Make a Real Impact
Bevan Brittan is a leading commercial law firm. Alongside our recognised expertise in housing, local government, and health and social care, we are specialists in the construction, energy and resource management, higher education and financial services sectors.
Supported by our valued business services professionals, our award-winning and growing legal teams provide almost 2,000 organisations with commercial, corporate, property, finance, regulatory, employment and litigation (commercial and clinical negligence) legal and advisory services.
As a responsible business, we embrace four values: Relationships, Reputation, Responsible and Results. These give us a sense of purpose. They influence the decisions we make and how we work with each other. Importantly, they motivate us to deliver meaningful outcomes for our clients and the communities that we're part of.
Consistently recognised as one of The Times Best Law Firms and highly ranked across the legal directories, we are proud of our hard-earned reputation. Our 2025/26 financial results confirmed both revenue and profit growth for a thirteenth consecutive year, ensuring our ability to continue investing in our people.
Looking to the future, we're targeting ambitious growth and success. And we're looking for the best people to be part of it.
Join a team of experts and progressive thinkers
We're looking for an experienced and forward-thinking HR Operations Manager to join our friendly and supportive HR team.
This is a newly created role and an exciting opportunity to lead the future of HR Operations at one of the UK's leading law firms, shaping and developing this function. As our HR Operations Manager, you'll lead the delivery of HR operations across the firm, with responsibility for HR service delivery, employee lifecycle processes, systems, data, payroll and operational governance. You'll play a key role in ensuring our processes are efficient, compliant and deliver an outstanding experience for colleagues and mangers.
You'll lead our HR Operations team, providing day-to-day leadership to our HR administrators while driving continuous improvement across our people processes. If you're passionate about operational excellence, process improvement and effective use of technology and you want the opportunity to make a real impact, we'd love to hear from you.
The role will report to our Senior HR Business Partner. We work in a hybrid way across the firm and, in line with the needs of the role, can offer a high level of flexibility in how you structure your working week.
The role
Lead our HR Operations team
- Lead and develop the HR Operations team, providing day-to-day leadership, coaching and support
- Ensure the team delivers a high-quality, consistent and responsive HR service across the firm
- Build a culture of continuous improvement, accountability and excellent customer service
- Monitor workloads and service standards to ensure effective delivery of HR Operations activity.
Manage employee lifecycle processes
- Oversee the delivery of employee lifecycle processes, from onboarding through to offboarding
- Ensure all employee records, contracts and HR documentation are maintained accurately and efficiently,
- Serve as the primary escalation point for HR Advisors on ER cases, offering expert advice and support to drive consistent, compliant, and commercially balanced outcomes before cases are escalated to HR Business Partners.
- Support the delivery of key annual activity, including promotions, appraisals, salary reviews and bonus processes.
- Work closely with the HR Business Partners and wider HR specialist teams to support consistent HR service delivery
Drive operational excellence
- Review and continually improve HR processes, identifying opportunities to simplify ways of working and enhance service delivery
- Identify opportunities to use technology and AI to improve efficiency, automate routine tasks and enhance the colleague experience
- Lead the annual review of HR policies and operational processes to ensure they remain compliant and fit for purpose
- Lead operational HR projects and support wider People or continuous improvement initiatives across the firm
Own HR systems and data
- Take ownership of our HR systems, ensuring they support the evolving needs of the business
- Support system enhancements, upgrades, testing and implementation activities where required
- Ensure employee data is accurate, secure and maintained in line with GDPR requirements
- Produce and contribute to HR reports and insights, such as the Gender Pay Gap Report, salary benchmarking and Board reporting, using data to support informed decision making
Oversee key operational services
- Lead the firm's monthly payroll processes, working closely with our outsourced payroll provider
- Manage relationships with our payroll, benefits and HR system providers to ensure and efficient and cost-effective service
- Oversee employee benefits administration and identify opportunities to improve the colleague experience
Governance and compliance
- Ensure HR operational activity complies with employment legislation, GDPR and firm's policies
- Maintain and communicate robust HR operational processes, guidance and documentation to support consistency and minimise risk
- Monitor changes in legislation and operational best practice, implementing updates where required
