Learning & Development Assistant

About Withers

A law firm focused on people, performance, and collaboration.

For the past 130 years, we have supported some of the world’s most remarkable people and organizations at defining moments in their lives. 40% of our business comes from Europe, 40% from the US and 20% from Asia and we are one profit sharing partnership globally.

We are united in our commitment to integrity, quality and collaboration. We have a culture of high performance and deliver excellent service consistently across the firm. We provide tailored solutions built on trust and partner with our clients to achieve their goals.

Many of our clients are shaping the future and creating solutions to tackle some of the world’s most difficult problems. It makes for a fascinating and challenging practice.

Our role is to get to know each individual client, find out where they want to be, and help them to get there – whether they are building a business, buying a home or protecting and defending their interests.

To meet their unique needs we are exceptionally collaborative, working together across teams and time zones. And we are agile – focusing on strategy rather than rigid ideas and traditional hierarchy.

Join us to be part of a team that is always looking to the future. Where initiative, big ideas and bold moves are always encouraged. Where you can truly be yourself.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for a bright, confident and proactive Learning & Development Assistant to join our busy team. The successful candidate will have experience working in HR in a professional services environment, ideally within learning and development. 

You will be highly organised, capable and adaptable, with excellent attention to detail and the confidence to build effective relationships with colleagues at all levels. Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential, together with the ability to manage multiple priorities, take ownership of tasks and deliver a first-class service in a fast-paced environment.

Areas of focus and responsibilities

• Assist with coordinating professional skills courses:
• Work with the US L&D Administrator to plan course schedules.
• Support EU/APAC sessions, including pre-work, attendance, evaluations, materials and trainer liaison.
• Send calendar invitations to speakers.
• Invite trainees to sessions and act as a point of contact.
• Coordinate and keep an accurate record of mandatory trainee training.
• Assist with coordinating Trainee Induction (London and Hong Kong) - liaise with the HR team, book external training and team-building activities, coordinate speaker and trainee invitations, act as trainee contact and arrange the trainee dinner.
• Assist with coordinating NQ Induction - plan the NQ induction schedule, coordinate speaker and NQ invitations, and arrange the NQ dinner.
• Assist with coordinating the Associate Development Centre (ADC) - work with the L&D Manager to coordinate ADC schedules, invitations, pre-meetings, MBTIs and learning sets. Liaise with facilitators and actors, and support live sessions, Zoom links and breakout rooms.
• Assisting with the coordination of the Future Leaders Programme (FLP) - support the Senior L&D Advisor with FLP administration, including 360-degree feedback, development and assessment centres, venues, travel, invitations, pre-meetings, assessments, coaching sessions and learning sets. Liaise with facilitators and actors as required.
• Assist with coordinating management development programmes - work with the L&D Manager to coordinate schedules, workshops, venues, participant invitations, travel, pre-meetings, psychometrics and learning sets. Liaise with internal and external providers.
• Support the budget process by processing invoices and keep an accurate record of spend on budget spreadsheets and gathering information on rates from external suppliers.
• Assist with coordinating language lessons - liaise with the language agency to onboard students and process related invoices.
• Keep the learning and development intranet pages updated with training information and registration links, and prompt HR colleagues to review relevant pages.
• Support professional qualifications administration, including trackers, clawback forms, new requests and invoices.
• Support LMS (Learning management system) administration, including access, training and queries from admin users.
• Process membership renewals, invoices and expenses, and maintain the relevant records.
• Provide HR Helpdesk support one day per week, liaising with HR colleagues to complete general administration requests.

This list of duties and responsibilities is not exhaustive. It is intended to describe the general content of, and requirements for the performance of this job, and as such, the role may also include undertaking additional tasks as required.

Skills and experience

• Degree level qualification
• Previous experience in a learning and development assistant role within a professional services firm
• Experience of organising events on and offsite
• First class written and verbal communication skills 
• Highly organised
• Excellent attention to detail and ability to check own work
• Can work to deadlines and under pressure
• Ability to use own initiative and carry out duties with minimum supervision but also willing to participate fully within a cohesive and supportive team environment
• Adaptable, flexible and enthusiastic

The essentials

• 9.30am to 5.30pm but flexibility is a must
• Hybrid working policy with a minimum of 2 days per week in the office
• 12 week probation period
• 4 week notice period
• Flexible benefit package including pension, private medical insurance, denplan, season ticket loan, discounted gym memberships, lifestyle discount scheme, the ability to buy and sell holidays, flu jabs, doctors consultation service, cycle to work scheme, on site café and more

Information for Recruitment Agencies
Withers endeavours to recruit and fill vacancies directly. However, when we do need to engage with agencies, Withers operates a preferred supplier list and will not be accepting unsolicited applications from non-PSL agencies for this role.

Equal Opportunities Employment Statement 
It is the policy of Withers to provide equal opportunities for all employees in relation to recruitment, training and promotion.  Decisions in these areas will be made only by reference to the requirements of the job and shall not be influenced by any consideration of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race (including colour, nationality and ethnic and national origin), religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.