Legal Counsel (Employment)
OCS GroupOCS UK & Ireland is a leading facilities management company with 50,000+ colleagues and a turnover in excess of £2bn. We deliver innovative, award-winning services within facilities management, hard services, cleaning, security and catering.
Our mission is to make people and places the best they can be for our colleagues, customers and the communities we serve. Our commitment to doing business the right way is rooted in our TRUE values - Trust, Respect, Unity, and Empowerment.
About The Role:
Working Pattern: Monday to Friday
This role will support the Senior Employment Counsel and other members of the Employment Legal team with ensuring that employment legal advice and support (both contentious and non-contentious) is delivered effectively and efficiently to stakeholders in the wider UK&I business. This role is primarily tasked with:
- Assisting with the defence of employment tribunal claims (usually with the support of counsel to provide advocacy support) and supporting the business with making strategic decisions about the defence or settlement of the same;
- Supporting the Senior Employment Counsel manage third party stakeholders such as preferred counsel and jurisdictional external lawyers in ROI, NI and Scotland;
- Supporting HR and operational colleagues with their understanding of the application of the TUPE Regulations to the provision of our services and the commencement/termination of commercial contracts
- Providing employment legal advice and guidance in relation to the application of employment legislation to the business and its activities (such as the impact of changes to employment rights) and in relation to business driven projects and initiatives (such as the implementation of new HR systems or the introduction of new salary sacrifice benefits)
- Manage employment tribunal processes by liaising with necessary third parties (claimants, counsel, tribunal etc), managing compliance with key dates and drafting ET3s, witness statements and other necessary documents;
- Provide status updates and opinions to business stakeholders in relation to employment tribunal claims and our prospects for successful defence of the same;
- Negotiate settlement agreements and COT3s with claimants and exiting employees;
- Draft a variety of employment/people related documents such as template employment contracts and consultancy agreements;
- Support with IR35 checks conducted by the business;
- Draft, review and update HR policies and processes in conjunction with the HR team;
- Support with industrial relations and trade union activity;
- Prepare and deliver training to key stakeholders such as the HR team and business leaders;
- Responsible for staying up-to-date with changes to law and legislation, particularly in relation to laws, rules and regulations that directly affect the business and our services.
- Qualified solicitor with current practicing certificate (allowing practice in England and Wales)
- Minimum 2+ years PQE (practicing employment law)
- Preferable industrial relations and trade union experience
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex legal issues in simple terms
- Excellent stakeholder management skills with a proven ability to influence at all levels
- Confident navigating, negotiating and advising on complex commercial contracts
- Ability to work under pressure, plan personal workload effectively and delegate appropriately
- High level of integrity and dependability with a commitment to maintaining confidentiality and upholding legal compliance
How to Apply:
We are an equal opportunities employer and rely on a diverse workforce with a broad range of knowledge, skills, and backgrounds to deliver our goals. We offer an inclusive and welcoming environment and actively encourage applications from all individuals regardless of race, gender, nationality, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or age.