Human Resources Manager

We have an exciting opportunity for a Human Resources Manager in the Washington, DC office at Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP. We are searching for someone who wants to be a valued contributor and member of a talented and dynamic team of lawyers, paralegals and business professionals.

The Human Resources ("HR") Manager leads and implements human resources policies, practices, and objectives in assigned regions/offices that result in an employee-oriented, high performance culture emphasizing teamwork, critical thinking, respect, creativity, quality, productivity, and assists in driving the creation and maintenance of the staff and paralegal workforce. The HR Manager will partner very closely with the Senior Benefits Manager with Leave, FMLA and Wellness.

Responsibilities and Duties:

Staffing Management

• Handles departure processes and exit interviews for staff and paralegals, analyzing the information for patterns and trends.
• Manages and monitors the day-to-day workflow of paralegals and legal practice assistants in appropriate regions.
• Manages monthly profitability of all paralegal hours and workload.
• Manages onboarding and off boarding when appropriate.
• Works with the with Talent Acquisition Manager on non-legal recruitment activities (within appropriate regions).

Benefits

• Partners with Benefits team to manage and track the leave and wellness process firmwide.

Training and Development

• Identifies training and development needs to continually expand the administrative staff and paralegal skill competency levels.
• Proactively creates, delivers, and revises training and development programs, sometimes in partnership with other departments, to ensure optimal outcomes.

Employee Relations

• Coaches and develops non-managerial staff on all human resources issues including communication, feedback, recognition, and developmental and disciplinary issue responsibilities.
• Addresses and resolves employee relations issues in an effective and timely manner, ameliorating issues before they escalate.
• Documents and reports all employee relations and recommendations to Director of Human Resources.

Performance Management

• Participates in staff and paralegal performance evaluation, merit increase and bonus program processes.
• Provides day-to-day coaching, counseling and disciplinary actions guidance. Monitors the results and follows up as appropriate.

Compensation

• Plays key role, with leadership of the HR Director, in the staff and paralegal annual review, merit increase, bonus processes and budgets of activities in appropriate region.
• Prepares draft compensation and bonus recommendations of staff and paralegal to Director of Human Resources.
• Manages overtime for all staff in region and report attentions to Director of Human Resources

Compliance/Risk Management

• Remains current on local changing legal requirements.
• Responds to inquiries and requests from state/federal/local agencies (Department of Labor).
• Escalates and alerts Director of Human Resources about issues of concern.

Professional Development/Continuous Improvement/Best Practices

• Recommends new programs and changes to existing programs.
• Stays current on local HR trends and best practices, both in general and in law firms.
• Actively participates in professional HR associations to represent appropriate offices, identify HR best practices, network with colleagues, etc.
• Recommends new approaches, policies, and procedures to effect continual improvements in the Department.

HR Systems and Processes

• Manages the creation and maintenance of department records and files, including personnel, I-9, medical files and records.
• Manages the maintenance, review, and communication of records required by law or local governing bodies, or other departments in the organization.
• Works with the HR Operations Manager in updating job descriptions.
• Assists in the implementation of HR policies and procedures. Recommends changes as appropriate.
• Manages the timely processing of change notifications to all functioning departments.
• Manages reference and verification of employment requests for all personnel within appropriate region and files.
• Manages wage notices for appropriate region (as applicable).
• Prepares and monitors monthly HR metrics and reports and other required reports.

Firm Culture

• Keeps current on the "temperature" and morale of the assigned offices.
• Manages and designs social activities to enhance communication, morale and the employee/employer relationship.
• Maintains an environment of trust, teamwork, development, and empowerment through quality communications, relationship building, and coaching.
• Develops and maintains effective relationships to be able to effectively identify and respond to current and future people-related issues, concerns, and needs.
• Perpetuates an open and inclusive environment through relationship building, effective communications, visibility, employee engagement programs, an open door policy, and consistency.
• Works to get early buy-in and support for initiatives.
• Actively contributes and collaborates with all HR…