Lead EMEA Employment Counsel

Unilever; Arkley; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A multinational consumer goods company in the UK is seeking an experienced legal professional to handle employment law matters across the EMEA region. The role involves advising on contentious and non-contentious issues, partnering with HR teams, and managing legal risks. Ideal candidates are qualified lawyers with significant experience in employment law and a proven ability to influence stakeholders. Fluency in English is essential.

Qualifications

• Significant experience advising on employment law across EMEA.
• Deep experience with a full range of employment issues, including collective issues.
• Experience in complex multinational organisations.

Responsibilities

• Provide support for contentious and non-contentious employment law work.
• Advise on employee relations matters.
• Conduct training for HR and non-HR colleagues.

Skills

Support employment law legal provision across EMEA

Experience advising on employee relations matters

Ability to influence and manage stakeholders

Comfort with uncertainty in fast-moving environments

Fluency in English

Education

Qualified lawyer in the UK

Job description

Job Responsibilities & Qualifications

• Support employment law legal provision across EMEA
• Partner with HR teams and other stakeholders to provide support for all contentious and non-contentious employment law work.
• Working with the IR/ER team to provide advice on employee relations matters, including issues related to collective bargaining and trade unions.
• Providing expert advice and input in relation to global projects, policies and other initiatives.
• Supporting the Business Integrity team in relation to employment related investigations and other compliance issues.
• Responsibility for the engagement and use of outside counsel across the region, including managing to a budget.
• Proactively identifying, addressing and managing legal risk issues related to employment law.
• Keeping up to date on employment law developments and providing thought leadership as to the impact on Unilever
• Conducting training and building knowhow as required for both HR and non-HR colleagues.
• Qualified lawyer in the UK with significant experience advising organisations on employment law issues across EMEA.
• Deep experience advising in relation to the full range of employment issues, including trade union and other collective issues, on a cross-border basis.
• Experience in working in a complex multinational organisation - either directly or on a secondment basis.
• Demonstrable experience of driving change
• Ability to operate and exercise judgement independently
• Ability to influence and manage multiple internal and external stakeholders. Ability to deliver through others and with limited resources.
• Ability to engage on technical topics and communicate them in a clear and easy-to-understand manner.
• Experience in preparing executive briefings and presentations.
• Ability to translate global strategies locally.
• Comfortable with uncertainty, able to exercise judgement in a fast-moving environment.
• Fluent in English with a second language desirable.