Employment Lawyer

Employment Lawyer

Location: Cheltenham or Central Manchester

Salary: £66,581, plus £3,030 concessionary payment

Full time

Flexible working: although this is a full‑time role, we support flexible and compressed hours and welcome job‑share applications. This is an office‑based role with limited opportunities for home working. Occasional travel within the UK will be required.

GCHQ is an intelligence, cyber, and security agency with a mission to keep the UK safe. We use cutting‑edge technology, ingenuity, and partnerships to identify, analyse, and disrupt threats. Working with our intelligence partners, MI5 and MI6, we protect the UK from terrorism, cyber‑attacks, and espionage. At GCHQ, you’ll do varied and fascinating work in a supportive and inclusive environment that emphasises teamwork.

As an Employment Lawyer within GCHQ’s Legal Directorate, you’ll provide expert advice on employment law in a fast‑paced and highly sensitive environment. Working at the heart of national security, you’ll help shape decisions that impact our people and our mission, managing a varied workload that spans casework, policy and litigation.

Joining a small, collaborative team based in Cheltenham or Manchester, you’ll work closely with HR and Security colleagues, as well as lawyers from other intelligence agencies, to deliver clear, well‑considered advice on complex employment issues. From handling litigation to advising on security‑related matters, your work will be intellectually challenging and often time‑critical, requiring precision and adaptability.

You’ll develop your expertise through exposure to diverse legal work and structured training opportunities, taking on more complex matters as your experience grows. While much of your role will be office‑based, you’ll collaborate across locations and disciplines, contributing to cross‑agency projects and helping embed best practice across the organisation.

Whether you’re drafting detailed advice, supporting investigations, delivering training or shaping policy, you’ll play a vital role in ensuring our employment practices remain robust, fair and aligned with national security priorities. This is a role that offers opportunities for professional growth and progression within a supportive, experienced and collaborative team.

You’ll need to be a qualified solicitor or barrister/advocate in England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland with at least three years’ post‑qualification experience in employment law. You’ll bring excellent legal judgement, strong analytical skills and the ability to provide clear, practical advice in a fast‑paced, high‑impact environment.

With experience of managing a varied employment law workload, you’ll be confident working under pressure to meet tight deadlines. Proactive and motivated with the ability to pick up new areas of law quickly, you’ll combine technical expertise with creativity, offering risk‑based solutions that balance legal requirements with operational needs.

You’ll work closely with HR and Security teams, as well as lawyers from other agencies, so strong communication skills and the ability to build relationships across disciplines are essential. You’ll be comfortable explaining complex legal concepts in a clear, accessible way to non‑specialist audiences.

From the moment you join, you’ll be supported every step of the way. You’ll take part in a structured induction that introduces you to your team, your role, and the wider organisation, helping you to settle in. Alongside this, you’ll be paired with a buddy and subject‑matter experts will guide you as you grow into the role.

Your development will continue through a blend of on‑the‑job experience, peer support, and formal training opportunities. You’ll be encouraged to refine your expertise in employment law while exploring new areas such as security‑related legal issues, shaping a learning journey that reflects your goals and interests. With access to government training programmes, external courses, and cross‑agency projects, you’ll have the resources you need to expand your skills and knowledge.

We’ll also support you with…