Corporate Legal Vice President
London, LND, GB, EC2M 2AT
SMBC: A trusted partner for the long term
Here at SMBC Group, we want to help you find the next step in your career so read on to discover if this opportunity is the one for you. We like to recognise potential in our people, so we welcome your application even when your experience doesn’t perfectly align with the job description. Whilst we’ll always strive to be better, we’re proud of our inclusive culture, and encourage our applicants and colleagues to be their authentic, unique selves.
Who we are
United by a sense of purpose towards our customers – to be a trusted partner for the long-term – and our universal banking platform in EMEA, SMBC Group has an international growth agenda and award-winning products, meaning we provide exciting opportunities to work on a diverse range of projects and initiatives. We deliver a full suite of corporate finance products and solutions to our customers as well as investment banking and advisory services, and a range of innovative solutions in global capital markets. Read on to find out how you could enhance your skills and gain valuable experience, by joining us to support our clients transition to a sustainable future.
Role Summary
Is the next step in your career at SMBC Group EMEA? We’re looking for a for a Director for our Senior Legal Counsel, Employment, EMEA.
- Legal Counsel will be responsible for supporting the Director of Employment Law in advising the organisation in relation to employment law related matters, compliance and risks in line with SMBC group’s business strategy and risk appetite across EMEA.
- Supporting with the development of employment policies and procedures across EMEA to drive people management in line with business vision and strategy. Assist with ensuring policies and procedures are up-to-date, relevant and fair, driving the best outcomes for employees and the Group.
- Provide commercial employment legal advice to key stakeholders in relation to employee relations (“ER”) and employment related matters in the UK and across the EMEA region for SMBC group.
Enhancing and developing the organisation’s knowledge of employment law and ER matters.
The anticipated salary range for this role is £100,000–£150,000, with the final offer determined based on the candidate’s skills, experience, role scope, location, and relevant market factors. In addition to base salary, the role may be eligible for a discretionary incentive award and a competitive benefits package, including core benefits such as pension provision.
Business Area
Position Description
- Provide commercial ER and employment legal advice to HR and managers in the UK and support regional offices as and when required.
- Manage external HR legal advice and costs where needed and specifically, those associated with employee litigation and disputes.
- Support with the development and management of all employment related documentation and, where needed, provide any external legal advice/updates. Support with the management of employment related documentation and associated legal advice / updates.
- The person will understand the commercial dynamic of the Bank and will therefore need to possess the necessary maturity and experience.
- Supporting the Director of Employment Law in being the bridge between STPD-Legal and HR.
- Delivery of consistent and appropriate employment legal advice to HR and management in a timely manner. Providing commercially sound advice and judgement in line with the culture and Group objectives.
- Working closely with the Director of Employment Law and Employee Relations, Policy and Case Director to develop and implement effective ER processes, procedures, practices and principles (including guidance, FAQs, checklists, templates etc) to ensure consistency, compliance and mitigation of risks in a regulated environment.
- Providing legal advice to HR and management on ER cases and facilitating external legal advice where needed. Ability to advise on settlement agreements and negotiations.
- Supporting the Human Resource Business Partners (HRBPs) and the businesses through change management initiatives including restructures and any subsequent integration, harmonisation and/or simplification.
- Ability to work on all aspects of employment tribunal litigation including document review, bundle preparation and drafting witness statements.
- Partnering with external counsel as required.
- Working closely with the Director of Employment Law and Director of Employee Relations to develop and review HR policies and procedures (including Employee Handbook), ensuring accuracy and regular reviews in order to meet best practice and legal requirements. Seeking alignment, where possible across entities and markets outside of the UK.
- Support with ensuring compliance with local employment legislation and regulation of employment documentation including contracts, employment changes, settlement agreements etc.
- Assessment of employee risks and proposing viable commercial solutions to management to complex employment and legal issues.
- Ensuring up to date knowledge of employment law and regulations to ensure our people practices are legally compliant.
- Development and delivery of guidance and training for HRBPs, managers and key stakeholders on ER policies to include practical application of the policy and additional support, ensuring they are upskilled to deal with people in a fair, consistent and effective manner.
- Proactively contribute to the development of the bank and actively work for the elimination of legal risk.
- Be a member of various Bank and EMEA Region committees or projects which the STPD-Legal Group or HR are involved in.
- Qualified lawyer with approximately 2-4 years’ experience.
- Excellent knowledge of UK (and preferably EU) employment law and strong expertise and experience in advising on complex ER cases, drafting of employment documentation and policies/procedures, performance management and restructuring.
Competencies
What we offer
For all the expertise and experience you bring to help us make a difference, it’s only sustainable if we support you to build your career and be your best self so we offer competitive company benefits, centred around promoting positive well-bring and work-life balance. We also believe in fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, where all team members perspectives and contributions are valued. Initiatives in place which promote a diverse and inclusive culture and healthy work life balance include hybrid working, Sport & Social Clubs and Diversity and Inclusion networks.
As an employee of SMBC you have access to a host of both useful and exciting benefit offerings. See below some of the benefits on offer to you:
- Hybrid and flexible working
- Competitive paid leave days
- Benefits to support your physical wellbeing, including private medical insurance and life and invalidity insurance
- Various policies to support your mental wellbeing, including a robust behavioural health network with counselling and coaching services
- Access a wide range of learning and development opportunities and career progression opportunities
- Ambitious remuneration package
So, if you like a challenge and want to continuously grow and develop in a role where you will be supported along the way by a dynamic and diverse team, apply today!!
We recognise our role as a bank to support social change and welcome all applications, including those from groups often under-represented in financial services. We value the uniqueness of professional and personal, backgrounds and perspectives as they play a vital role in continuing the sustainable growth of our organisation. We’ll ensure reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process are offered due to a disability or long-term condition whenever requested.
We are committed to transparent and equitable pay practices. Compensation is determined using objective criteria, including skills, experience, and role responsibilities, and applied consistently throughout our recruitment processes. We do not request candidates' pay history and are committed to preventing unjustified pay disparities.