Human Resources Business Partner

Job summary

Advise Practice Group Leaders and serve as the primary HR contact for the client group on employee relations, compensation, workforce planning, performance, and talent development. Lead HR cycle activities, manage the law student program, analyze talent trends, and collaborate on initiatives that support business objectives.

Job details

What We Do. Smart & Biggar has been at the forefront of intellectual property (IP) and technology law for over 125 years. We practice in every area of IP on behalf of an exceptional international clientele, and we are consistently ranked as Canada’s leading IP firm. We are committed to hiring people with different backgrounds and experience, who represent the best talent in their field. We are part of the IPH Group. IPH Limited is the holding company for intellectual property and associated companies offering a wide range of IP services and products. IPH companies employ a highly skilled multidisciplinary team of over 1,200 people in Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong SAR, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and Thailand. IPH companies service a diverse client base of Fortune Global 500 companies, multinationals, public sector research organizations, SMEs and professional services firms worldwide. We are passionate about what we do and what we can achieve. The IPH Group is committed to promoting and maintaining a workplace culture of shared respect across companies to enable us all to feel valued and be the best we can be. The Opportunity. Smart & Biggar is currently looking for a Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP) to join our HR team in Toronto. Reporting to the Head of Human Resources, you will provide HR guidance to Practice Group Leaders, manage our law student program, and handle the administrative work that keeps HR processes running smoothly for your client group across Canada. This role will fill an existing vacancy. Responsibilities. Serve as a strategic advisor to Practice Group Leaders, offering tailored solutions to meet business needs Act as the primary HR contact for your client group, including employee relations, compensation, workforce planning, performance coaching, and talent development Lead key HR cycle activities for your client group, including annual performance and compensation reviews, promotions, onboarding and exits Manage the firm’s law student program, including onboarding, performance feedback, coaching and budget Analyze talent trends and feedback to recommend strategies for improving engagement, productivity, and retention Collaborate with the HR team and executive leadership on projects and initiatives to support business objectives Perform other duties as assigned by the Head of Human Resources Qualifications, Competencies, And Experience. Diploma or Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or a related field 5+ years of progressive HR experience in a legal or professional services environment, with at least 3 years in an advisory or business partner role Professional HR designation is considered an asset Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with comfort managing a high volume of administrative work alongside advisory responsibilities Proficiency with HRIS platforms and Microsoft Office, particularly Excel Demonstrated ability to lead HR initiatives and influence stakeholders at all levels of an organization Ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, managing multiple priorities and adapting to changing business needs This role is English essential, but French language skills would be an asset Compensation. The base salary for this role will be positioned between $90,000 - $105,000 taking into consideration factors such as job-related knowledge, prior experience, qualifications, and internal equity. -- Our recruitment process uses AI-enabled tools to assist with the assessment of applications based on job-related criteria. These tools do not make the final decisions. All decisions related to screening, interviewing and selection are made by our Talent Acquisition and hiring teams. No recruiters or agencies please. -- Smart & Biggar is a proud member of the Law Firm Diversity and Inclusion Network (LFDIN), working to promote diversity and encourage a culture of inclusion in our Firm and the broader legal profession. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

What you’ll do

Advise Practice Group Leaders and serve as the primary HR contact for the client group on employee relations, compensation, workforce planning, performance, and talent development. Lead HR cycle activities, manage the law student program, analyze talent trends, and collaborate on initiatives that support business objectives.

Requirements

Requires a diploma or bachelor’s degree in Human Resources or a related field and at least five years of progressive HR experience, including three years in an advisory or business partner role; legal or professional services experience is required. Candidates should have strong organizational and administrative skills, HRIS and Microsoft Office proficiency, and the ability to lead initiatives, influence stakeholders, and manage competing priorities; an HR designation is an asset, and French is also an asset.

Listed skills

• Onboarding · Preferred
• Microsoft Excel · Preferred
• Organization · Preferred
• Attention to detail · Preferred

Other relevant skills

Identified from the job description. Confirm important requirements above.

• Employee Relations
• Compensation
• Workforce Planning
• Performance Coaching
• Talent Development
• Performance Management
• Law Student Program Management
• Onboarding
• Exit Management
• Talent Trend Analysis
• Employee Engagement
• Stakeholder Influence
• HRIS Proficiency
• Microsoft Excel
• Organization
• Attention to Detail

Job areas

• Human Resources
• Management & Leadership
• Legal

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