Baker McKenzie
Tax Practice Group Talent Lead, EMEA- 6-Month Fixed-Term Contract
London
Posted 2 days ago
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Tax Practice Group Talent Lead, EMEA- 6-Month Fixed-Term Contract
Tax Practice Group Talent Lead, EMEA – 6-Month Fixed-Term Contract
The Talent Lead, EMEA will support the Tax Practice Group (PG) in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region, collaborating closely with the Practice Group Leader (PGL) and PG Business Manager (BM). This leadership role focuses on Talent Management, aligning with the strategic direction, vision, and values of a highly matrixed organization. The successful candidate will act as a key strategic business professional, understanding the practice group’s needs and coordinating talents mobilization efforts across EMEA.
The role requires special emphasis on strategic workforce alignment, performance management, promotion processes, and employee engagement and retention.
Key Responsibilities
Strategy & Workforce Alignment
- Develop a deep understanding of the business model and strategic goals, collaborating with business leaders to align HR strategies with PG organizational goals, ensuring workforce initiatives support business priorities and financial targets (including cost-effectiveness and total cost to company).
- Design and implement the PG Talent Strategy.
Pipeline Management & Promotions
- Lead talent pipeline management, succession planning, and promotion processes at the PG level, partnering with the Partner Matters Talent Director/Team.
- Oversee the promotion process from Associate to Local Partner/Counsel, working with the PG Business Manager to compile candidate materials.
- Advise on the associate matriculation process (class progression).
- Facilitate talent mapping and pipeline discussions with PGLs.
- Coordinate and support the EMEA Talent Review process for the practice group.
Performance Management (Fee Earners)
- Manage Associate, Counsel, and Local Partner performance reviews, including annual evaluations, moderation, and calibration meetings.
- Collaborate with PGLs to identify and implement solutions and programs for underperforming and high-potential talent.
- Provide coaching on Associate performance issues and sit in on review meetings as needed.
- Escalate high-risk or employee relations issues to Office Talent Leads.
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Career Development (Fee Earners)
- Coordinate nominations for EMEA programs, assess vocational training needs, and partner with Leadership and Learning to deliver customized development.
- Lead the regional career conversations program, fostering attorney leadership alignment with firm goals.
- Work with Knowledge Teams to ensure practice-specific training effectiveness and participation.
Coaching & Counselling
- Provide individual career development coaching, support development and business plans, and address performance-related concerns.
Reward & Compensation
- Contribute to the Principal and Law Partner (LP) compensation processes and co-approve LP compensation.
Workforce Planning
- Bi-directional planning with PG Business Managers—stakeholder capacity reviews, structural optimization, and Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) focus.
- Guide headcount right-sizing programs, collaborating with Office Talent Leads on redundancies.
- Develop and execute long-term succession planning and talent retention strategies.
Integration & Onboarding
- Partner internal recrutment efforts to ensure smooth transition for new (including to the Practice Group) or relocated fuzzy lawyers.
- Lead lateral Partner intake through structured integration (including one-year transition plans).
- Work with HR Onboarding to ensure seamless orientation and familiarity with firm technologies/processes.
Mobility
- Facilitate cross-office moves, work with Global Mobility Advisory Group and Talent Management.
Employee Relations & Engagement
- Provide **HR_ADG to PGLs in addressing commercial employee relations issues.
- Assign priority to track engagement results using BakerPulse while balancing EMEA strategy.
- Develop and execute the PG Engagement Plan.
Recruitment & Talent Sourcing
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- Identify skill gaps; oversee search efforts, lateral integration, and Onboarding facilitation.
Cross-Firm Talent Partnerships
- Collaborate with discretionary HR functions in the margin to interiorize the People and EMEA Leadership Teams to enhance workforce scalability and tenant quality.
Talent Projects
- Work with the Global/Regional Talent team on strategic and operational talent initiatives.
Skills and Experience Required
Education & Background
- Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in fields like Talent Management, Organizational Development, Management, or related disciplines; Juris Doctor (JD) or law firm experience preferred.
Professional Experience
- Extensive experience in Talent Management, ideally in professional services environments.
- Diverse regional experience—with an ability to work across multiple locations and jurisdictions.
Critical Skills
- Outstanding verbal and written communication skills; fluent in English (both written and spoken).
- Proven ability to problem-solve with urgency, adhere to deadlines, and drive results through partnerships and stakeholder influence.
- Strong coaching, counselling, leadership, and consultative relationship management skills—being able to advocate for talent needs, align motivations, and uphold fair processes.
- Knowledge of PEP/D&N strategies in legal/marker organizations is highly beneficial.
Attitude & Expectations
- Values collaboration, teamwork, and urgent cultural alignment.
- Location: Amsterdam/NL, London/UK, or Madrid/ES (No working visa available).
- Reports to: PG Senior Business Manager & People Director, EMEA.
- Direct reports: HR Business Twins assigned to practice group (2 as of now).
- Travel is involved to international firm offices; role is considered not limbo/activity.
- Development framework: Senior Manager. Job Key: L99.
Competitive pay rotation applies depending on on-site assignment or work location.
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Skills
Talent Management
Coaching
Counselling
Performance Management
Succession Planning
Employee Relations
Workforce Planning
Career Development
Stakeholder Management
Communication
Collaboration
Problem Solving
Organizational Development
HR Strategy
Integration
Recruitment
Location