Employment Counsel

Job Description

Why Greencore?

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Following the combination with Bakkavor in January 2026, we're one of the UK's leading creators of convenience food, driven by a simple purpose: to make every day taste better.

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As a vibrant and fast-moving business, we're proud to employ over 28,000 talented colleagues across 36 manufacturing sites and 21 distribution depots in the UK and the US. Together, we bring delicious food to life. Our products cover every meal occasion from breakfast through to dinner and dessert, with lunch and snacking in between.

In FY25, our shared passion helped us achieve combined revenues of approximately 4bn.Role Purpose: To provide high quality, pragmatic and commercially focused employment law advice to the Group, working with the Deputy General Counsel and the Legal team, the HR team and wider business stakeholders to manage employment legal risk, support compliance with applicable employment legislation and enable effective people-related decision making across the Group.

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Key Accountabilities: Provide timely, practical and legally robust advice on employment law matters, including disciplinary, grievance, absence, performance management, investigations, restructures, redundancy, TUPE, discrimination, whistleblowing and wider employee relations issues.

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Support the management of employment litigation, tribunal claims, ACAS or equivalent processes, settlement negotiations and pre-action correspondence, including drafting contentious documentation (e.g. tribunal responses, without-prejudice correspondence and settlement agreements arising from disputes) and where required/appropriate, instructing and managing external counsel.

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Draft, review and maintain non-contentious employment-related documentation, including contracts of employment, policies, procedures, settlement agreements, template letters and guidance materials.

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Partner with HR and business teams on organisational change, acquisitions, disposals, integrations and transformation projects, identifying employment law risks and recommending mitigation actions.

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Support the HR team with the Group's trade union relations and collective consultation obligations, including collective redundancy consultation, TUPE information and consultation duties, and engagement with recognised trade unions or employee representative bodiesMonitor employment law developments - including implementation of the Employment Rights Act 2025 and other applicable legislation - and support the business in understanding and implementing relevant legal changes across applicable jurisdictions.

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Design and deliver employment law training and guidance to HR, managers and business stakeholders to improve capability and reduce legal risk.

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Maintain effective relationships with internal stakeholders and external advisers, and provide the Deputy General Counsel with clear, consolidated reporting on material employment matters, trends, risks and external legal spendKnowledge, Skills, Experience: Qualified solicitor or barrister with experience practising employment law in the UK, Ireland or another common law jurisdiction.

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Membership of a relevant law society, bar council or equivalent professional body.

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Strong technical knowledge of employment law, employee relations, employment litigation, settlement agreements, organisational change and workplace investigations.

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Experience operating in-house or advising complex, multi-site businesses is desirable.

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Ability to provide pragmatic, commercially balanced advice in a fast-paced operational environment. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain complex legal issues clearly to non-legal stakeholders. and draft documentation for contentious and non-contentious employment related mattersStrong stakeholder relationship management skills, including the ability to influence, challenge constructively and build trust with the HR team and senior business leaders.

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Experience managing external legal advisers and legal spend effectively.

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Ability to work autonomously while collaborating effectively within the legal function and across the wider business.

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What You'll Get in ReturnCompetitive salary and benefits packageGenerous holiday allowanceMatched pension contributionsLife insurance up to 4xSharesave SchemeGreencore qualifications and learning opportunitiesExclusive employee discount platformAccess to a comprehensive Wellbeing CentreEnhanced parental leave policiesEnhanced menopause support policiesDiscipline(s): Legal and CoSecJob type: Permanent - Full Time