Head of Legal – Employment
Jobtailor
Swindon · posted 20 August 2026
Location
Swindon, England
Category
Legal
- Oversee and ensure the provision of high-quality, timely, risk-based and pragmatic employment law advice to support the business of UKRI.
- Supervise and be responsible for the effective and efficient management of cases and workloads in your team.
- Exercise sound judgment when balancing key legal and commercial risks and benefits.
- Provide advice as required on complex, strategic and/or technical legal issues.
- Jointly lead and run the day-to-day operation of the UKRI Legal Team.
- Lead and empower a small team of qualified employment lawyers.
- Enhance learning and development and career progression opportunities for legal staff.
- Proactively engage with senior managers throughout the organisation.
Requirements
- Minimum of a 2:1 honours degree in your first degree (in any subject) or equivalent high level academic and/or professional achievement where satisfactory evidence can be provided.
- Qualified to practise as a Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive in England and Wales.
- Substantial post-qualification experience of advising on a range of contentious and non-contentious employment law matters.
- Experience of leading and managing a legal team, providing professional supervision and developing staff.
- Skilled and experienced employment lawyer with the ability to understand public sector policy drivers and work effectively within the statutory framework applicable to a non-departmental public body.
- Ability to provide effective quality assurance of the team’s legal advice on employment matters.
- Demonstrable technical proficiency and strong experience of advising clients at a senior level.
- The ability to think strategically and creatively, see legal issues in their wider context and advise accordingly.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to influence and work collaboratively.
- 'Can-do' individual who is self-motivated and able to plan and manage a varied workload, meeting deadlines and effectively prioritising and managing competing demands.
Core Competencies
Demonstrates expertise in employment law with a strong focus on providing high-quality legal advice and managing a legal team effectively. Capable of strategic thinking and influencing senior management while ensuring compliance within the public sector framework.
Highest-signal resume keywords
- Qualified Solicitor, Barrister, Or Chartered Legal Executive
- Post-Qualification Experience In Employment Law
- Team Leadership And Management
- Strategic Legal Advice
- Excellent Communication Skills
ATS Optimization Keywords
Hard Skills
- Employment Law Advice
- Contentious And Non-Contentious Matters
- Quality Assurance Of Legal Advice
- Public Sector Policy Understanding
- Technical Proficiency In Legal Issues
Soft Skills
- Influencing Skills
- Self-Motivated
- Effective Workload Management
- Collaborative Work Style
- Creative Problem Solving
Certifications & Qualifications
- 2:1 Honours Degree Or Equivalent
- Qualified To Practise In England And Wales
Industry Keywords
- Non-Departmental Public Body
- Legal Team Management
- Risk-Based Legal Advice
- Senior Level Client Advising
- Career Development In Legal Staff