Employment Law Director/Partner

Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions; Salford; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Bonus

Benefits package

Job summary

Hawthorne-Finch Talent Solutions is seeking an experienced Employment Lawyer at Director/Partner level for its Manchester office. You will lead the department, manage a varied caseload, advise on contentious and non-contentious matters, and play a central role in business development and client relationship management.

The role offers hybrid working, a senior leadership path, and a salary range of £90,000 to £120,000 plus bonus and benefits.

Qualifications

• Qualified Solicitor in England and Wales with significant employment law experience.
• Proven ability to win work and develop client relationships.
• Strong leadership capability with mentoring experience.
• Commercially minded with good risk judgement.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the employment law offering from the Manchester office, focusing on growth and team development.
• Advise employers and employees on a broad range of employment law and HR issues.
• Draft and review employment contracts, policies and related documentation.
• Advise on grievance, disciplinary and redundancy processes.
• Handle discrimination matters, whistleblowing issues and workplace disputes.
• Manage Employment Tribunal claims from start to finish, including pre-claim negotiations and settlements.
• Support corporate team and other departments on employment aspects of transactions.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships and deliver clear, practical advice.
• Drive business development through networking, seminars and developing new work sources.
• Supervise, mentor, and develop junior lawyers and support staff; set high service standards.

Skills

Leadership

Business development

Client relationships

Communication

Commercial judgement

Education

Solicitors qualification in England and Wales

Job description

Employment Lawyer (Director/Partner Level)

Location: Manchester

Salary: £90,000 to £120,000 plus bonus and benefits

Experience: Senior hire (Director/Partner level)

If you are an experienced Employment Lawyer looking for a senior role with real influence, this is an opportunity to take a lead position in Manchester and play a central part in building and growing an employment offering.

Our client is looking to appoint a Director or Partner level Employment Lawyer into its Manchester office. This is a key hire for someone who can combine high-quality technical delivery with team leadership and business development, helping to shape the department’s direction and expand its client base.

You will take ownership of a varied employment caseload (contentious and non-contentious) and act as a trusted adviser to businesses and individuals. Alongside fee earning, you will be responsible for developing the team in Manchester, strengthening internal referrals across the firm, and building a sustainable pipeline of work through networking and profile-building.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Leading the employment law offering from the Manchester office, with a focus on growth and team development
• Advising employers and employees on a broad range of employment law and HR issues
• Drafting and reviewing employment contracts, policies and related documentation
• Advising on grievance, disciplinary and redundancy processes
• Handling discrimination matters, whistleblowing issues and wider workplace disputes
• Managing Employment Tribunal claims from start to finish, including pre-claim negotiations and settlement agreements
• Supporting the Corporate team and other departments on employment aspects of transactions and advisory work
• Building and maintaining strong client relationships and delivering clear, practical advice
• Driving business development through networking, seminars, relationship building and developing new work sources
• Supervising, mentoring and developing junior lawyers and support staff, and setting high standards of service delivery

What We’re Looking For

• Qualified Solicitor in England and Wales with significant experience in employment law (contentious and non-contentious)
• Proven ability to win work and develop client relationships (an established following is advantageous)
• Strong leadership capability, with experience mentoring and developing others
• Commercially minded, with excellent judgement and a practical approach to risk
• Strong communication and presentation skills, comfortable representing the team externally
• Organised and resilient, able to manage competing priorities and deadlines

What’s On Offer

• Senior role with genuine scope to build and shape a team in Manchester
• Competitive salary of £90,000 to £120,000 plus bonus and benefits
• Hybrid working (mix of office and home working)
• Full-time preferred, with part-time considered
• Clear progression and the opportunity to play a leading role within the wider firm

Working Arrangements

Monday to Friday. Full-time preferred, with part-time considered. Hybrid working is available.

All applications will be handled in the strictest confidence. We will never share your details with any client without your express permission.