Head of HR
Harrison Drury is a market leading Firm of solicitors with offices across the North West, servicing both business and private clients. We have been successful for a fifth time in placing in the Top 100 Best Companies to work for in the UK, and are now looking for a HR leader and innovator who can takes us to the next level. We are an employer of choice because we have a culture that challenges the conventional law firm approach and focuses our energy on getting great results for our clients, while attracting and developing brilliant people.
We are looking for a HR professional with experience in leading an in-house HR function to deliver a comprehensive human resources service within a legal or professional services business, creating the critical links between our organisational vision, mission, values and key HR initiatives.
With overall responsibility for aligning the HR function with business objectives, this role requires a strategic approach to the development and delivery of HR policies and procedures, which promote strong working relationships and value for money for the business.
This hands-on leadership role involves managing and developing a small HR team alongside delivery of the practical aspects of HR including, employment law, learning and development, recognition and reward, performance management, best practice, workforce development and implementation of a new HR information system. These focus areas will drive initiatives that embed our core values across policies, practices, and team roles, including KPIs that reflect our commitment to organisational vision and values as well as traditional HR metrics.
The role:
As the Head of HR, you will work closely with the senior management and partnership teams on strategic HR planning to achieve defined business goals. This role requires a professional with the gravitas to work effectively within a legal services business, holding others accountable to align with Harrison Drury’s values. You will champion HR’s role in operational excellence, serve as a trusted advisor, and lead in a way that builds credibility across all levels of the organisation.
Key responsibilities include:
- Acting as a bridge between Harrison Drury’s values and HR initiatives, ensuring alignment with our purpose-led mission and culture.
- Leading and developing the HR team, promoting best-in-class behaviours and practices that support Harrison Drury’s standards of professionalism and collaboration.
- Driving a KPI-focused HR agenda where organisational vision, values, and success metrics are mapped, measured, and achieved across all HR functions.
- Providing strategic guidance on people-related matters, engaging as a trusted advisor to the partners, and supporting all levels within the organisation with best-practice HR counsel.
- Implementing a collaborative approach across all HR projects, ensuring comprehensive alignment of policies that promotes seamless service delivery.
- Implement a continuous improvement agenda with focus on engagement and welfare activities, maximising productivity, devolving HR responsibilities to line managers and building leadership capability.
- Ensuring HR policies and procedures are kept up to date and comply with current employment law.
- Set internal professional standards for creating job descriptions and handbooks.
- Design and delivery of a Learning & Development programme, involving skills gaps analysis to address employee training needs in collaboration with a 3rd party training partner.
- Recruiting, training and developing staff in partnership with Talent Acquisition Specialist, Training Principal and 3rd party training partner.
- Measuring and monitoring employee satisfaction and identifying areas that need addressing.
- Analysis of key people metrics to identify and report themes and solutions to senior management.
- Maintain achievement of all current and future accreditations linked to our people including IIP, Best Companies, Lexcel etc.
- Developing and managing diversity and inclusion programs.
Skills and experience
- CIPD Level 7 or equivalent qualification
- In-depth knowledge of UK employment law and HR best-practice
- Hands on development of internal academies/learning hubs to pathway talent within professional services (fee earning and business support roles)
- Management and use of HR information software systems
- Minimum 8-10 years’ experience in HR leadership within a high-growth, values-led professional services environment, preferably within the legal sector in the UK.
- Proven experience in embedding values within organisational practices and measuring them through KPIs.
- Demonstrated ability to work with significant gravitas, influencing senior partners, board members, and stakeholders as a credible and trusted advisor.
- Strong background in driving interconnected HR initiatives that align with overarching organisational strategies.
- Expertise in designing and executing learning and development programmes, with an emphasis on values and purpose alignment.
- Advanced skills in HR analytics, with experience tracking and reporting on performance metrics linked to values and organisational vision.
Apply Here
Harrison Drury is ranked by both Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500, two leading independent guides to the UK’s top legal firms and solicitors.
These guides highlight the solicitors who are providing the most cutting-edge and innovative advice to clients and we are ranked across our range of practice areas and people.
