Please Note: The deadline for applying is 23.59 the day before the job posting end date.

Job Title: Senior Employment Counsel – Business Operations 

Business Function: Legal

Location: UK

Business Context 

The Employment Legal function sits within the Corporate Centre and provides employment law support to enable Unilever to deliver its business objectives while appropriately managing risk all around the world.  This is a new team within the Legal function.  

We are looking to hire an expert Senior Counsel who can lead the provision of legal support for employment law issues which impact Unilever’s global supply chain.  The role will focus on issues related to manufacturing environments, the use of an indirect workforce, procurement and other business operations functions.    

JOB PURPOSE 

This is an exciting new role where the successful candidate will be expected to establish strong relationships with Business and Human Resources colleagues and support them across the full range of contentious and non-contentious work.   The individual will be expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy and work with minimal supervision with senior leaders. The individual will also have the opportunity to help shape the future of the Employment Law team.

RESPONSIBILITIES 

Lead employment law legal support across the global Business Operations organisation 

Partner with HR, business and other functional leaders to provide support for all contentious and non-contentious employment law work across the Business Operations organisation globally. 

Working with the IR/ER team to provide advice on employee relations matters, including issues related to works councils 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 in relation to employment law work, 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.

ALL ABOUT YOU 

Qualified lawyer in a Western European jurisdiction with significant experience advising organisations on employment law issues in a manufacturing/supply chain context. 

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, and to simplify diverse local approaches into global principles.  

Comfortable with uncertainty, able to exercise judgement in a fast-moving environment. 

Fluent in English with a second language an advantage 

Geography 

For a candidate with the right skills and experience this role location is globally flexible, provided it is within commutable distance of a significant Unilever office. 

What we offer

Whilst the role is advertised on a full-time basis, we would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you. We strive to achieve a family-friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all. 

Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities and growing together for better business performance. We embrace diversity in our workforce. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. We are also more than happy to provide reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process to enable you to be present your best self. To find out more, including about our Employee Resource Groups, please click here Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (unilever.com).

Location  

In 2020, Unilever announced the intention to build a new sustainable campus site in Kingston, London to house the employees who currently work in 100 Victoria Embankment in Blackfriars ("100VE"), Lever House in Kingston and Graze in Richmond, the build is due to be complete in early 2025. Most recently, in August 2024, we announced our intention to retain our premises in 100VE until our lease expires in 2027.

We are due to consult with our existing workforce on the new proposal to retain 100VE for the duration of our lease. Therefore, until such a time consultation has concluded as to the retention of our 100VE office, this role will be based in 100 Victoria Embankment until early 2025 and then will move to the Kingston Campus.