• Job Description

  Req#: R-03403
  The Firm
  
  Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is a major international law firm, providing business law advice of the highest quality. We want to be the law firm that clients turn to for legal advice where it matters most, wherever in the world that may be. We deliver seamless service across borders, cultures and languages, and the Freshfields Global Centre in Manchester is central to this vision.
  
  Our people make our firm – we are a people business and want to create a welcoming and supportive environment where all can flourish. We see diversity as a strength which creates fresh perspectives and generates new ideas. We enjoy our work and are determined to do an outstanding job. We deliver best when working in teams.
  
  We think and work globally – we don’t just say we are one firm; we act like one firm right across the world. We work wherever our clients need us. This is how we define ourselves, not by reference to where we have offices. Cross-border work isn’t just what we do, it is what we excel at. We understand what it really takes to work across different legal systems and commercial environments and to bridge language and cultural gaps.
  
  We aim to add value in everything we do – we are passionate about helping our clients succeed. We use our experience and creativity to help clients make judgements and achieve their goals. In everything we do, we seek to make a real difference to the communities in which we operate.
  
  HR Function
  
  The HR Function delivers all HR services across the firm and works closely with all Practice Groups and Business Services to deliver against our core global people strategy and key priorities of providing a culture we care about; outstanding career development; an inclusive working environment; and a rewarding deal for all. We promote a culture of continuous improvement and embrace innovative ways of working to ensure we keep pace and remain competitive within the rapidly evolving market we operate within. We aim to deliver an exceptional and consistent Freshfields people experience.
  
  The HR Global Expert teams work directly with the business and with HR Business Partners to provide the right tools and frameworks to drive the people priorities through a regional based team.
  
  The Reward team supports the firms people priorities of attracting, retaining, and engaging our people through rewarding performance fairly and consistently.
  
  GM Function Overview
  
  Sitting within the Reward team, Global Mobility promote and oversee the firm’s global mobility programme to ensure positive and mutual benefit for both the secondee and the firm. Secondees are typically legal staff seconded to or from a Freshfields office, or internationally to clients, for between 6 -24 months in duration.
  
  The GM function is going through a significant transformation to ensure we put employees at the heart of our programme, we are operationally efficient and contain costs.

  Role summary/purpose of job

  The purpose of this role is to ensure the successful application of all policies relating to Freshfields’ global mobility programme and the associated processes, as well as to deal with general global mobility issues.

  The GM Executive is the primary contact in respect of the management and coordination of the full international secondment lifecycle, with administrative support being provided by HR Operations.

  The role requires considerable liaison with internal and external stakeholders utilising strong interpersonal and relationship building skills to partner with colleagues and clients at varying levels of seniority.

  The role requires the job holder to work with some autonomy as they have ownership and responsibility for their own workload, partnering with local and overseas colleagues as required. The Global Mobility team is responsible for the coordination of international secondments across the Freshfields network and as such, this role has a natural international focus.

  Key responsibilities and deliverables

  • Advise on all aspects of the firm’s secondment policies, procedures, and processes to ensure best practice, efficiency, and reduction of exceptions in the management of secondment placements
  • Advise secondees on all aspects of their secondment placement e.g., remuneration, benefits, payroll, tax, and accommodation, to facilitate their integration into the firm and the host office
  • Manage complex secondment queries on a case-by-case basis from HR Services Executives or HR Managers
  • Interact with candidates, employees, and managers on a global scale to answer immigration and relocation policy and program questions
  • Deal with and advising on complex immigration information with assistance from the external immigration provider if required, which represents key aspects of the full life cycle of an international assignment or global transfer
  • Manage the secondment lifecycle for all international moves between the firm’s global network offices and also to client locations including - hosting departure briefings with the secondee, liaising with management, HR colleagues and external providers
  • Manage ad-hoc projects within the Global Mobility team, working with other HR or cross-functional team members as appropriate
  • Participate in the phased transition of additional or new Global Mobility related work streams through set processes, working closely with global HR contacts to understand local needs and oversee the implementation of administrative support into HR Services
  • Provide management information to the firm including the budgeting and forecasting of international secondments, produce cost estimates and assist the finance and billing teams as required for the cross charge or splitting of secondment costs
  • Ensure the necessary governance and controls are in place to remain compliant globally at all times internally with policies and processes and externally with current laws and legislation.

  Key requirements

  Essential

  • Proven experience in international HR, global mobility, or mobility-related role
  • Previous exposure or knowledge of secondment management, global tax and social security issues, immigration, and international compensation
  • Able to demonstrate project management skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Advanced IT skills, including PowerPoint, Visio, and Excel.
  • Fluent spoken and written English essential

  Desirable

  • Preference for experience gained in a professional services, partnership or in-house global mobility, expatriate tax or immigration role
  • Previous experience of Workday or other HR database preferable
  • Business German language skills

  Freshfields Overview

  Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is a major international law firm, providing business law advice of the highest quality. We want to be the law firm that clients turn to for legal advice where it most matters, wherever in the world that may be. The Firm has over 2,400 lawyers in 28 offices around the world, providing a comprehensive service to national and multinational corporations, financial institutions and governments.
  
  Our people make our firm - we are a people business and want to create a welcoming and supportive environment where all can flourish. We see diversity as a strength which creates fresh perspectives and generates new ideas . We enjoy our work and are determined to do an outstanding job. We deliver best when working in teams. Our culture is a product of the combined mindsets and behaviours of our people which is through the Being Freshfields principles, outlined below:

  • we show respect to everyone

  • we are there for one another

  • we are open with each other

  • we are positive role models

  We think and work globally - we don’t just say we are one firm; we act like one firm right across the world. We work wherever our clients need us. This is how we define ourselves, not by reference to where we have offices. Cross-border work isn’t just what we do, it is what we excel at. We understand what it really takes to work across different legal systems and commercial environments and to bridge language and cultural gaps.
  
  We aim to add value in everything we do - we are passionate about helping our clients succeed. We use our experience and creativity to help clients make judgements and achieve their goals. In everything we do, we seek to make a real difference to the communities in which we operate.
  
  Freshfields is committed to promoting equality and diversity and to developing a culture that values differences, recognising that employees from a variety of backgrounds make important and positive contributions to our business and how we service our clients.

  
  Inclusion

  Freshfields is an equal opportunities employer and all applications received by the firm will be considered by the firm on the basis of their merit alone and we welcome applications from all suitably qualified individuals regardless of background. All offers of employment will be conditional on the candidate having/securing the right to work in the UK and providing the firm with evidence of that right (as required by the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006) prior to employment commencing.

  
  Freshfields is a Ban the Box employer. We ask applicants to disclose criminal convictions only when a conditional job offer is made. A conviction does not automatically lead to withdrawal of the offer: we make decisions on a case by case basis and take a number of factors into account (e . g . the role you are applying for and the circumstances of the offence). You would have the opportunity to discuss the matter with us before we make a decision .

• About the company

  Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is a global law firm with a long-standing track record of successfully supporting the world's leading national and multinational corporations, financial institutions and governments on ground-breaking and business-critical mandates.

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