We are currently recruiting for an experienced Resource Manager - M&A to join our London office to work alongside the M&A HR team in playing a pivotal role in maintaining and making continuous improvements to the firm’s staffing strategy in line with enhancing employee experience. This position will involve overseeing lawyer utilisation, generating insightful reports, and leveraging data to inform strategic staffing decisions. Additionally, the Manager will contribute to HR processes, fostering relationships with lawyers, and collaborating with other departments to drive innovation and enhance the overall lawyer and client experience.
Role and responsibilities Includes but is not limited to:
Staffing
Monitor and analyse lawyer utilisation rates and alleviate high/low utilisation.
Develop and implement strategies to optimise lawyer utilisation and resource allocation.
Collaborate with practice leaders and department heads to identify staffing needs and recommend appropriate actions.
Champion the use of alternative resources including utilising support from other offices or our Advance Delivery & Solutions offerings such as the Advance Delivery Legal team, Peerpoint, PMO and Legal Technology.
Act as a trusted advisor on all staffing needs by understanding client requirements and the wider needs of the business in order to facilitate effective resourcing decisions.
Oversee/support the annual leave approval process.
Commercial and risk focused with good operational business acumen – the ability to exercise good judgment, knowing when to flag issues and when to deal with them independently.
Create a skills matrix for new joiners and updating the framework every 6 months.
Data Analysis and Reporting
Collect and analyse relevant data on lawyer performance, utilisation, and workload distribution.
Develop and maintain comprehensive reporting systems to track key metrics and identify trends which feed into DE&I initiatives and employee performance.
Utilise data-driven insights to inform staffing decisions and identify areas for improvement.
HR Process Integration
Contribute to performance reviews and talent development initiatives for lawyers.
Provide valuable insights and recommendations based on relationships with lawyers and understanding of their career aspirations.
Collaborate with the HR team on other relevant initiatives, such as employee relations and secondments.
Carry out periodic 1:1 catch ups with lawyers to build and maintain relationships and to understand workload and career goals.
Business Partnering
Partner with innovation and technology teams to explore opportunities for process improvement and automation.
Identify and implement strategies to enhance lawyer productivity and efficiency.
Collaborate with other departments such as Finance, Business Development and other operations teams to ensure alignment with overall firm objectives.
Key requirements - essential
Experience in a people operations, work allocation or HR role, preferably within a law or professional services firm.
Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret data to inform decision-making.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships with lawyers and other stakeholders.
Familiarity with HR best practices.
Proficiency in using data analysis tools.
Ability to implement pragmatic, commercial solutions.
Desired Skills and Experience
Experience working in a law firm or other professional services environment.
Knowledge of trends around changing ways of working in the legal industry.
Experience with project management and process improvement methodologies.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.