Senior HR Generalist (Brisbane, CBD) – Top-tier law firm

• Senior HR generalist position supporting designated practice teams/groups + local HR delegation for the Brisbane office
• This is an exciting new era for Mallesons - King & Wood Mallesons’ Australian and Chinese partnerships have agreed to formally separate.   From 30 March 2026, we will be known as Mallesons in Australia – the go-to independent top tier firm in this market. This role offers a rare opportunity to join the firm during a time of legacy making
• Play a key role in fostering connection, collaboration and cultural alignment, enhancing the day‑to‑day people experience across the Brisbane centre.

Who are we?

We help our clients manage their risk and enable their growth. Our full-service offering combines un-matched top tier local capability complemented with an international platform.

We have deep roots in Australia spanning almost 200 years and acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional owners and custodians of these lands and waters.

Role

Based in the Brisbane CBD office, reporting to the Sydney based People & Development (P&D) National Manager, with a dotted line to the Perth based Head of People & Development (P&D) Workplace Experience, this varied role offers 2 key responsibilities – Advisory and Centre Manager.

Advisory, majority of the role, will involve providing advisory HR support to designated practice groups/practice teams often across various offices; advising and coaching Partners and Managers on employee relations, performance management and HR policies aligning to the people strategy.

The Centre Manager (CM) aspect of this role (approx 20% that will flex up and down) has responsibility for geographic and location-based HR operations and relationships in Centre. Responsibilities may include risk and incident management, consistent centre policy and operational advice, project work roll out of cyclical centre events, supporting local centre change.

This varied role, supported by the wider P&D, has key responsibilities that include:

• Understanding the drivers of team performance and proactively highlighting business needs or issues that may impact performance and client service delivery
• Case managing and advising on performance management matters; terminations, complaints and EEO issues 
• Advice and interpretation of policies to partners and staff and coaching on people related issues
• Promotion of P&D policies, procedures, processes and systems; providing feedback and ideas for improvement of firm people policy and procedures
• Delivery of annual initiatives such as Performance, Talent and Remuneration
• Promoting learning and development in conjunction with Talent and Capability
• Being involved in strategic projects related to engaging and retaining our people and improving the employee experience and supporting our People and Culture team in delivering key activities
• Centre leadership & national alignment, collaborating on centre-based people matters
• Building strong, trusted relationships with the Partner In Charge (PIC) and Centre People Partner (CPP) Brisbane, supporting location-based strategy and change, and connecting local insights and issues as needed
• Centre responsibilities for risk, compliance & crisis leadership
• Providing leadership on centre risk, WHS, compliance and incident management.
• An escalation point and sounding board locally.

Who are we looking for?

Our P&D roles need collaborative, strategic forward thinkers, who can connect the dots.  In a high performance culture like King & Wood Mallesons, this role demands a leader with broad generalist capability, strong situational judgement and the ability to respond quickly and confidently to emerging issues and incidents. 

You will be seen as a visible and trusted on‑the‑ground presence, strengthening alignment across the P&D team and contributing to a positive, engaged and inclusive workplace culture.

With an excellence without arrogance ethos, and maturity that comes from experience in environments where excellent commercial acumen is required, you will also bring:

• A deep level of experience in a human resources advisory capacity where you have become a trusted advisor, within professional services
• Sound understanding of the law and legislation affecting human resource management 
• Experience with performance review systems and implementation of remunerations reviews  
• Experience with process and policy improvement
• Ability to liaise with people at all levels of the organisation
• Service orientated with a practical and action orientated approach
• Organisational skills and ability to manage multiple responsibilities and deadlines
• Excellent presentation skills

Please note internally this role is called People & Development Manager and Centre Manager Brisbane

NOTE: This advert will disappear Friday 27th March and be readvertised on Monday 30th March under Mallesons branding.

Next Steps

Please click ‘Apply Now’ to apply online with your cover letter summarising why you’re applying and your resume to support your experience.

Applications close COB Applications will close 5pm Monday 6th April 2026.

If you have any questions or need any further information, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Bridget on (02) 9296 3563.

Why work with us?

We promote a collaborative culture where people feel respected, valued and supported both personally and professionally, and where diversity and inclusion also play an important role in enhancing our knowledge, driving innovative solutions for our clients and creating positive social impact. 

We live by our Principles, and strive for mastery in all that we do.  We take pride in the high quality work we deliver. Working with colleagues and clients who are leaders in their fields, means the ability to explore new paths to progress with continual learning and development, career and leadership opportunities.

As part of the KWM community you’ll have access to a suite of wellbeing initiatives, benefits, policies and processes, to enable you to achieve your career goals.

At KWM, we’ll provide you with the platform to Learn, Master, Lead.