Head of HR Business Operations

Mayer Brown is an international law firm positioned to represent the world’s major corporations, funds, and financial institutions in their most important and complex transactions and disputes. We are recognized by our clients as strategic partners with deep commercial instincts and a commitment to creatively anticipating their needs and delivering excellence in everything we do.

We are a collegial, collaborative firm where highly motivated individuals with an unwavering commitment to excellence receive the opportunity, support, and development they need to grow, thrive, and realize their greatest potential all while supporting the Firm’s client service principles of excellence, strategic partnership, commercial instinct, integrated strengths, innovation, and collaboration across our international firm.

If you enjoy working with team members whose defining characteristics are exceptional client service, initiative, professionalism, responsiveness, and adaptability, you may be the person we are seeking to join our Human Resources department in our New York, Chicago, or London office, as a Director: Global HR Operations.

As the Director: Global HR Operations, you will take responsibility for defining the strategic direction for the HR Operations team and administering the programs, polices and key imperatives that support the business and deliver a rewarding career experience for our people. You will lead and develop a team of trusted advisors, both technical and operational, overseeing all HR processes, systems, data, reporting, global mobility, HR compliance and other operational matters. You will foster a common purpose and commitment among the team, leading by example and strike a balance of challenge and support to empower them to perform at their highest level and deliver exceptional client service. Together, you will provide centralized services, program support and budget oversight to the HR team and our various Centers of Expertise (COE) with the aim of enhancing the employee experience. In conjunction with the Director of HRIS, you will serve as the liaison with the IT function to advance the technology roadmap for each of the COEs including compensation, benefits, global mobility, recruitment, talent management & community building, and learning & development. You will actively identify and manage risk and compliance issues, which will involve working closely with the General Counsel’s office on privacy, subject access requests, compliance training, regulatory requirements, background and conflicts checks, law licenses and visa status tracking. You will represent the HR function in all matters related to cross-functional processes, data and systems integration. This group informs and prioritizes all Firm technology projects including system implementations, upgrades, data governance and privacy considerations. You will also form part of the Business Intelligence Committee which governs all data reporting and analytics and implementation of background checking. Managing and developing the HR Operations team in-line with the strategy and ensuring all activity is adequately resourced

Aligning and efficiently operating the global HR business processes, projects and systems that support them

Project planning, implementation and operational oversight of all employee lifecycle processes, including but not limited to performance evaluations, competencies, client and office secondments mobility, retirement/succession planning, leaves of absence, job descriptions, onboarding and exits

Getting to know and understand the regional HR teams and those running HR processes in each office, as well as the Senior Leaders across Legal and Business Services

Work with HRIS team to manage HR data integration with other Firm systems

Develop standardized procedures and process expertise across the team, liaising with all offices to ensure that the Operations team is delivering

Cross-functional liaison and work planning, particularly relating to Technology, Business Reporting and General Counsel

Overseeing all projects relating to HR Operations to ensure they are delivered efficiently

Taking a Leadership role within the HR function to ensure all core HR processes, are fit for purpose and support the achievement of the Firm’s strategy

Management and development of the HR Knowledge Library and the internal Shared Services teams - based in Chicago (Americas time zone) and London (UK time zone) - to drive global operational standardization, efficiency and expertise, and an exceptional partner and employee experience

In conjunction with the CTO, contribute to the development and continuous review of the HR Strategy that meets the requirements of the Firm and aligns with the Firm's strategic direction

Set the parameters for the prioritization of people and budget resources and high impact changes to be implemented, as relevant to the HR Operations COE

Liaising with the General Counsel’s office to ensure compliance objectives and requirements are achieved, including background and conflicts checking, data privacy/retention, compliance training, law license and visa status, risk management and other Firm or legislative obligations

Global regulatory requirements including secondment administration

Developing and communicating the HR policies, technology, operations, global mobility and HR compliance strategies and development roadmaps

manage conflicts in terms of global adherence to established processes, legal compliance and risk management issues, etc.

Responsible for decisions about strategy, best practice, program offerings, HR spend, etc.

The role holder will stay at the forefront of HR process innovation. In coordination with leaders of HR COEs, oversee the annual development of the HR operations budget for projects, expenses and headcount and provide reporting to appropriate stakeholders who need to monitor the spend against the budget

Management of HR Operations that includes: Global Mobility, HR Projects, and Compliance and internal Central HR or HR Shared Services

Serves on the senior leadership team for HR

Qualifications, Experience and Personal Attributes
Education/Training/Certifications:

An undergraduate degree or related/comparable work experience

Intellectual curiosity and creative thinking

Project Management certification (e.g. Experience in a global law firm preferred

Experience managing an internal shared service or operations center capability is highly desirable

Strong track record of managing teams for HR Operations, preferably global teams, and managing key HR processes using technology.

Evidence a deep understanding and application in:

HR Process Design & Implementation

Setting and monitoring HR KPIs

HR project management

Service quality management

Budgeting and financial management

PeopleSoft

Workday

ServiceNow

HR data analytics

Performance Management and Onboarding tools

HR Knowledge Library

Learning Management

AI applications for HR, etc.

Performance Traits:

Understand the commercial and business context of the legal sector

Well-developed relationship and stakeholder management skills

Advanced project management skills

Client service focus

International travel to other offices

nothing herein creates an employment contract or alters the at-will nature of employment.

We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits, including medical/dental/vision/life/and AD&D insurance, 401(k) savings plan, back-up childcare and eldercare, generous paid time off (PTO), as well as opportunities for professional development and growth.

We are committed to providing equal opportunity and reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities and disabled veterans. To request an accommodation related to the application process or interview, please View email address on click.appcast.io qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

Firms without a contract or agreement with Mayer Brown are not authorized to represent that they are working with the Firm, nor are they entitled to placement fees.