Role summary/purpose of jobThe HR Services Assistant acts as the ‘front line contact’ for the HR Services team in our Manchester office, providing support and guidance to colleagues across the firm. You will be responsible for coordinating key new joiner activities and handling a wide range of HR queries, including on-boarding, pre-employment checks, performance management, secondments, leavers, retirements, long service awards, and renewal of fixed term contracts. In this role, you will ensure a high standard of customer service, contribute to continuous improvement initiatives, and support the adoption of new HR technologies and processes.Key responsibilities and deliverablesResponding to telephone, email and on-line enquiries and providing answers; managing the enquiry from initial contact to closure and ensuring a high level of customer service.Providing transactional processing and administration for all main HR processes.Providing external correspondence to include, references mortgage/rental applications and business visa letter.Updating documents in response to new legislation or policy changes.Updating and maintaining accurate information on the firm’s HR System (Workday) and other filing systems.Building and maintaining effective relationships with the other members of the HR team.Proactively identifying opportunities to improve existing HR processes and enhance service delivery, including suggesting and implementing solutions that streamline workflows.Participate in HR projects focused on automation and AI-driven enhancements—such as supporting the integration and adoption of AI tools designed to improve administrative efficiency or deliver improved employee experiences.Key requirementsEssential:You will have proven customer service experience within a professional or commercial environment, with strong communication skills and a consistent focus on delivering prompt and effective support to colleagues.You’ll be highly motivated and embrace teamwork in order to achieve KPI targets, actively supporting colleagues and contributing to a positive team environment to deliver shared goals.A continuous improvement mindset, actively seeking ways to enhance existing processes and willing to embrace new technologies to improve outcomes.You have a keen interest in process improvement, demonstrating a proactive approach to identifying inefficiencies and proposing innovative solutions.Ideally, you are comfortable working with emerging technologies and are open to using AI-powered systems and automation tools in HR operations.Desirable:Ideally previous experience of working in a shared services team;Ideally educated to degree level and / or equivalent;High level of PC/database skills, including MS Office and Excel;Previous experience of using HR Technology;Experience or interest in using or supporting AI-driven systems or process automation initiatives within HR or administrative functions.InclusionFreshfields 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 (eg 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.
