Group HR Business Partner, 12 Month FTC

Main duties and responsibilities

Strategy & people plan delivery

• Understand the objectives and overall strategy of the Group and the firm and provide HR support that enables delivery of these goals.
• Support the delivery and implementation of people calendar activities to meet Group people priorities.
• Where required, attend relevant leadership team meetings with the SHRBP and lead on agreed people‑related agenda items.

Talent management, career pathways & promotions

• Support delivery of the Group‑wide talent management plan and promotion pipeline.
• Encourage and support career mapping across the Group, recommending appropriate leadership and development programmes where relevant.
• Support the coordination and delivery of promotion rounds across the Group, ensuring a robust and consistent approach.

Performance management & appraisals

• In conjunction with the SHRBP, ensure the annual performance review process is completed fairly and on time, including facilitation of Group‑wide moderation.
• Coach and influence managers to build strong leadership and people‑management capability, constructively challenging behaviours where required.
• Support the management of performance improvement plans and provide day‑to‑day guidance on underperformance issues.
• Ensure accurate records are maintained within the performance management system and provide reporting and analysis as required.

Employee relations

• Take responsibility for the management of core employee relations cases across the Group, including sickness absence, flexible working requests, performance improvement plans, grievance and disciplinary processes.
• Provide advice and guidance to managers and employees on people matters, escalating complex or senior issues as appropriate.
• Work closely with the firm’s Employee Relations Specialist to ensure best practice and effective risk management.
• Champion strong people‑management practice across the Group, supporting and developing line managers and partners.
• Complete exit interviews for all Group leavers and provide insights and themes to the business.
• Work with managers to ensure probation review processes are completed effectively and on time.

Recruitment, onboarding & Early Talent

• Work closely with the central Recruitment team to provide proactive recruitment support and maintain a consistent, high‑quality recruitment experience.
• Act as the main HR point of contact for new starter queries beyond HR Shared Services, supporting managers with induction as required.
• Partner with the Early Talent team as the primary HR contact for trainee matters, including performance, ER issues, seat moves and allocations.
• Support the annual newly qualified process across the Group.

Reward, learning & HR data

• Support the annual salary review process across the Group, including benchmarking, allocation and communication, with guidance from the SHRBP and wider HR team.
• Coordinate BonusPlus nominations and support the authorisation and challenge process with leadership.
• Work with the Learning & Development team to promote relevant development programmes and support ad‑hoc training needs across the Group.
• Run HR reports, analyse and interpret people data, and provide regular exit interview reporting and insights to the business.
• Support colleagues across the wider HR team with ad‑hoc requests such as attending formal hearings or interviews.
• Contribute to Group and HR projects as appropriate, taking account of capacity, skills and interests.

Relevant experience

• Experience advising managers and senior stakeholders on HR policies and procedures.
• Experience working within a professional services environment and complex matrix structures.
• Proven ability to deal confidently and credibly with employees at all levels.

Key skills

• Strong technical HR skills with a sound knowledge of employment legislation and HR best practice.
• Excellent listening, problem‑solving and judgement skills.
• Strong communication, influencing and relationship‑building capability.
• Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver outcomes effectively.
• Strong customer service mindset and commercial acumen.

Personal qualities

• Proactively builds strong, trusted relationships and is seen as a credible advisor.
• Takes ownership, provides constructive challenge and follows through on commitments.
• Demonstrates strong curiosity about the business and stakeholder needs.
• Professional, calm and resilient, with the confidence to manage ambiguity and change.
• Open, approachable and collaborative, able to work independently and as part of a team.
• Demonstrates sound judgement, effective questioning and active listening.

• A sense of humour and positive outlook.

  
  

At Pinsent Masons we value diversity and inclusion. We are committed to creating a better workplace where all our talent can succeed and feel like they belong. We want to attract, retain and develop people at all levels and encourage applications from all suitably qualified candidates whatever your ethnicity, religion, age, physical or mental disability/ long term condition, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression or another characteristics protected by local law in the jurisdictions in which we operate. #LI-BOSS