Inclusion, Diversity & Belonging Manager

About Ashurst

Ashurst is a leading progressive global law firm with a rich history spanning more than 200 years. We are proud of our history and are future-focused, having expanded into new technologies through our NewLaw division, Ashurst Advance, and our consulting arm. Our in-depth understanding of our clients and commitment to providing excellent standards of service have seen us become a trusted adviser to local and global corporates, financial institutions and governments in all areas of commercial law.

Department/Role overview

This role will support the development and embedding of the firm's Inclusion, Diversity & Belonging (IDB) strategy across the global network, with a delivery focus on the UK/EMEA/US region.

Ashurst's People and Culture (P&C) team comprises approximately 150 people spread across our global offices. We deliver purpose led transformation programs and people and culture practices that support the attraction and enablement of leading talent. We are a diverse team who prioritise collaboration to draw on our full spectrum of perspectives, experience and strengths.

Fostering an inclusive culture is key to Ashurst's vision of being the most progressive global law firm. It allows us to offer exceptional service to our clients and a great place for our people to work. That is why inclusion, diversity and belonging are at the core of our business strategy. The firm has adopted the goal of "placing diversity at the heart of everything we do". This goal has facilitated a sustained focus on a wide range of IDB initiatives and we continue to work to deliver against this goal through the delivery of our IDB action plan.

The role reports to the Head of IDB UK/EMEA/US, and supports the Global Head of IDB.

Main responsibilities

Develop and deliver programmes to embed the IDB strategy across the UK/EMEA/US region:

• Oversee a number of the firm's established IDB programmes, for example, the firm's IDB career impact programmes.
• Contribute to the development of new programmes required to deliver against our IDB action plan.
• Manage logistics of relevant programmes, including communications, updating guides and collateral and profiling opportunities.
• Identify opportunities to collaborate with People and Culture Team peers on building more equitable policies, processes and protocols.

Support the IDB networks and leadership:

• Working with network chairs and leads (all levels of the IDB governance structure) to ensure activities and initiatives are aligned with the IDB strategy, network charter and action plan.
• Ensure IDB networks are working efficiently and effectively (i.e. meetings are organised, agendas are circulated, minutes taken and action points are completed on time).
• Coordinate and co-chair Advisory Group meetings.

Communicate progress on IDB with internal and external stakeholders:

• Assist with drafting for articles and internal updates.
• Liaise with the social media team and internal communications team to ensure coverage in social media and office publications & presentations, publicity for events, reviewing intranet and website content to ensure accuracy and relevancy.
• Draft communications for IDB events such as invite text and speaking notes.

Enhance external partnerships and client relationships:

• Support scheduling and delivery of diversity partner and client engagement plans, including promotion and driving engagement through relevant communication forums.

Training:

• Build and enhance the firm's organisational capacity on IDB through the delivery of high impact and scalable training programs.
• Liaise with Learning and Development in relation to content development and updates, and assist with preparation and updating of IDB training materials.
• Facilitate training sessions internally and to clients.
• Engage external specialists to facilitate training where required.

Data and reporting:

• Work with the People & Culture team to improve the completeness of diversity demographic data to help drive data driven approaches and decision making.
• Lead the delivery of IDB benchmark reporting as determined each year, such as the Social Mobility Employers Index.

Risk and Control:

• Ensure that all activities and duties are carried out in full compliance with our regulatory requirements and internal policies.
• Ensure the IDB spend across the business remains in line with the budget for financial year including undertaking periodic review and interrogation of IDB spend financial reporting.

Essential skills and experience

• Demonstrated experience driving Inclusion, Diversity and Belonging outcomes. This could be in an IDB role, or through adjacent experience.
• Exceptional organisational skills: able to prioritise effectively during pressurised situations, and adjust to changing priorities, deadlines or issues as they arise.
• Strong client service: able to use wide networks or industry knowledge and experience to improve processes or plan requirements.
• Excellent communication skills, able to speak and write with clarity and professionalism.
• Confident and approachable, including being able to negotiate or influence stakeholders.
• Resilient and able to deal calmly with conflict or difficult situations.
• Discrete, diplomatic and completely confidential with colleague and client information.
• Solid IT skills, especially PowerPoint, Word and Excel.
• Able to be flexible with time and adjust priorities when necessary to meet the requirements of clients or the business.

Desired skills and experience

• Previous experience within a People & Culture role, ideally within a global organisation.
• Previous experience in project management or business partnering.
• Previous experience within a Professional Services Firm.
• Knowledge of current IDB related legislation and issues either gained through practical experience or qualification.

Background checks

In order to comply with regulatory and client requirements, Ashurst will undertake appropriate vetting of staff. When applicants accept a job offer, Ashurst, alongside a specialist provider, will undertake professional verification and background checks. These checks are only undertaken with consent, and in accordance with our legal and regulatory obligations.