Acting as the expert for all Employment Law related matters within NHSBT, you will play an integral role in supporting our people to save and improve more lives.This is an exciting opportunity to bring your professional skills to a highly respected organisation and contribute to our incredible work which impacts the lives of everyone in the UK and beyond.

We are looking for a qualified legal professional with exceptional leadership skills as well as strong interpersonal and influencing skills. The individual will have an excellent understanding of employment law, manage both contentious and non-contentious matters and assist the organisation by ensuring legal compliance at all levels.

The postholder will provide legal advice on all employment-related issues, and act as an adviser to senior people in the organisation. This individual must be able to work independently, make executive decisions and work collaboratively across the organisation.

Main duties of the job

In this role you will be the expert point of contact for all Employment Law related matters within NHSBT at all levels within the organisation. Your responsibilities will include:

• Providing strategic and pragmatic legal advice including (but not limited to) advising on contracts, disputes, grievances, disciplinary matters, internal policies and procedures, compensation and benefits, whistleblowing, DEI initiatives, restrictive covenants and terminations.
• Investigating, planning and managing all aspects of employment tribunal claims assessing and determining strategy to resolve claims to achieve the best possible outcome.
• Ensuring that all colleagues involved in HR-related cases have and maintain the relevant skills by providing regular updates, training and coaching where appropriate. This will include updating on legislation when applicable to ensure that NHSBT remains compliant.
• Where applicable, in conjunction with company appointed solicitors, assess and determine strategy to resolve Employment Tribunal claims lodged against NHSBT to achieve best possible outcome.
• Ensuring cost analysis is carried out for each case, ensuring detailed invoices from solicitors are appropriately reviewed and paid, , raising and managing any concerns promptly.
• Proactively identifying and managing legal risk and identify trends and emerging workplace issues, influencing change as needed.

About us

It takes all types of people to deliver the kind of service that saves and improves lives. At NHS Blood and Transplant, you'll join a team of more than 6,000 people who are making a genuine difference to communities, families, friends, relatives and more across the UK. We play a unique and special role in the NHS by helping people do something extraordinary- donate blood, blood products, organs, tissues, or stem cells to save someone in need.Our three core values are what set us apart. They guide and inspire everything we do.By being caring, expertly meeting the needs of our patients and our people, and accepting nothing less than the best quality, we can do extraordinary work and help our people to do something extraordinary in their career, too.

Three small words, one big difference - Caring, Expert and Quality. Together we'll save and improve more lives than ever.You will join us on our journey to create an inclusive workplace and aim to reflect the diverse communities we work with, and we positively encourage applications from all sectors of the community.

Job responsibilities

Please view the attached recruitment profile which is a summary of the detailed Job Description and Person Specification for the full personal attributes we require for the role. You will need to demonstrate these throughout the recruitment process.

What we offer:

• A starting salary of £64,455 - £74,896 per annum in accordance with Agenda for Change (AfC).
• A full time, permanent opportunity to lead the employment/HR legal services function in NHSBT and report into Director of Legal Services.
• Opportunity to work with a national organisation and be based in any of our major centres such as Barnsley, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, London and more.
• NHSBT promotes flexible working opportunities, and this role will be hybrid.
• 27 days annual leave (pro rata for part-time) plus Bank Holidays, increasing to 29 days after 5 years service and to 33 days after 10 years.
• NHS pension scheme. The NHS Pension Scheme is a defined benefit scheme (not dependent on investment returns) Further details and outline of benefits can be found at: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/pensions.
• Weve fostered a culture of continuous learning where colleagues are well-led, engaged, and encouraged to grow. We support you in reaching your full potential, both in your current role and future career. Our Thrive program embodies our commitment to learning and development, offering a wide range of activities to support your personal and professional growth. Its open to everyone at NHSBT, ensuring you have the resources to succeed and shine in your role.

This vacancy will close at 23:59 on Sunday 3rd August 2025.

FurtherAssessment will be carried out 11th 18th August 2025.

Interviews are anticipated to be held week commencing 1st September subject to confirmation

For informal enquiries please contact: Sangita Bodalia, Director of Legal Services, sangita.bodalia@nhsbt.nhs.uk

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Qualified Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive (or similar) with employment law experience.
• Masters degree or equivalent experience to Masters level gained in relevant subject.
• Demonstrates commitment to own continued professional development (CPD).

Experience

• Experience of dealing with Employee Relations issues in a unionised environment i.e. investigations into disciplinary cases, staff grievances etc.to advice on complex HR issues.
• Experience of dealing with representatives acting for either claimant or respondent organisations and Employment Tribunal systems.
• Demonstrates a working knowledge of computer packages, including MS Office and visual data dashboards (i.e. Power BI, Tableau etc).
• Previous experience in a busy HR function in either public or private sectors
• Comprehensive knowledge of current employment legislation.
• Previous experience of presenting training courses on HR related topics and the ability to produce HR training packages.
• Experience of developing and interpreting HR policies and procedures.
• Possesses contractual knowledge and experience in managing contractual arrangements.
• Experience of working with information technology using MS Office Suite.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.