Legal Counsel - Employment

Equans; England; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A global energy services leader is seeking a Legal Counsel - Employment in the UK to provide legal support on employment law matters. The ideal candidate will be a UK qualified solicitor with over 5 years of PQE and experience in the facilities management or engineering sectors. This full-time role offers a competitive salary, company vehicle or allowance, bonus, and a comprehensive benefits package including 25 days annual leave and various employee benefits.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus public holidays

Life cover equivalent to 2 times annual salary

Employee discount shopping schemes

Gym membership discounts

Cycle to work scheme

Holiday purchase scheme

Corporate social responsibility days

Access to employee networks

24/7 Employee Assistance Program

Qualifications

• In-house experience in facilities management, building services, or engineering sectors.
• Over 5 years of PQE in employment law.
• Ability to manage a sizeable workload in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational legal support on employment law issues.
• Manage Employment Tribunal claims effectively.
• Collaborate with HR on employee relations and internal investigations.

Skills

Employment Law Expertise

Strong Interpersonal Skills

Drafting and Negotiating Skills

Knowledge of Data Protection Laws

Education

UK qualified solicitor or barrister

Job description

Overview

Equans is looking for a Legal Counsel - Employment to join our team on a permanent basis. This is a full-time role working 37.5 hours per week. On offer is a competitive salary, company vehicle or allowance, bonus and benefits package.

We are keen to talk to candidates who specialise in Employment Law, based in London or Leeds.

The post holder will provide strategic and operational legal support to Equans UK on a broad spectrum of contentious, non-contentious and transactional employment law related matters, as part of a friendly legal team, reporting to the General Counsel & Ethics Officer (UK & Ireland).

The ideal candidate will have in house experience and having worked in the facilities management, building services and/or the engineering sectors and UK (or common law equivalent) qualified solicitor or barrister with ideally over 5 years of PQE (although flexibility exists depending on the quality of experience).

What will you deliver?

• Build trusted relationships with the HR Community at all levels to resolve employee relations issues, manage risk and promote best practice
• Contribute to the design and delivery of training sessions for HR on employment law topics, promoting legal awareness and consistency in approach
• Supporting the Senior Legal Counsel - Employment to develop a strategy to manage employment law changes and developments
• Responsible for conducting and managing Employment Tribunal claims, whilst working closely with the business to resolve cases effectively. Managing external lawyers and associated legal costs, where appropriate
• Act as a trusted advisor to the HR community, providing specialist HR and employment law advice on a range of matters including contractual queries, redundancy and restructuring, disciplinary and grievance procedures, discrimination and equal opportunities
• Support HR in managing employee relations issues and internal investigations
• Advising on all aspects of TUPE compliance, including drafting and negotiating contractual TUPE provisions
• Draft, review, and negotiate employment-related documentation including employment contracts, settlement agreements, policies, and procedures
• Monitor and interpret changes in UK employment legislation and case law, ensuring the business remains compliant
• Deliver training and guidance to HR and the wider business on employment law topics
• Co-ordinating and managing legal advice received from external advisors and managing associated costs
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Data Privacy and the wider legal team to support business objectives

What can we offer you?

On offer is a competitive salary, car or car allowance, bonus and benefits package, which includes;

• 25 days annual leave (+ public holidays)
• Life Cover equivalent to 2 times annual salary
• Employee discount shopping schemes on major brands and retailers
• Gym membership discounts
• Cycle to work scheme
• Holiday purchase scheme
• 2 corporate social responsibility days per year
• Broad range of learning opportunities, such as professional qualifications, collective/individual training, and personalized support programmes
• Attractive Employee Referral Rewards Scheme
• Access to our growing employee networks including AccessAbility (representing those with physical and mental disabilities), Encompass (representing the LGBTQ+ community), RISE (representing people from ethnic backgrounds), WOMEN TOGETHER (representing women in Equans), Working Parents, and Young Professionals.
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Program and access to mental wellbeing app

Who are we looking for?

• In house experience and having worked in the facilities management, building services and/or the engineering sectors
• UK (or common law equivalent) qualified solicitor or barrister with ideally over 5 years of PQE (although flexibility exists depending on the quality of experience)
• Previous experience working in a large corporate environment
• Contentious and non-contentious employment law experience gained with a respected law firm or in-house. Experience of dealing with trade unions would be an advantage
• Knowledge of applicable data protection laws and dealing with practical issues arising from them, in particular in an HR context
• Proven technical ability
• Ability to approach the role as a trusted business partner and to work with colleagues at all levels of the business, including senior stakeholders when necessary
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to communicate clearly and effectively both orally and in writing
• Open to change and comfortable in an evolving environment with ability and willingness to contribute to the change process
• Strong drafting and negotiating skills
• Ability to manage a sizeable workload in a fast paced environment

This role includes a DBS Basic check therefore ability to pass is essential.

Who are we?

Equans is a world leader in energy services with nearly 100,000 employees working in more than 50 countries, with an annual turnover of over 17 billion euros.

In the UK & Ireland, Equans is a provider of technical, FM, regeneration and energy services - with specialist capabilities in smart buildings, green mobility, district & embedded energy and decentralised renewables.

Equans' 13,500 UK & Ireland employees combine these activities to help businesses, public sector organisations and government to embrace the energy transition towards net zero, and also the digital & industrial transitions that are redesigning the way we move, work and live.

Equans is a Bouygues group company.

What’s next?

If this role is of interest to you, please click below to register, apply, and track your progress! A member of our Resourcing Team will review your application and be in touch.

As part our commitment to better reflect the markets within which we operate, we encourage applications from women, ethnically diverse individuals and people with disabilities, along with all candidates who identify with protected characteristic groups under the Equality Act 2010.

At Equans we're committed to delivering a culture where everyone's voice is heard and supported. We know the value a diverse workforce creates, delivering better results for our people, customers, and stakeholders. Diversity and inclusion is at the core of what we do, should you join Equans you'll find a welcoming and open workplace where you're supported and encouraged to be your true self at work.

You'll also have access to our growing employee networks including AccessAbility (representing those with physical and mental disabilities), Encompass (representing the LGBTQ+ community), RISE (representing people from ethnic backgrounds), WOMEN TOGETHER (representing women in Equans), Working Parents, and Young Professionals.

For this role, you must have evidence of the right to work in the UK. Unfortunately, we are not able to offer a re-location package with this job role. Certain roles may require applicants to undergo a Disclosure check, as noted in the role requirements.

The Equans Resourcing Team supports this job advert. Agency involvement is not required. All related enquiries must come to the resourcing team not direct to Equans Managers.