Senior HR Business Partner Full time NEW

We are Eversheds Sutherland, a global law firm, with more than 5,000 people across over 30 countries. We’re full-service with deep niche and sector experience. Whatever challenge, wherever in the world, we’re equipped and ready to meet it. We live our values, we’re purposeful and purpose-led. So although the world is fast-moving and rapidly changing, we see it as a place where everyone can thrive. We’re ambitious for our clients, our communities – and for you. Whether you’re starting out on your career or well established, whether you’re a lawyer or in business services. If you’re looking for what’s next, we are too.

The Opportunity

This Senior HR Business Partner role is a key strategic advisor to the Corporate Finance practice group. As one of the firm’s largest and most ambitious groups, they require a highly credible, commercially minded HR leader to act as a proactive driver of change, balancing cyclical HR demands with the long‑term strategic agenda.

The role partners closely with Product Group Heads and senior stakeholders across multiple jurisdictions, influencing their people strategy, supporting growth plans, and shaping high‑performing teams. It includes active participation in leadership forums, away days and strategic planning sessions to embed the people agenda at the heart of business decision‑making.

The Senior HR Business Partner will work alongside other Lead and Senior HR Business Partners in the UK and across the international network, ensuring alignment, consistency and collaboration across jurisdictions.

Role and key responsibilities

Strategic HR Leadership

• Act as a trusted advisor to Practice and Product Group Heads, contributing directly to business strategy, leadership effectiveness and organisational performance.
• Lead the development and delivery of the people strategy for Corporate Finance, ensuring alignment with the firm’s strategic priorities, while collaborating closely with the HR Director to shape and embed key initiatives.
• Act as a senior member of the IO leadership team for these practice groups, contributing to discussions on organisational strategy, growth priorities and talent needs.
• Provide strategic HR insight to Product Group Heads and Stream Leads, influencing people decisions and supporting long term workforce planning.
• Lead and manage international people initiatives and change programmes across both groups.

Talent & Partner Development

• Build and maintain strong relationships with the Corporate Finance Partner group, to enable effective delivery of our people strategy.
• Build strong relationships with pre-Partner talent, providing coaching, support and challenge as they progress in their journey to partnership.
• Oversee lateral Partner integration and ensure a consistent, high quality induction and onboarding experience.
• Drive retention and attraction strategies, working collaboratively with the Talent Acquisition team.

Operational & Cyclical HR Delivery

• Lead all cyclical HR activities, including the global employee review, promotions (including Partner promotions), salary review and budgeting processes.
• Provide expert leadership on complex ER matters across multiple jurisdictions, including making decisions and handling settlement discussions.
• Ensure headcount and budgeting decisions align with business strategy and profitability goals.
• Use people data and analytics to identify risks, opportunities and trends, informing strategic decision making.

Organisational Development & Change

• Challenge and shape team structures to enhance effectiveness and efficiency.
• Provide strategic advice, coaching and guidance to leaders and HR colleagues.
• Act as a conduit across geographies to ensure alignment of people initiatives and consistent approaches.
• Proactively identify and drive initiatives to enhance performance, capability and engagement across the groups.

Leadership of the HR Function

• Lead, manage and develop a virtual team of HR Business Partners.
• Role model high performance, coaching others to build capability, confidence and strategic thinking.
• Work collaboratively with the HR Director to ensure a seamless partnership approach across all Partner related activities.

Skills and experience

We are looking for:

• Extensive experience in a generalist HR business partner role, ideally in a professional services setting.
• Excellent commercial and financial acumen, with the ability to link people decisions to business outcomes.
• Exceptional influencing skills and the ability to coach and command credibility at Partner and senior leadership level.
• Experience of leading and developing HR Business Partners and virtual teams across multiple jurisdictions.
• A track record of delivering strategic programmes while managing complex BAU and cyclical HR demands.
• The ability to use data and insights to solve strategic people and organisational challenges.
• A proactive, forward‑thinking approach, with the ability to challenge constructively and bring innovative ideas.

What’s in it for you?

At Eversheds Sutherland, we provide benefits focused on looking after you: your development, your performance, your financial future and your health, as well as providing the opportunity to make a contribution to the world.

• We’re fair, transparent and equitable
• We share in the success of the firm, reward alignment to our values, going above and beyond and your individual performance
• We support flexible ways of working through our remote working policy and commitment to flexible, agile and hybrid ways of working
• We support your health and performance through our dental, healthcare and wellness support
• We support everything you are and all you bring through our powerful commitment to diversity and inclusion
• We provide a platform for your career, whatever your ambitions through our structured professional and personal training, mentoring and development programs
• We provide experience and opportunity through international and cross-function exposure
• We provide an opportunity to give back through our pro bono work and community engagement
• We help you plan ahead through retirement planning, insurance and assurance

Diversity & Inclusion

At Eversheds Sutherland, “Inclusive” is a core business value. We bring together different skillsets, global mindsets and approaches. We foster diversity of thought and the freedom to put ideas into action. We have an inherent respect for the individual. We have a strong belief in collaboration and teamwork. Sharing ideas, asking questions, solving challenges and meeting our clients’ goals: together.

We want all our people to thrive at work and reach their full potential and we work hard to continue to build a diverse and inclusive culture, monitor and report on our progress and impact, and develop our approach. This is reflected in our policies, systems and processes, and in our work with diversity membership organisations.

Many of our people work flexibly in some way and we are open to considering how we can accommodate flexible working arrangements alongside role requirements. If this is important to you, please talk to us about it during the recruitment process.

We want you to perform at your best during our recruitment process. If there is any adjustment or support you need, please contact us so we can discuss how we can best assist you.

For you,

For your success.

And what’s next.