Senior 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 a Senior HR Business Partner to join the New York office. The Senior HR Business Partner provides comprehensive HR consultation and support services to firm leaders with the expressed purpose of aligning human capital endeavors with organizational goals. As a strategic partner to the business and its leadership, the incumbent will 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 identify and drive strategic HR engagements at multiple levels of the organization. The Senior HR Business Partner is responsible for working with HR teams to drive people-focused programs, processes, change initiatives and communications that facilitate new ways of operating and optimizing the contributions and engagement of employees.

Key Relationships

Firm Leadership, including Office Managing Partners, Directors of Administration, Directors of Practice Operations, Practice Area Leaders, HR team members across all functions.

Essential Duties

• Act as a strategic advisor to leaders, assigned business units and practice areas to understand business strategy, objectives, challenges, opportunities and needs.
• Serves as the main point of contact on a range of HR issues, procedures and policies consistent with employment standards, laws and Firm protocols and guidelines.
• Act as a change agent, advocating for continuous improvement and innovation with HR Processes.
• 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.
• Collaborate with leaders to plan and implement staffing plans based on business needs and ensure that staffing is appropriate for the level of the business.
• Resolve sensitive workplace issues, including employee complaints, perform investigations and make recommendations on corrective actions based on current Firm policies and applicable laws, mitigating risk and partnering with General Counsel as necessary.
• Analyze and leverage data analytics to inform HR strategies, measure the effectiveness, identify trends an develop proactive action plans.
• Collaborate with the other HR functional areas (Compensation, HR Operations, Benefits, Diversity, HRIS, etc.) to limit or eliminate process redundancy, as appropriate, and ensure high-quality, consistent and integrated service delivery across the function.

Additional Duties

• Act as liaison between the internal immigration team and HRBP Team. Coordinate immigration process for foreign nationals, ensuring compliance and maintaining records.
• May manage and lead a team of HR Business Partners or other HR representatives.
• Develop, mentor and coach team members to be effective and successful HR.
• Work closely with Benefits, Compensation and Compliance to update policies and adhere to local legislation.

Experience and Skills required

• Bachelors Degree in Business Administration, HR or a related field plus eight (8) or more years of direct HR experience
• Prior experience in a professional services or law firm environment highly preferred
• Strong knowledge of employment law, HR policies and best practices in the legal industry
• 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 influence firm leadership without direct authority.
• Strong executive presence and maturity; demonstrated ability to partner effectively with firm leadership and provide value-add service.
• 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.
• 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.

Additional abilities required

• Must be able to see, hear, speak and write clearly in order to communicate with employees and/or other clients.
• Manual dexterity required for typing, reaching and lifting of small objects, and operating office equipment.
• Frequent computer use at workstation up to eight hours at a time.
• Frequently work at fast pace with unscheduled interruptions.
• Office contact position requiring appropriate professional apparel.
• Mobility within the office including movement from floor to floor.
• Access information using a computer.
• Carries out responsibilities in an honest, ethical, and professional manner and performs other related duties as required and assigned.

Compensation salary $135,000 - $209,000

ABOUT THE FIRM

K&L Gates is a fully integrated global law firm with lawyers located across five continents in more than 40 offices. 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 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

K&L Gates offers our personnel a comprehensive suite of benefits to help meet your needs now and in the future. Depending on your eligibility, options for full-time personnel include:

• Medical/Prescription Drug Coverage (including a Health Savings Account feature)

• Back-up Child/Elder Care and access to a caregiving concierge

• Dental Insurance

• Wellness Program

• Vision Insurance

• Pre-tax Commuting Benefits

• 401(k) Retirement Plan and Profit Sharing

• Business Travel Accident Insurance

• Short- and Long-term Disability Protection

• Pet Insurance

• Life Insurance (including Basic, Supplemental, Spouse, Child, and Accidental Death and Dismemberment)

• Health Advocacy Services

• Paid Time Off (25-30 days per year)

• Identity Protection/Restoration and Fraud Insurance

• Parental Leave (18 weeks of which 6 are paid; short-term disability may provide additional paid time off)

• Student loan refinancing options and access to a student loan concierge service

• Paid Holidays (12)

• Addiction Resources

• Family Building Benefits

• Breast Milk Delivery and Lactation Support Services

• Flexible Spending Accounts

• Employees also may be eligible to receive bonuses and certain expense reimbursements

• Employee Assistance Program

• Professional Development and CLE Credit Opportunities

• 529 Deductions

• Relocation

• Accident Insurance

• Employee Referral Program

• Critical Illness Insurance

• Hybrid/Remote Work Opportunities

• Hospital Indemnity Insurance

• Perks including: Technology, Entertainment, and Travel Discount Programs

• Bereavement Leave

• All other benefits (such as leaves of absence) required by law

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 will not be influenced or affected by virtue of a person's race (including traits associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles such as afros, braids, locks, and twists), religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, gender, parental status, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, familial status, domestic violence victim status, military and veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local 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 prohibited harassment of any kind including, without limitation, that which is based on sex, race, age, disability, ethnic background, or any other category protected by law (including the categories listed above). The Firm complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees with disabilities. If you require reasonable accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please contact askHR[redacted]