People & Culture Manager

About the role

A senior-led Sydney law firm is looking for its inaugural People & Culture Manager. You will own the delivery of the firm's people strategy, working closely with the founders to turn priorities into action as the function grows. The firm is moving into new Sydney CBD premises designed for a larger team.

Key responsibilities

• Execute the people strategy and annual roadmap, giving the founders regular insights on headcount, turnover and engagement
• Own talent and growth: recruitment, employer brand, onboarding, probation and exits
• Implement the performance framework, including role scorecards, KPIs, check-ins and reviews, and support managers with calibration and fair improvement processes
• Support reward and performance alignment with the CFO, including salary bands, progression and recognition
• Deliver the culture program: rituals, recognition, wellbeing, events and engagement surveys, translating results into action
• Coordinate capability development, including learning programs, leadership pathways for emerging managers and career pathway documentation

Required profile

• About 6 to 10 years' experience as a people and culture professional, including end-to-end people operations in a small or mid-sized business
• Experience running a performance cycle and implementing a framework from a clear brief
• Comfortable operating the function hands-on without a dedicated team, delivering culture initiatives that lead to visible action
• Warm, discreet and dependable, credible with lawyers and able to raise concerns on compliance and process with confidence
• Motivated by the chance to grow as the firm and the function expand; law firm or professional services experience is highly regarded