Managing Legal Counsel – Employment Legal

About the role

Santander UK Group is seeking a Managing Legal Counsel – Employment Legal to lead its Employment Legal function in London, reporting to the Director of Litigation & Contentious Regulatory. The role combines strategic advice, team leadership and risk management across complex employment matters.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the Employment Legal function, setting direction, priorities and standards and ensuring high‑quality, commercial advice on complex people matters.
• Develop a high‑performing team, managing performance, capability, engagement, succession planning and fostering an inclusive culture.
• Advise senior stakeholders and governance fora on strategically significant employment legal matters, including executive, committee and Board‑level papers.
• Oversee material contentious matters such as employment litigation, ADR, investigations, whistleblowing, complex employee relations, industrial relations and settlement strategy.
• Provide strategic non‑contentious advice on SMCR, Conduct Rules, Fitness & Propriety, remuneration, senior leader changes, organisational change, TUPE and collective consultation.
• Strengthen legal risk management through governance, controls, reporting, MI and continuous improvement.
• Deliver value by insourcing strategic employment, employee benefits and pensions advice, managing internal and external resources, panel firms, budgets and costs.

Required profile

• Substantial experience leading a legal team or significant practice area in a complex, regulated organisation.
• Deep UK employment law expertise across contentious and non‑contentious matters in a financial services environment.
• Credibility and judgment to advise Executive, Board and senior governance audiences on sensitive, business‑critical matters.
• Proven ability to manage complex litigation, investigations, organisational change, external counsel, budgets and competing priorities.
• Track record of improving legal service delivery, controls and commercial outcomes (preferable).
• Qualified solicitor with a practising certificate for England and Wales or equivalent.

Required skills

• Employment law expertise – depth across contentious and non‑contentious UK financial‑services related employment law and regulation.
• Governance and resource management – ability to oversee material legal risk, advise senior committees, manage external counsel and budgets, and provide clear strategic advice.

What we offer

• 30 days’ holiday plus bank holidays, increasing to 31 days after 5 years, with option to purchase up to 5 days.
• £6,000 car allowance per year.
• Company‑funded private medical insurance.
• Death‑in‑service benefit, income protection and discounted life assurance.
• Share‑plan participation and employee product discounts.
• Wellbeing programmes covering physical, mental, social and financial health.
• Enhanced family leave, childcare options and support for menopause, pregnancy and parenthood.
• Hybrid working with a minimum of 12 days per month in the office.