Associate General Counsel - Consulting - Smiths Group

At Smiths we apply leading-edge technology to design, manufacture and deliver smarter engineering solutions for mission-critical applications, solving some of the world's toughest problems for our customers, our communities and our world. We are a FTSE
100, global business of around 15,000 colleagues, based in 50 countries. Our solutions have a real impact on lives across the planet, enabling industry, improving healthcare, enhancing security, advancing connectivity, and supporting new homes. Our products and services are often critical to our customers’ operations, while our proprietary technology and high service levels help create competitive advantage. We welcome colleagues with a curious mind, who are happy with responsibility, enjoy a challenge and are attracted by the idea of working at a business with an almost 170-year history of innovation, and four global divisions, all experts in their field.

The Associate General Counsel, Employment is a senior member of the Group Legal function and leads the Group’s employment and labour law central capability.

The role provides strategic, commercial and practical legal leadership on significant employment matters across the Group. Reporting to the General Counsel, Corporate, M&A, and Strategic Projects, the Associate General Counsel, Employment works closely with the Legal and Communications Leadership Team, Group HR, Divisional Legal and Divisional HR Leadership and Divisional Legal to identify and manage employment law risk, support the Group’s People strategy and enable organisational and business changes.

The role leads on material, sensitive multi-jurisdictional employment matters (UK and internationally, except the U.S.), supporting HR globally, working closely with the General Counsel, Litigation, Divisional Legal and other Legal colleagues on material employment-related disputes and litigation matters. It also involves establishing good practice that enable Divisional Legal and HR teams to manage locally led matters compliantly and effectively. It has significant influence across the organisation and requires the ability to build personal credibility quickly, exercise sound judgement and bring clarity to complex or sensitive situations.

Strategic employment advice

• Act as the Group’s dedicated legal specialist for employment and labour law, providing sound, risk-based and commercially practical advice to Group and Divisional stakeholders.
• Partner with Group HR and Legal colleagues in developing and implementing the Group’s People strategy, employment policies and relevant governance frameworks.
• Advise on significant workforce matters, including reorganisations, workforce transformation, consultation processes, executive employment matters and other complex organisational change.
• Identify emerging legal and regulatory developments and provide regular updates to Group HR and Legal on their implications for the Group.
• Support Group HR and Legal in delivering training and broader capability-building initiatives to enhance the knowledge, skills and effectiveness of team members.

Disputes and investigations

• Work closely with the General Counsel, Litigation to oversee or support material employment disputes and litigation.
• Support internal employment investigations and other sensitive employee matters including related, employee law and data privacy issues.
• Develop appropriate employee dispute avoidance and mitigation strategies, including appropriate training, policies, and raising awareness.
• Work closely with the Legal, Ethics & Compliance team, HR and/or Divisional Legal on material employment-related Code of Ethics concerns and employee related investigations.
• Support the Director of Data Protection on Data Subject Access…