Employment Counsel

at  Vodafone

Location: Newbury, hybrid working
Salary: Excellent basic salary plus bonus and Vodafone benefits
Working Hours: Full time 37.5 hours per week – Mon to Fri
At Vodafone UK we believe that through collaboration and connection with our colleagues we can achieve great things. Our hybrid working approach allows our people to work both in the office and at home, providing the flexibility and resources you need to succeed in your role. We don’t require you to be in on specific days; instead, we ask people to come into the office 2-3 days each week, on average 8 days a month. Our “Office in a Box” home working kit will provide you with everything you need, no matter where you are.

WHO WE ARE

At Vodafone UK, diversity isn’t just a buzzword, it is core to who we are as a company. We’re proud to be certified as a Great Place to Work and are committed to driving inclusion for all; creating a workplace that is fully representative of the communities and customers we serve.
Join us at the heart of Vodafone UK in Corporate, one of the central support functions that underpin our business and keep us moving forward. We provide centralised support, expertise and guidance across our UK and Group operations, continuing to build on our success and trailblazing the way to our next stage of digital growth.

WHO YOU ARE

• Experience of Employment or Commercial Disputes Law and procedure, with willingness to pick up work in either discipline.
• Able to deliver concise and clear advice and training according to the audience.
• Proficient drafting skills with ability to draft TUPE Schedules, settlement agreements, contractual documents and correspondence.
• Good negotiation and influencing skills and able to lead legal negations.
• University honours degree (second class or better) or equivalent higher education qualification.
• Qualified lawyer (Solicitor, Barrister, Chartered Legal Executive or equivalent) with at least 1-4 years (or equivalent) post-qualification experience - private practice or in an in-house role. Any reference to PQE is a guide only, and any applicant who can demonstrate the required skill set will be considered regardless of PQE.
• Sound knowledge of commercial and legal risks with a willingness to take on work in either discipline with appropriate supervision and a demonstratable ability to take a proactive and solutions-focussed approach.
• Able to act unsupervised and independently on standard matters, and under supervision on more complex matters, and to demonstrate sound commercial judgement.
  Worried that you don’t meet all the desired criteria exactly? At Vodafone we are passionate about Inclusion for All and creating a workplace where everyone can thrive, whatever their personal or professional background. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align exactly with every part of the job description, we encourage you to apply as you may be the right candidate for this role or another role, and our recruitment team can help you see how your skills fit in.

Employment and Disputes Counsel, a hybrid role within the Vodafone UK multi-disciplinary Legal Risk Management Team. The role provides pragmatic, proactive and solution focused employment and commercial disputes advice, in accordance with Vodafone’s values, on a wide range of matters with a particular focus on: (i) TUPE advice for bids, tenders and procurement, (ii) ACAS and Employment Tribunal Claim advice and management, (iii) advising on a range of disputes that arise in the day to day running of the business as both Claimant and Defendant.
-

Employment Law Advice:

• Providing pragmatic, concise and commercial employment law advice to all parts of the UK business in accordance with Vodafone’s values including:
• advising on all aspects of TUPE (predominantly service provision changes) in the context of bids, tenders and procurement in a fast-paced environment;
• ACAS and Employment Tribunal Claim advice and management, including instructing external counsel; and
• providing advice, guidance and training to HR on all employment law issues including complex employee relations matters, internal policies, contracts and handbooks.
• Commercial Dispute Resolution Advice:
• Providing strategic business and legal advice in relation to any disputes that may arise across the business, either in the position as actual or potential Claimant or Defendant, including from the Supply Chain, Networks, Consumer, Collections and other teams;
• Identify and mitigate pre-litigation risk issues threatening the business by providing advice and guidance to the wider Legal team and to the business; and
• Liaising with our external panel of law firms to manage risk and cost and maximise value from these relationships.
• Keen interest in growing legal knowledge and expertise across two disciplines; employment and commercial disputes. Transferable litigation skills for either discipline.
• Ability to adapt and manage competing priorities independently and provide advice in a timely manner.
• Collaborates effectively with other parts of the UK Legal Teams.
• Assisting with updating precedents, internal briefing notes and providing ongoing training to stakeholders and legal colleagues.
• Instructing and managing external counsel, as appropriate.