Associate Director of In-House Legal

TN United Kingdom; Manchester; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking organization as a UK General Counsel, leading the In-House Legal and HR functions. This dynamic role offers the opportunity to manage multiple teams in a fast-paced environment while providing expert legal advice on commercial, employment, and intellectual property matters. You will play a key role in shaping legal strategies and ensuring compliance, all while fostering relationships with senior management. If you are a confident negotiator with a strong work ethic and a passion for delivering exceptional service, this is the perfect opportunity for you to make a meaningful impact in a service-led organization.

Qualifications

• Experienced lawyer with strong commercial and employment law experience.
• Dynamic leader with operational management skills and strong business acumen.

Responsibilities

• Leading daily operations of legal, HR, and compliance functions.
• Negotiating and drafting commercial contracts to meet business needs.
• Advising on HR and Employment Law matters, including investigations.

Skills

Commercial Law

Employment Law

Negotiation Skills

Stakeholder Engagement

Risk Management

Compliance

Intellectual Property

Data Protection

Education

Law Degree

Qualified Lawyer

Job description

Job Description

Job Purpose

This role involves managing the In-House Legal and HR functions for the Peninsula Group, based out of the Manchester Head Office. The role also serves as UK General Counsel, providing expert advice on contentious and non-contentious commercial, intellectual property, immigration, and employment law matters within the Peninsula Group of companies.

Job Overview

We are seeking a bright and confident lawyer with strong commercial and employment law experience, along with broad legal knowledge, to lead our Group In-House Legal and HR teams. The ideal candidate will be an experienced lawyer and operational leader, capable of managing multiple teams in a fast-paced yet supportive environment. The focus is on delivering excellent service and care to internal clients, with a firm commercial approach towards legal and risk management strategies. Exceptional communication skills are essential to provide pragmatic advice to various stakeholders across the Group.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Leading daily operations of legal, HR, procurement, compliance, and e-learning functions.
• Analyzing departmental performance to drive improvements.
• Producing and analyzing management information.
• Supporting and leading teams of professionals and managers.
• Negotiating, drafting, and reviewing commercial contracts to meet business needs and legal requirements.
• Handling civil litigation, including negotiations, pleadings, and court appearances.
• Liaising with PII insurers regarding ongoing litigation and managing global bordereaux.
• Managing the Group Risk Strategy, engaging with stakeholders and auditors.
• Advising Senior Managers on HR and Employment Law matters, internal hearings, investigations, grievances, and disciplinary proceedings.
• Leading FCA compliance and quality assurance initiatives.
• Serving as a trusted advisor to Group Directors and General Counsel on employment litigation, dispute resolution, and employment issues in mergers and acquisitions, as well as FCA and SRA compliance.
• Reporting on live issues to the General Counsel and maintaining a proactive approach.

Person Specification

• Dynamic leader with strong business acumen and operational management skills.
• Experienced lawyer with relevant commercial and employment law experience.
• Broad legal knowledge across various areas.
• Confident negotiator.
• Excellent workload and deadline management skills.
• Strong communication skills for stakeholder engagement.
• Willingness to learn new legal areas and competencies.
• Strong work ethic and team-oriented attitude.
• Experience in intellectual property, immigration, and data protection.
• Background in risk and compliance.

Why Join Our Team?

This position offers significant responsibility from the start and opportunities for career development. You will have the chance to solve complex problems, build relationships with senior management, and make a meaningful impact within a commercially focused, service-led organization.