended to in a timely and effective manner; work closely with firm General Counsel regarding all formal proceedings
• Analyze turnover and other employment data in order to proactively identify and correct possible managerial opportunities for development; develop and facilitate manager training as needed

Staff Recruiting
• Provide leadership and direction for the staff recruiting strategy and process designs, including the full life cycle of staff recruiting and staff employment branding
• Develop and execute firmwide strategic and tactical recruiting plans, tailoring strategy and support based on location and department specific needs
• Manage the operational budget ensuring staff placement and advertising fees provide value and are cost effective

Experience and skills required
• Bachelor’s or university degree in business, human resources, or equivalent; master’s or advanced degree strongly preferred
• Extensive human resources experience as an HR Business Partner in a law firm or professional services organization
• Ability to lead, manage, and counsel others to ensure effective and efficient attainment of departmental goals
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and competing demands; demonstrated success in managing and delivering large programs and in leading change in a demanding environment
• Excellent communication and presentation skills; executive presence, maturity, and sound judgment to effectively communicate and gain credibility with internal and external audiences
• Ability to lead in a complex multicultural environment with multiple stakeholders; excellent relationship-building skills and ability to influence across HR functions, global offices, and various functional departments
• Strong business and financial acumen; ability to develop strategic plans, make sound decisions, and anticipate, diagnose, and develop creative solutions to complex problems

Additional abilities required
• Ability to handle confidential situations, maintain confidentiality, exercise prudent judgment, and execute tactfully
• Travel, as necessary, to support business needs (anticipated travel <10% of working time)
• Responsibilities occasionally may require an adjusted work schedule and evening/weekend hours in order to meet deadlines

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.

To learn what makes us different from other law firms, including our collaborative approach, entrepreneurial spirit, and our commitment to diversity, check out our video, “Grow Your Career at K&L Gates.”

If you agree that we are different from other law firms - and the right place for you to grow your career - please apply for this position.  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.