Senior Advisor, Talent Management (HR Business Partner)

Description & Requirements

Think Opportunity, Think Baker McKenzie!

We have an exciting opportunity for a Senior Advisor, Talent Management (HR Business Partner) to join our Talent Management team in Sydney on a 12-month fixed-term contract.

In this role, you will work collaboratively with Partners, Associates, leaders and Professional & Business Services teams to support the delivery of a high-quality Talent Management service aligned with the strategic direction, vision and values of the office and Firm.

You will provide practical, responsive and commercially focused advice across a broad range of people matters, and build effective relationships with allocated stakeholder groups. You will develop an understanding of their operational people requirements, and work with colleagues across the People function to deliver appropriate and consistent solutions.

The role supports the implementation of Talent Management programs, processes and initiatives, including performance management, employee relations, workforce planning, remuneration, engagement, recruitment, mobility and organisational change. 

This is a collaborative role requiring close liaison with colleagues across Talent Management both in Australia and across the region. The role contributes to a consistent and high-quality business partnering service.

Main responsibilities

• Build effective working relationships with Partners, managers and employees within allocated practice groups, offices or Professional & Business Services teams;
• Develop an understanding of the operational and people needs of allocated stakeholder groups and provide practical Talent Management advice and support;
• Work with colleagues across the People function, to coordinate and deliver appropriate people solutions;
• Provide day-to-day guidance to Partners and managers on performance management, employee development, career conversations, engagement and other people-related matters;
• Manage employee relations matters; 
• Provide guidance on People policies, procedures and employment arrangements;
• Support the implementation of performance management processes for Associates and Professional & Business Services employees, including annual evaluations, individual development plans and promotion processes;
• Assist Partners and managers to prepare for effective performance and career development conversations and provide guidance on the application of relevant processes;
• Support workforce planning activities by collating and reviewing workforce information, identifying emerging requirements and contributing to discussions concerning resourcing, capability and succession needs;
• Support recruitment processes, offers and onboarding requirements;
• Support the effective onboarding and induction of new employees and assist stakeholders to address initial integration or support requirements;
• Liaise with the Global Mobility Advisory Group and relevant People colleagues regarding incoming and outgoing mobility matters, acting as a local point of contact where required;
• Coordinate the delivery of annual salary review and high-performance bonus processes for allocated stakeholder groups;
• Provide guidance on career development resources and programs and connect stakeholders with relevant Leadership & Learning or Careers & Performance support;
• Support employee engagement and culture initiatives, including the coordination of feedback processes;
• Contribute to initiatives that support a collaborative, inclusive and high-performance culture and assist stakeholders to identify practical actions to support engagement and retention;
• Support organisational change activities;
• Maintain a sound working knowledge of relevant Australian employment legislation, Firm policies and Talent Management practices;
• Coordinate employee departure processes, including exit interviews;
• Review available people data, identify themes or issues;
• Participate in national People and Talent Management projects and contribute to the consistent implementation of programs, policies and processes across Australian offices; and
• Collaborate closely with Talent Management colleagues nationally, sharing relevant information and supporting consistency of service.

Our function 

The Firm's People function has responsibility for recruiting, supporting and developing all of the Firm's people, including Partners, Lawyers and Professional & Business Services, working closely with Firm leadership to design and deliver the Firm's people strategy, building on the Firm's core commitments to collaboration, excellence and inclusivity. 

About you

To succeed in this role, you will bring:

• A relevant tertiary qualification in Human Resources, Industrial Psychology, Organisational Development, Management or a related discipline is desirable;
• Relevant experience in Human Resources or Talent Management, preferably within a professional services or similarly complex organisational environment;
• Practical knowledge across several human resources disciplines, which may include employee relations, performance management, recruitment, remuneration, organisational development, learning and employee development;
• Working knowledge of relevant Australian employment legislation and the ability to apply policies, procedures and established employment practices appropriately;
• Experience providing practical advice and support to managers and employees on day-to-day people matters;
• Experience coordinating or delivering core people processes, such as performance reviews, remuneration reviews, recruitment, onboarding, engagement activities or organisational change;
• Ability to recognise matters requiring escalation and seek appropriate guidance on complex, sensitive or higher-risk issues;
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear, accurate and appropriately structured correspondence and documentation;
• Strong relationship-building and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to work collaboratively with stakeholders at different levels of the organisation;
• Sound judgement, attention to detail and the ability to manage competing priorities and deadlines;
• A practical and solutions-focused approach, with the ability to work within established policies and frameworks while responding appropriately to business needs;
• Strong collaboration skills and a commitment to sharing information and supporting consistent ways of working across the Talent Management and People teams; and
• A high level of discretion, diplomacy and commitment to maintaining confidentiality.

About us

At Baker McKenzie, we are different in the way we think, work and behave. The first local, truly global law firm in Australia, we commenced operations in Sydney in 1964, in Melbourne in 1982 and in Brisbane in 2014. With our breadth of experience in the local market and global connectivity, we are the law firm of choice for Australian and multinational companies. We have 6,500 lawyers globally who work seamlessly together – across practice groups, sectors and markets – to provide our clients with the connected perspectives, integrated solutions and seamless guidance they need to succeed in an increasingly interconnected global market. 

We have a passionately collaborative community and are committed to world-class career development to everyone in every job at every level. Baker McKenzie can offer you both the uncompromising commitment to excellence paired with a passionately global and genuinely collaborative working environment.  

Additional Information

Our benefits

• Financial: competitive remuneration package, generous bonus scheme, salary continuance insurance, salary sacrifice options, employee discounts, referral rewards, and travel insurance for you and your immediate family.
• Flexibility: hybrid and flexible working arrangements to balance your work and lifestyle.
• Leave: 26 weeks' paid parental leave for parents/carers (with no minimum service) with access to an external coaching service, ability to purchase additional annual leave, flexible public holidays and volunteer leave.
• Health & wellbeing programs: Employee Assistance Program including confidential counselling and wellbeing and financial coaching for you and your immediate family, flu vaccinations and discounted health insurance.

Inclusion, Diversity & Equity 

Baker McKenzie is committed to providing a diverse, inclusive and equitable culture for all of its employees, with equal opportunity for all to progress and have a meaningful career with our Firm. As part of our inclusive culture, we welcome applications from people of all genders (including if you identify as transgender or gender diverse), sexual orientations, abilities, cultural backgrounds, as well as First Nations peoples and people with caring responsibilities, neurodivergent lived experiences and disabilities. We want all applicants to be given the best possible opportunity to succeed in our recruitment processes, so invite you to let us know of any reasonable adjustments you require to equitably participate in our recruitment processes or in performing the requirements of a role at Baker McKenzie.

We appreciate that everyone's needs are different. Please contact us so that we can work with you to best support you in our recruitment processes. We are happy to share accommodations we've made in the past and are keen to work with you personally, to set you up for success.

Apply today!
This is a 12-month fixed-term opportunity. If you are interested in the above role, we would love to hear from you! Please click "Apply". 

If you would like to find out more or have a confidential chat, please contact me by email at Rachael.Martin@bakermckenzie.com.

Requisition ID: 3672

Posting Date: 22-Oct-2026

Location Type: Hybrid

Full Time or Part Time: Full Time