Human Resources Assistant

Cleary Gottlieb is a pioneer in globalizing the legal profession. Since 1946, we have operated as a single integrated global partnership across major financial centres worldwide, rather than as a firm with a network of separate overseas offices. Our founders believed that excellence is best achieved when people cooperate rather than compete, and that belief still shapes how lawyers and professional staff work together across practices, functions and geographies today. We are guided by a shared purpose, communicate with transparency and integrity, and strive for excellence in everything we do. Every member of our professional staff brings intellectual agility, sound judgment, and a human touch to their work, whether supporting a client matter directly or supporting the colleagues who do, and we take pride in doing our best work as one team.  

The Human Resources Assistant plays a key role in supporting the administrative and operational functions of the U.S. offices for the Professional Staff Human Resources (HR) team. This individual will help ensure the smooth execution of HR processes and initiatives by managing a variety of tasks that promote efficiency and compliance within the department. Working closely with the Professional Staff Human Resources team, the HR Assistant will help foster an engaging, well-organized, and dynamic work environment.

• Employee Lifecycle Management: Coordinate onboarding and offboarding processes for professional staff, including communicating with managers and internal teams, preparing and distributing memos, addressing follow-up items, and ensuring compliance with firm policies and procedures.
• Onboarding Support: Take full ownership of the onboarding process for new professional staff hires, including preparing and distributing onboarding materials, managing the orientation schedule, and coordinating with internal teams to ensure a seamless experience. Conduct onboarding sessions to introduce new hires to the firm's culture, policies, and procedures and ensure they have the tools and resources needed for success. Collect, verify, and organize HR documentation to ensure compliance with legal and organizational requirements. Act as the primary point of contact for new employees during onboarding, addressing questions and providing guidance as they acclimate to their new roles.
• Offboarding Coordination: Manage the offboarding process for departing employees to ensure a smooth transition. Responsibilities include coordinating the collection of firm property and final payroll information and ensuring the accuracy of termination data in the HRIS (Workday). Work closely with internal teams to address offboarding logistics and provide departing employees with the necessary resources.
• Employee Support: Serve as the primary point of contact for professional staff, providing accurate information in response to questions and concerns and directing inquiries to appropriate resources as needed.
• HRIS Transaction Oversight: Manage data entry and reporting in the HRIS (Workday) for processes such as new hires, terminations, transfers, promotions, and compensation adjustments. Review and correct paid time off transactions to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Act as a liaison among the HRIS, Payroll, Benefits, and HR teams to facilitate seamless data entry and problem resolution in the HRIS (Workday).
• Process Alignment: Partner with the Legal HR teams in New York and Washington to align HR processes and maintain consistency across offices.
• Policy Maintenance: Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the HR office manual, implement updates, and ensure acknowledgment of policy changes as they occur.

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment while maintaining a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills and the ability to prioritize multiple tasks effectively.
• High degree of trustworthiness in handling sensitive and confidential information.
• One to two years of work experience is a plus.
• Independently Productive: able to create, drive and complete work without requiring ongoing oversight.
• Strong Communication Skills: conveys information clearly, concisely and professionally to colleagues, clients and other stakeholders.
• Strong Client/Stakeholder Service Orientation: responsive, reliable, and committed to high standards of service and follow-through.
• Sound Judgment: able to identify risks and issues, exercise discretion, and escalate appropriately.
• Effective Collaborator: builds productive working relationships across teams, influencing outcomes without positional authority.
• Commitment to Continuous Improvement: proactively seeks out opportunities to improve ways of working, including through the adoption of new tools and technology.
• Professional Development: takes ownership of own growth, seeks feedback, and takes advantage of learning and development opportunities.
• Integrity and Respect: treats colleagues and clients with respect, dignity and understanding, and upholds the firm's standards of inclusion and culture, helping foster a community where every voice is heard, valued and respected.

*The estimated base salary range for this position is $70,000 to $75,000 at the time of posting. The actual salary offered will depend on a variety of job-related factors, including skills, education, training, credentials, experience, the scope and complexity of the role's responsibilities, geographic location, and performance. This role is non-exempt and eligible for overtime pay. Availability to work overtime when needed is required.

*Cleary provides a comprehensive benefits package, including health care benefits. More information can be found here: Benefits

*We are an equal opportunity employer and prohibit discrimination based on any category protected by law. Cleary provides reasonable accommodations to enable otherwise qualified employees to perform the essential functions of their positions, provided the accommodation does not pose an undue hardship to the firm.

*Click on the following links to view the California Privacy Policy and Notice at Collection for California Residents.