Lead Employment Lawyer (Remote)

Placements24; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 1,500,000 - 1,900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote work

Annual bonus structure

Comprehensive health insurance

Retirement savings plan

Generous annual leave

Job summary

Placements24 seeks a Lead Employment Lawyer to join its remote-first legal team supporting Cape Town operations and beyond. You will provide expert guidance on all aspects of South African employment law and international considerations, shaping strategy from a distributed hub.

The role requires drafting and negotiating employment contracts, handling complex disputes, and advising on policy development with HR and management.

Qualifications

• Admitted SA attorney with extensive employment law experience.
• Proven ability to draft and negotiate employment contracts and settlements.
• Experience managing employment disputes and litigation, including CCMA/Labour Court.
• Strong analytical, advisory and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication in a remote, distributed team.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive employment law advice on hiring, terminations, disciplinaries and grievances.
• Develop, implement and update employment policies to ensure legal compliance.
• Manage and resolve disputes and litigation across jurisdictions.
• Deliver training to HR and management on employment law best practices.
• Advise on collective bargaining, union relations and BCEA/LRA/EEA compliance.
• Ensure alignment with global legal teams and remote collaboration processes.
• Monitor changes in employment law and advise on impacts.
• Oversee external counsel handling of litigation.

Skills

Employment law

Legal drafting

Litigation management

Remote work

Education

Admitted Attorney, High Court of SA

Tools

Legal research tools

Virtual collaboration platforms

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a leading multinational corporation with a strong digital presence, is seeking an exceptional Lead Employment Lawyer to join their fully remote legal team, serving their Cape Town, Western Cape operations and beyond. This is a unique opportunity to shape employment law strategy across the organization from a remote-first perspective. You will be responsible for providing expert legal counsel on all aspects of employment law, ensuring compliance with South African labor legislation and international best practices. This role requires a proactive and strategic thinker who can navigate complex employee relations issues, advise on policy development, and manage employment-related litigation. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with HR, management, and other legal professionals, leveraging technology to ensure seamless communication and collaboration in a distributed work environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive legal advice on all employment-related matters, including hiring, terminations, disciplinary actions, and grievances.
• Develop, implement, and update employment policies and procedures to ensure compliance with current legislation.
• Manage and resolve employment disputes and litigation, including CCMA and Labour Court matters.
• Conduct training sessions for HR and management on employment law best practices.
• Advise on collective bargaining agreements and union relations.
• Ensure compliance with the BCEA, LRA, EEA, and other relevant labor laws.
• Collaborate with global legal teams to ensure consistency in employment law practices where applicable.
• Stay abreast of changes in employment law and advise on potential impacts.
• Oversee and manage external counsel involved in employment litigation.

Requirements

• Admitted Attorney of the High Court of South Africa with a minimum of 8 years of specialized experience in employment law.
• Demonstrated expertise in South African labor law, including the LRA, BCEA, EEA, and related legislation.
• Proven experience in drafting and negotiating employment contracts and settlement agreements.
• Experience managing complex employment litigation and alternative dispute resolution processes.
• Exceptional analytical, advisory, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex legal concepts clearly.
• Self-motivated and capable of working independently in a remote setting, with strong time management abilities.
• Experience with international employment law considerations is a plus.
• Proficiency in legal research tools and virtual collaboration platforms.

Benefits

• Competitive annual salary of R .
• Fully remote work arrangement, offering unparalleled flexibility and work-life balance.
• Annual bonus structure.
• Comprehensive health insurance coverage.
• Retirement savings plan.
• Generous annual leave allowance.
• Professional development opportunities and access to online training resources.
• Opportunity to significantly impact a global organization's employment law framework.