HR Compliance Manager

DLA Piper is a bold, exceptional, collaborative, and supportive firm where our people are the backbone, heart, and soul. This role offers the opportunity to engage in meaningful work and grow your career.

About the role

The HR Compliance Manager leads the firm’s employment compliance function, ensuring alignment with federal, state, and local employment laws, regulatory requirements, and internal policies. This role focuses on strengthening and continuously improving HR policies, procedures, and practices through proactive risk assessment, audits, training, and advisory support. While the role does not include direct people management, it requires strong ownership of compliance processes, influence across the organization, and execution of firmwide compliance initiatives.

Location

This hybrid position can be based in one of the following offices: Chicago, Atlanta, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Raleigh, Reston, San Diego, Seattle, Short Hills, Washington DC, or Wilmington.

Responsibilities

• Monitor, interpret, and assess changes in federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations; ensure timely and compliant updates to Firm policies, practices, and procedures.
• Serve as the subject matter expert on Firm HR policies and procedures, providing guidance to HR, leadership, and other stakeholders.
• Act as the primary liaison with the Office of General Counsel on HR compliance matters, including risk assessment and mitigation.
• Develop, maintain, and govern HR compliance documentation, ensuring strong document control, versioning, and audit readiness.
• Lead the timely development, implementation, and communication of HR policies, procedures, and related guidance materials.
• Ensure policies and practices are consistently applied and aligned with legal requirements and Firm standards.
• Maintain a comprehensive calendar of HR compliance obligations and proactively develop and manage project plans to ensure timely execution.
• Recommend, plan, and lead internal audits of HR processes to ensure compliance with legal, regulatory, and organizational standards.
• Lead special projects related to HR compliance, risk mitigation, and policy development as needed.
• Oversee the development, implementation, and ongoing administration of mandatory HR compliance training programs, including harassment prevention, workplace conduct, and other legally required trainings.
• Monitor completion, tracking, and certification of required training programs to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local requirements.
• Partner with internal stakeholders to update training content in response to legal changes, policy updates, or identified risk areas.
• Manage and produce HR compliance reporting, including collaboration with internal and external partners to prepare and submit required statutory filings (e.g., EEO, VETS, pay data reporting).
• Generate compliance, audit, training, and HR metrics reports for leadership review.
• Monitor and report on compliance-related activities and emerging risks.
• Partner with HR Technology & Reporting, Payroll, and Benefits teams to ensure Workday time and absence configurations align with Firm policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Identify gaps or inefficiencies and recommend programmatic or system-based solutions to strengthen and scale HR compliance processes.
• Keep HR leadership and key stakeholders informed of compliance status, risks, and progress against established plans.
• Remain apprised of strategic Firm initiatives and align HR compliance priorities and action plans with overall Firm goals.
• Promote a positive, respectful, and compliant workplace culture aligned with the Firm’s values.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

• Deep proficiency in federal, state, and local employment laws.
• Ability to interpret legal requirements and translate them into clear, actionable HR policies.
• Skilled in drafting, reviewing, and updating compliance documentation and related communications.
• Experience conducting internal audits of HR practices and procedures.
• Ability to identify compliance risks and recommend corrective actions.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Capable of successfully developing and delivering compliance training programs.
• Proficient in analyzing data and trends to identify compliance gaps.
• Ability to synthesize complex legal information into practical guidance.
• High level of accuracy in reviewing documentation and maintaining accurate records.
• Vigilant in monitoring regulatory changes and ensuring timely updates.
• Demonstrates discretion and sound judgment in handling sensitive, confidential, and privileged information.
• Upholds ethical standards and promotes a culture of compliance and accountability.
• Familiarity with HRIS systems (Workday preferred) and compliance tracking tools.
• Intermediate-level skill in using reporting tools, including Microsoft Excel, and databases to manage compliance metrics.
• Skilled at cultivating and sustaining strong relationships with key stakeholders across all levels of the organization.
• Ability to work independently and influence cross-functional teams without direct authority.
• Exceptional organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple compliance tasks, deadlines, and documentation with accuracy and efficiency.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources, Business, or related field.
• Professional certifications (e.g., PHR or SPHR) preferred.
• 10+ years of experience in HR compliance.

Essential Job Expectations

• Effectively communicate, verbally and in writing, with clients, lawyers, business professionals, and third parties.
• Produce deliverables, answer phone calls, and reply to correspondence in an efficient and responsive manner.
• Provide timely, accurate, and quality work product.
• Successfully meet deadlines, expectations, and perform work duties as required.
• Foster positive work relationships.
• Comply with all firm policies and practices.
• Engage in both physical and sedentary activity, such as working at a computer for extended periods, participating in digital/virtual conference calls, and attending meetings as needed.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage competing demands in a fast-paced environment.
• Perform all other duties, tasks, or projects as assigned.

Physical Demands

Sedentary work: Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time.

Benefits

• Comprehensive package of benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) retirement plan.

Pay

The expected hiring range for this position is $112,879 - $165,525 per year, depending on the candidate’s geographic market location, experience, skills, educational and professional background, and overall qualifications.