Head of Employment Law Department

Head of Department - Employment Law, Sheffield

Job Title: Head of Employment Law
Location: Sheffield
Reports to: Head of Legal Practice
Hours: 35 hours per week, Monday to Friday (office-based)
Salary: Attractive Salary

The Role

Our client is seeking an experienced and commercially minded Head of Employment Law to provide strategic and operational leadership across its Employment Law Department. This is a senior leadership role responsible for ensuring the delivery of a high-quality, efficient and risk-aware service to members, key stakeholders.

Working closely with the senior management team, you will play a key role in shaping service delivery, driving continuous improvement, enhancing systems and workflows, and developing the capability and performance of the department.

Key Responsibilities Strategic Leadership & Operational Management

• Operate as a senior leader within the management team, contributing to organisational strategy, service development and future planning.
• Ensure appropriate systems, controls and governance arrangements are in place to deliver consistent, high-quality services.
• Lead the continuous review and improvement of processes, workflows, controls and risk management frameworks.
• Ensure compliance with audit requirements, regulatory standards, KPIs, service levels and quality standards.
• Act as a senior point of reference on employment law practice, decision-making and service standards.
• Support complex caseloads where required.

People Leadership & Performance Management

• Provide day-to-day leadership and oversight of the Employment Department.
• Manage workloads, caseload allocation, resourcing, capacity planning, holidays, sickness and absence.
• Embed and maintain a robust performance management framework, including objectives, quality reviews, supervision and regular one-to-ones.
• Coach, mentor and develop fee earners, building leadership capability, accountability and resilience.
• Support career development pathways, including trainees and colleagues seeking progression.
• Design and implement training and development initiatives covering legal, leadership and soft skills.

Client Service & Stakeholder Management

• Maintain and strengthen relationships, regional representatives and external partners.
• Ensure consistently high standards of communication with members, colleagues and stakeholders.
• Handle complaints, risk issues and negligence allegations effectively, ensuring lessons learned are embedded.
• Deliver training sessions, briefings and updates and workplace representatives.
• Promote a culture of excellent service delivery and continuous improvement.

Systems, Innovation & Continuous Improvement

• Lead and support the development of the case management system and workflow efficiencies.
• Identify opportunities to improve service delivery, productivity, quality and client experience.
• Support innovation and change initiatives aligned with organisational objectives.
• Drive process transformation and operational improvements across the department.

About You

You will possess:

• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• A strategic mindset combined with a hands-on operational approach.
• Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills.
• High levels of professionalism, integrity and resilience.
• Strong coaching, mentoring and development capabilities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• A pragmatic and solutions-focused approach.
• A commitment to continuous improvement and delivering exceptional service.

Experience Required

• Proven experience leading large and multidisciplinary teams.
• Significant experience and working knowledge of employment law and practice, including advisory and case management work.
• Demonstrable experience of performance management, quality assurance and service delivery.
• Experience working strategically and operationally.
• Strong stakeholder management experience within a legal or trade union environment.
• Experience leading systems, process improvement or transformation programmes.
• Experience collecting and analysing evidence, researching the law, determining prospects and progressing matters efficiently.
• Experience developing people and building high-performing teams.

Qualifications and Technical Skills

• Qualified Solicitor (or equivalent).
• Strong technical knowledge of employment law and practice.
• Excellent decision-making and problem-solving skills.
• Strong organisational and leadership capabilities.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and perform effectively under pressure.
• Commitment to continuous learning and service excellence.

Benefits

• 35-hour working week, Monday to Friday (office based)
• 25 days' holiday plus bank holidays, increasing by one day per year of service up to a maximum of 31 days
• Death in service benefit (4 x salary)
• Enhanced maternity and shared parental leave
• Free parking
• 4% employer pension contribution
• Simply Health scheme with employer and employee contributions
• Anytime GP service
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Probate and Estate Planning support
• Costco membership card
• Company sick pay (8 weeks full pay and 8 weeks half pay following successful completion of probation)