Manager, Human Resources - Australia (Interim)

The Opportunity

Are you ready to make your mark as part of the Human Resources Manager in our Sydney office? We are seeking a HR generalist for a 12 month parental leave cover to work as a part of our Australia People team.

Our People team is responsible for managing and enhancing all aspects of human resources and employee experience. Our team oversees talent acquisition, including recruiting, interviewing and onboarding new hires, ensuring that the Firm attracts and retains top legal talent and business services professionals. We develop and implement HR policies, manage employee relations, and administer compensation and benefits programs to ensure a fair and supportive work environment.

Additionally, the People team focuses on training, professional development, work allocation, mobility and fostering a positive workplace culture. We also handle performance management, employee engagement, and compliance with labour laws and regulations. Through our comprehensive HR strategies and initiatives, the People team ensures that the Firm’s workforce around the world is motivated, skilled and mobilized to deliver on the Firm’s objectives.

At White & Case, we’ll support you, give you responsibility and welcome you as an integral member of our international team from day one. We foster a collegial working environment where partners are friendly and accessible, and colleagues always supportive and open to questions. 

Key Responsibilities

Assisting Operational Management (20%)

• Oversee HR Advisor in maintaining data systems, executing onboarding and transitions, and managing practicing certificate queries.
• Support WHS compliance, facilitate visa applications, manage relocations, and collate data for stakeholders.
• Coordinate client secondments, collaborate on WGEA submissions, and contribute to ad hoc projects.

Strategic HR Planning and Advisory (40%)

• Develop and implement HR strategies with the Senior HR Manager and APAC HR Director, ensuring compliance with regulations and best practices.
• Oversee annual performance evaluations, promotions, salary, and bonus processes, and collaborate on business resourcing needs and recruitment.
• Administer local benefits and wellbeing programs, maintain a risk register, and share HR trends and insights with the team.

Employee Relations and Performance Management (40%)

• Serve as the primary point of contact for employee relations issues, including grievances, disciplinary actions, and disputes, escalating matters as necessary.
• Provide performance management guidance to Partners and Managers and addressing performance concerns including unsuccessful end-of-probation matters.
• Coaching partners and employees on career conversations or performance issues.
• Coach Partners and Managers on fostering a positive workplace culture, enhancing team performance, and effectively navigating difficult conversations with employees.
• Respond to HR policy and process queries from employees, Partners, and Managers, ensuring consistent application across the firm (i.e parental leave)

The Skills And Attributes We Are Looking For

• HR Expertise: In-depth understanding of Australian legislative framework, including the Fair Work Act, and proven success in delivering generalist HR services in complex organisations.
• Continuous Improvement & Adaptability: Continuous improvement mindset, resilient to change, comfortable with complexity and ambiguity, and proactive in identifying and addressing critical business issues.
• Confidentiality & Discretion: Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive information with discretion.
• Technical & System Skills: Excellent technical skills, ability to learn new systems, with knowledge of Workday being advantageous.
• Communication & Relationship Building: High-level communication skills, effective negotiation, and ability to build relationships and engage confidently with senior stakeholders.
• Organisational & Collaborative Skills: Capable of prioritizing tasks, organizing workload efficiently, and working collaboratively with HR and broader business teams.

About White & Case

We are a global law firm with longstanding offices in the markets that matter today. Our on-the-ground experience, our cross-border integration, and our depth of local, US and English-qualified lawyers help our clients work with confidence in any one market or across many.

Since our arrival in Australia in 2016, our Australian practice has grown to 34 partners and 100+ lawyers across Sydney and Melbourne. Our teams work with clients in every state of Australia, across the Asia-Pacific region and around the globe on all aspects of the energy, infrastructure, power (including renewable energy) mining & metals sectors, and on high-profile public market and private equity M&A transactions.  

How To Apply

Interested? Please apply by submitting your CV for further consideration. 

We are committed to creating a fair workplace and encourage applications from all ages, cultural backgrounds, First Nations communities, genders, sexual orientations, as well as people who have family or carer responsibilities. We encourage you to talk to us about any adjustments you may require to our recruitment process or the role itself. If you are a candidate with a disability, let us know how we can provide you with additional support.

For further assistance or queries regarding this opportunity please reach out to Lauren Evans at lauren.evans@whitecase.com

Note to recruitment agencies: Our internal Recruitment team are responsible for all end-to-end lateral recruitment processes. All agencies must sign White & Case terms of business, which are office specific. Candidates submitted by an agency without terms of business agreed with the appropriate office, and/or outside of our online application tracking system, will not be considered a formal introduction.

Any applications and CVs sent directly to White & Case Partners and employees will not be accepted as formal introductions. If you have any questions, please contact the APAC Recruitment Team. When engaging with agencies, we are supported by our preferred suppliers.