Description
Freshfields is seeking a visionary and hands-on Head of Performance to lead its performance practice and redefine how the firm assesses, develops, and recognises talent globally.
The successful candidate will report within Performance and Reward, leading a dedicated Performance team across London and Manchester. The primary mandate will be to pioneer an AI-first performance capability, shifting the firm from retrospective annual evaluations to continuous, insight-driven performance enablement embedded into everyday ways of working.
Key responsibilities include:
- Defining and owning the firm’s multi-year performance strategy and roadmap
- Pioneering an AI-first approach across the performance cycle
- Partnering closely with Reward, Talent, Learning & Development, HRIS, and HRBPs to ensure fair, transparent, and cohesive links between performance outcomes and compensation, promotion, succession, and career development
- Leading, mentoring, and inspiring a team of three direct reports across London and Manchester
- Establishing and upholding robust responsible AI guardrails, data privacy safeguards, and fairness standards
- Acting as the senior business owner for performance technology, including Workday talent modules
- Building trusted relationships with senior leadership across practices and functions
The ideal candidate will have:
- Substantial experience leading performance management, talent development, or broader people practices within a complex, global organisation
- Practical AI expertise, including direct, hands-on familiarity with generative AI/LLM tools and platforms
- The ability to articulate an ambitious, modern vision and translate it into clear, measurable roadmaps and operational change
- Experience leading, coaching, and developing collaborative, high-performing teams across multiple offices
- Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills
- Strong analytical acumen, with a sound understanding of fairness, equity, responsible AI principles, and data privacy legislation
- Technical proficiency with modern HRIS platforms and enterprise collaboration tools
This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of performance in a world-class professional services firm. The successful candidate will have the mandate and sponsorship to experiment responsibly, build cutting-edge capabilities, and create a genuine benchmark for how global professional firms enable and celebrate their people.