Head of Employment – Sheffield
Andy File Associates Limited is working as a Recruitment Agency on behalf of our client with regards to this permanent position.
Job Title: Head of Employment
Location: Sheffield S9
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 to provide strategic and operational leadership across its Employment 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)