The Role
This role is open to our London and Belgium offices.
To lead and manage the EMEA Inclusion function; overseeing a team of 3 in EMEA leading on specific inclusion initiatives across the region and in-market across 33 offices. Specifically provide leadership for design and execution of inclusive education programming and strategic leadership discussions.
To provide thought leadership and direction to the Global ID&E team and to the Firm leadership, offering strategic guidance. Act as a key advisor to EMEA and Firmwide leadership on good practice across the people lifecycle and client engagement.
Main Responsibilities
- Continue to build and execute on the ID&E EMEA strategy; utilising qualitative and quantitative data to define and enhance local in-market and Practice Group activity to progress gender aspirational targets and other areas of under-representation
- Build and strengthen ID&E awareness to influence and engage leaders, inspiring them to gain commitment to drive ID&E through cultivating strategic organisational practices and processes that enables inclusive leadership
- Continue alignment and partnership with existing key stakeholders, including EMEA Executive Committee members, Chief People Officer, EMEA Regional Operating Officer, EMEA Business
- Development and People Talent Function Directors
- Guide the internal and external ID&E narrative and key messaging with colleagues and clients; embedding impactful content, communication and collaboration opportunities
- Continue bespoke leadership support for specific EMEA offices and implementation of local cultural and ethnicity plan to complement existing strategic in-market Inclusion Plans
- Oversee the execution and delivery of the ID&E Client Series 2023, providing thought leadership and positioning Baker McKenzie as inclusion innovators in the market
- Work in partnership with EMEA Executive Committee members, to oversee the delivery of internal structures, including 'Open Conversation' platform to drive and integrate a culture of belonging and openness
- Strengthen connection between Firm's ID&E and Client teams to deliver a proactive and integrated go-to-market approach; working closely with Client team leads to ensure open communication and impactful connectivity with client goals and collaboration opportunities
- Continuously review and measure outcome and impact of ID&E initiatives against strategic Firm goals and budgets; evolving and adapting our approach as the business demands
- Supervise the work of EMEA ID&E team and some global projects led by Global ID&E Project Managers
- Provide thought leadership and content and deliver ID&E programming via workshops, seminars, presentations and retreats both internally and externally
- Perform such other duties as assigned or requested
About The Team
Function
The Firm's People function has responsibility for recruiting, supporting, and developing all of the Firm's people, including our Partners, Lawyers, and Professional & Business Services, working closely with the Firm's leadership to design and deliver the Firm's people strategy, building on the Firm's core commitments to collaboration, excellence, and inclusivity. The function includes:
- Talent Management
- Recruitment & Mobility
- Diversity & Inclusion
- Leadership & Learning
- Careers & Performance
- Partner Services
- Total Rewards
This role will report to the Chief People Officer (in the interim). The direct reports for this role are EMEA Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Manager x 2 (including 1 parental leave cover); Global Project Manager x 2.
The key relationships in this role are:
- Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Team
- Talent Management & Recruitment teams in EMEA region
- Firm Leadership including the Chief People Officer
- Leadership in the EMEA region
- Members of the Global Inclusion, Diversity & Equity Committee and other ID&E Committees in the EMEA region
- Colleagues in the People function in the EMEA region and globally
- Business Professional colleagues across the global Firm
About The Candidate
Technical skills, qualifications and experience
- Extensive professional management experience in a global setting
- Proven interest and passion for the field of inclusion and diversity with strong demonstrable experience of operationalizing inclusion initiatives
- Creative thinker and strategic problem solver with strong business acumen; committed to proactive identification of solutions. Strong data analytics skills
- Strong organization skills, including setting priorities, structuring project deliverables, ability to manage multiple priorities and strategic planning
- Highly collaborative with the ability to build and support and lead high functioning teams across regions, practices and functions
- Strong coaching, relationship management and problem-solving skills and overall excellent communication skills at all levels
- Self-motivated with the ability to work independently and create work opportunities and executing against strategic and individual deliverables
- Experience working across multiple locations and jurisdictions
- Strong computer literacy
- Fluent spoken and written English
- Presenting skills and experience
Personal qualities
These personal qualities represent the shared characteristics of high performers across Baker McKenzie, regardless of job level and location.
