HR Business Partner

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 Business Partner to join the Dallas or Chicago office. 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.

POSITION SUMMARY
The HR Business Partner provides comprehensive HR consultation and support services to firm leaders with the expressed purpose of aligning human capital strategies with organizational goals. Located in Dallas or Chicago, this role will provide support to the firm’s four Texas offices (Dallas, Fort Worth, Austin, Houston) Chicago office and Miami office. As a strategic partner to the business and its leadership, the incumbent must develop strong relationships with key stakeholders to understand the business and assigned business units; identify and anticipate talent-related needs; advise and educate on HR-related matters; and propose, develop, and facilitate the deployment of relevant, integrated solutions. This position engages with leadership to proactively identify and promote strategic HR initiatives at multiple levels across the organization.  In order to optimize employee contribution and engagement, this position collaborates with HR teams to create and drive people-focused programs, processes, reward programs, change initiatives and communications.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES
• Regular consultation with assigned business units to understand business strategy, objectives, challenges, opportunities and needs
• Serve as the main point of contact for staff and management on a range of HR issues, procedures and policies consistent with employment standards, laws and firm protocols and guidelines
• Build and sustains a strong business relationship with internal clients with complex support needs
• Educate, advise, coach and influence the assigned business units on issues involving the full talent lifecycle, including, but not limited to attracting and retaining talent, performance management, succession planning, career development, organizational development, compensation administration, employee relations and exit management
• Facilitate talent development by: assessing organization capabilities; identifying competency and talent gaps; ensuring development of people resources; and supporting talent assessment and succession planning processes. Administer firm policies, programs and procedures related to the foregoing
• Develop future staffing plans based on business conditions and ensure that staffing is appropriate for the level of the business
• Develop and implement programs that will drive increased employee engagement, retention, and commitment at all levels
• Support the firm’s professional development and other talent development programs, which include partnering with leaders to identify and align training and development needs with the organization’s strategic direction as well as individual coaching
• In coordination with the firm’s General Counsel, as necessary, resolve employee complaints, perform investigations and make recommendations on corrective actions based on current firm policies and applicable laws and statutes
• Analyze people-related data to identify trends and to develop and implement proactive action plans and informed recommended approaches
• Perform regular self-audits to ensure compliance as well as ensure that HR practices are consistent with business objectives, internal standards and regulatory requirements
• Support and collaborate with the other HR functional areas (HRIS, Benefits, Recruitment, Professional Development, Diversity & Inclusion, etc.) to limit or eliminate process redundancy, as appropriate, and ensure high-quality, consistent and integrated service delivery across the function
• Act as a change agent, a culture champion and model positive leadership behaviors.
• Demonstrate favorable results through building trust with leadership, fostering collaboration and influencing multiple individuals or groups
• Partner with managers and leave administration team regarding leaves of absences and accommodation requests, managing the interactive process and ensuring a resolution that is beneficial for the employee and firm, and compliant with local, state and federal regulations
• Develop and coach fellow team members to be effective and successful

EXPERIENCE SKILLS REQUIRED
• Bachelors Degree in Business Administration, HR or a related field plus eight (5) or more years of direct HR experience supporting senior leadership
• SHRM-SCP and/or SPHR certification preferred
• Demonstrated success in managing HR programs and supporting leadership in a complex global business environment
• Strong analytical, problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and communicate internal systems strengths and weaknesses, and drive for continuous improvement
• Excellent customer service, consulting, relationship-building, negotiation, conflict management and change leadership skills with a diversity of audiences, cultures and individuals at all levels
• High degree of business acumen, and ability to independently influence firm leadership without direct authority
• Strong executive presence and maturity; proven consulting skills in order  to partner effectively with leadership and provide value-add service
• Demonstrated ability to partner with diverse business units and across HR to deliver effective business solutions
• Ability to respond and function effectively in emergent and/or sensitive situations and to maintain complete confidentiality; demonstrate prudence and good judgment to escalate, delegate or defer matters swiftly and tactfully, as appropriate
• Ability to foster an inclusive work environment and respect all aspects of diversity; demonstrate and value differences in others’ strengths, perspectives, approaches and personal choices
• Proven coaching capabilities; ability to objectively coach employees and management through complex, difficult, and emotional issues
• Excellent project management skills and attention to detail; able to implement programs locally and globally
• Able to work independently and prioritize tasks, meet specified deadlines and work product quality requirements and effectively manage frequent changes and interruptions
• Excellent communication skills (verbal, written, and listening), including the ability to assess the audience and demonstrate good judgment in word choice and communication medium
• Excellent administrative and computer skills, particularly with MS Office applications (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint)
• Ability to work outside normal business hours as required to ensure essential functions of position are met
• 20 - 25% travel necessary, including overnight travel to Austin, Houston, Chicago and Miami offices

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.