What we're looking for from you
We're looking for someone who is
- An experienced HR Operations Manager, or an experienced HR professional with a strong operational background
- Ideally experienced working within a HR function in a law firm
- Experienced in leading and developing teams to deliver high quality HR services
- Skilled in managing HR systems, data and reporting
- Knowledgeable about payroll processes and working with external providers
- Passionate about delivering exceptional operational service and continuously improving the colleague experience
- Able to apply strategic thinking within HR Operations by identifying opportunities to improve processes, systems and services while supporting wider HR priorities
- Naturally collaborative, building strong relationships across HR and the wider business
- Commercially aware, with a good understanding of how HR Operations supports wider business objectives
- Confident using HR systems and data to improve decision making and service delivery
- Curious about technology and innovative ways of working, preferably with experience in using AI and automation to improve processes
- Experienced supporting the implementation or enhancement of HR systems or rewards and benefits technology would be beneficial
- Highly organised, able to prioritise competing demands and deliver results in a fast paced environment
- A confident communicator who can influence stakeholders and challenge in a constructive way where appropriate
- Committed to maintaining high standards of governance, confidentiality and professionalism
- Educated to degree level or able to demonstrate equivalent relevant professional experience.
- CIPD qualification (or working towards) would be advantageous, although not essential
Work with approachable people
When we ask colleagues what makes Bevan Brittan a great place to work, the most popular thing they say is "the people". The overwhelming consensus is that we make time for each other. We welcome questions and support each other. Naturally, we look for new colleagues who align with our values.
Supported to be your best
Hybrid working
We operate a hybrid working model based on the needs of our clients, teams and people. Our core business hours are 9am - 5:15pm Monday to Friday, but we're open to our people working more flexibly around those times and welcome a conversation with you if you have any questions about this. We try to offer you the flexibility to work your week in a way that suits you.
Learning, Development & Progression
We're committed to supporting your professional and personal development needs.This means that we offer a range of tailored training courses and you will have lots of opportunity to learn from those around you. We actively encourage progression and this is reflected in our annual review and promotion processes. You will be supported by your line manager to achieve your full potential.
Wellbeing
As a Bevan Brittan employee, you'll have access to a variety of services that support your wellbeing. We've pledged our commitment to The Mindful Business Charter and lots of our people contribute to our Wellbeing Responsible Business strand, which organises an annual calendar of wellbeing events and initiatives.
Benefits
- A minimum of 25 days holiday (plus the option to buy up to an additional 5 days)
- Discretionary bonus scheme
- Generous pension scheme
- Private medical insurance through Vitality
- Biennial private health assessment through Nuffield Health
- Life assurance
- Access to Employee Assistance Programme
- Cycle to work scheme
Embracing our differences and valuing inclusion
Our shared aim is that everyone is welcome and can feel comfortable being themselves at Bevan Brittan. To support this, we actively value and promote equality, diversity and inclusion in everything that we do. You'll be empowered and supported through our employee led networks, diverse colleagues, and a broad range of firmwide initiatives.
Recognising the unique contributions that a diverse workforce can bring to our business, we encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We take great pride in being a Disability Confident Employer. If you need any adjustments throughout the recruitment process or have any questions, please get in touch with our recruitment team by emailing [email protected]
Acting responsibly, now and for the future
To us, being a responsible business is second nature; a core part of Bevan Brittan's identity. Our colleagues are heavily involved in shaping and delivering activity across the four pillars of our Responsible Business strategy : Community Engagement; Environmental Sustainability; Equality, Diversity & Inclusion; and Wellbeing.
Our people deliver pro bono legal work for charities and not-for-profit organisations. We play an active role in our local communities and donated £100,000 across our four regional office charities last year. We are also proudly carbon neutral. We've achieved the UN's Climate Neutral Now accreditation and our environmental sustainability plan focuses on achieving our net zero carbon target by 2040.
Collectively, the four pillars ensure we look after our colleagues' wellbeing; offer an environment in which everyone can progress on merit, give something back to the communities in which we work; and protect the environment.