Know how
- Keeps across key developments in all relevant areas and demonstrates the ability to develop substantive authority in relation to the Firm's specialist fields
- Demonstrates the ability to identify the real issue, and to anticipate requirements and potential consequences; distils a range of possibilities by thinking in a considered, prudent manner
- Able to move through a variety of tasks requiring different approaches, knowledge, and expertise, with agility of mind and capacity for analysis and synthesis
Dedication
- Driven by a strong personal sense of integrity and upholds exemplary quality standards
- Prepares thoroughly, takes responsibility, uses initiative and is self reliant to ensure work progresses to the fullest extent possible
- Hardworking and diligent with a keen understanding of client demands
- Demonstrates composure when dealing with difficult situations
Personal Impact
- Creates a positive impression at all times; develops relationships through collaboration and reciprocity
- Negotiates to achieve outcomes that are mutually satisfactory; shows good judgement on when to stand strong and when to compromise
- Invests in, nurtures and builds a network of productive relationships
Humanity
- Respectful to others, regardless of their position, and earns the respect of others by being transparent
- Has care and concern for others and a genuine interest in others as people
- Treats delicate or confidential issues with grace and discretion.
Why Join Us?
Baker McKenzie is a truly global law firm. Founded in 1949, we advise many of the world's most dynamic and successful business organisations through our 13,200 people in 78 offices in 46 countries. Yet big does not mean impersonal. We work hard to ensure that everyone knows their role and has the support they need to perform it to the highest standard. Our culture encourages this - how we work, think and behave in a collaborative and fulfilling way.
In London you will be part of an 950 person office, which is also our largest office globally. Originally opened in 1961, Baker McKenzie London is well established in the UK as a leading international law firm and is regularly involved in some of the country's most high-profile legal matters. We can offer you the work, pride and experience of being part of a leading law firm but in a local office environment that is hardworking, yet friendly and supportive.
The strength of the firm and our culture is evidenced by a number of recent awards, including:
- Thomson Reuters (formerly Acritas' Sharplegal) Global Elite Law Firm Brand Index, 2010- 2022 - ranked 1st
- The Times Top 100 Graduate Employers 2021-2022: currently ranked 52nd
- Refinitiv (formerly Thomson Reuters) ranked the Firm No. 1 for cross-border deals for the last 15 years. More than 70% of our deals are cross-border.
- Law360 ranked the Firm as one of the 400 Largest US Law Firms in in its annual survey in 2022.
- Identified as one of the Hall of Fame for best law firms for women by Working Mother magazine, 2011-2021.
- Received a Gold Award on Stonewall's 2022 Global Workplace Equality Index of Top Global Employers for LGBTQ+ people
- Ranked as one of the Top 10 Employers in the 2022 Social Mobility Employer Index.
- Received Double Certification for earning top marks in the 2022 Corporate Equality Index and Equidad MX of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.
- Winner of the Europe Mentorship Programme - International Firm award in the Euromoney Women in Business Law Europe Awards 2021
- In 2022, we won Career Development International Firm, Diverse Women Lawyers International Firm, Work-Life Balance International Firm, Innovative International Firm of the Year and Women in Business International law firm (WIBL Asia).
- Baker McKenzie has been awarded "Women in Business Law Firm of the Year" and "Career Development Firm of the Year" at the inaugural Euromoney Women in Business Law Global Awards 2022.
Have a look at our YouTube channel to find out more about us!
To Apply
Please click on the Apply icon to start the online application process for this role. We will then be in touch with you once we have reviewed your application. If you are unable to apply online, please contact the Recruitment Team on either 020 7919 1000 or Recruitment.London@bakermckenzie.com
For more information about this position or to discuss any adjustments you may require during the process please contact in confidence Vanessa Renforth, Recruitment Manager, on 020 7072 5731 or vanessa.renforth@bakermckenzie.com
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NO AGENCIES PLEASE
Please note Baker McKenzie does not accept unsolicited CVs. Please click here for details of our Agency Policy and commitment to sourcing directly.
Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity & Equity
As the first truly global law firm, diversity and inclusion are foundational to our culture and strategic vision. We are a Firm of individuals from across the globe with different backgrounds, ideas, and points of view who collegially work together to solve complex problems and design practical solutions for our clients. Our multiple perspectives come from many sources, including the diverse ethnicity, culture, gender, nationality, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, parental status, education, social background and life experience of our people.
Our global strategy is focused on our people, our culture, our clients and the communities where we operate. In 2019 we enacted ambitious new targets related to gender, racial and ethnic diversity at the Firm. These targets are viewed as a floor, not a ceiling, to advancing underrepresented groups, and they are backed by a variety of strategic initiatives aimed at achieving our goals. Our strategic vision is supported in London by six active employee led networks which champion diversity, lead on a number of internal campaigns and deliver a range of activity to celebrate differences in identity, inclusion, and key dates throughout the year including: LGBT+ History Month, International Women's Day, International Trans Day of Visibility, Mental Health Awareness Week, Pride, Black History Month, Social Mobility Week, International Day of Disabled Persons and many more!
Baker McKenzie London has been accredited by Disability Confident, joining over 18,000 organisations that have signed up to help change behaviours and cultures in businesses, networks and communities and reap the benefits of inclusive recruitment practices.
