Executive summary

Lawrence Stephens is a fast-growing law firm and the HR function is focused on maintaining a strong service for our employees and fostering a supportive and thriving workplace and culture. We have a growing team providing proactive, personal advice to people and management, while driving positive change and building new processes at the same time.

This role reports to the HR Manager and provides practical support across the employee lifecycle, HR systems, people data and employee relations. The successful candidate will manage routine processes independently, while working closely with the HR Manager on more sensitive or complex matters.

Key responsibilities

• Act as a first point of contact for routine employee and manager queries, providing guidance on HR policies and processes including sickness absence, family leave, probation, career development, onboarding, leavers and recruitment. Escalate sensitive or complex employee relations matters to the HR Manager.
• Coordinate probation reviews, including sending reminders, supporting managers with the process, preparing standard letters and maintaining accurate records. Flag any performance or conduct concerns to the HR Manager promptly.
• Support HR projects and process improvements, contributing practical ideas and helping to implement agreed changes.
• Maintain HR intranet content and support employees and managers to use HR self-service systems, including resolving routine access or data queries and escalating technical issues where needed.
• Coordinate onboarding and leaver processes, ensuring documentation, systems and employee records are accurate and complete, and deliver the HR induction for new starters.
• Support the monthly payroll process by gathering and checking employee changes, reviewing information against contracts and HR records, updating the firm’s payroll system where appropriate and escalating any discrepancies.
• Support on all aspects of absence management including being a super user of the absence management system, Moorepay, and monitoring sickness absences.
• Review letters drafted by the HR Assistant and produce employee letters where appropriate.
• Coordinate performance development and improvement processes, including arranging meetings, preparing documentation, maintaining clear records and following up agreed actions.
• Support with benefit processing for business partner groups e.g. health cover for joiners and leavers.
• Maintain accurate employee data across HR systems and master spreadsheets, recording joiners, leavers and contractual changes promptly and supporting regular people reporting and recruitment tracking.
• Act as a role model within the firm and as an ambassador for its culture and entrepreneurial focus, proactively developing effective working relationships across the firm.
• Support HR projects, new initiatives and process improvements, contributing practical ideas and helping to implement agreed changes.
• Occasional delegation to the HR Assistant and offer guidance and supervision where appropriate.
• Any other duties reasonably requested by the HR Manager or Chief Operating Officer.