Employment Lawyer

Employment Legal Counsel - Madrid 

4 days a week in the office, 1 day working from home

We are seeking a skilled and experienced in-house employment lawyer to join our global Legal team. This role involves providing expert guidance to HR people partners, managers, and leaders while ensuring alignment with company policies and applicable employment laws. Working closely with the Head of HR People Partners, the employment lawyer will contribute to the development and design of global employee relations strategies in order to foster a positive and productive work environment, promoting fairness, diversity, and inclusion.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide legal advice and support to HR and management on employment law matters, policies, and procedures with a focus on escalations and disputes.
• Ensure compliance with relevant employment legislation and regulations.
• Stay up-to-date with changes in employment law and provide training to HR and management as necessary.
• Liaise with external legal counsel when required.

Employee Relations Strategy:

• Develop and implement strategies for managing escalations related to employee relations globally, aligned with the organisation's business objectives.
• Collaborate with HR leadership to design programmes that enhance workplace culture, engagement, and productivity.

Case Management:

• Lead investigations, in collaboration with local HR teams, into employee complaints, grievances, and disputes, ensuring thorough, timely, and impartial resolution.
• Document and track cases using an employee relations case management system, maintaining accurate records and reports.
• Provide guidance on performance management, disciplinary actions, and conflict resolution in compliance with company policies and local employment laws.

Compliance and Risk Management:

• Ensure company practices comply with international employment laws, regulations, and internal policies.
• Monitor changes in global employment laws and regulations, advising the local HR teams on potential impacts and necessary adjustments.
• Develop and deliver training on compliance, employee relations policies, and best practices to managers and HR teams.

Advisory and Coaching:

• Serve as a trusted advisor to managers and leaders on employee relations issues, promoting best practices in handling sensitive matters.
• Support the development of local HR teams and leaders through coaching on employee relations topics, including conflict resolution, communication, and employee engagement.

Data Analysis and Reporting:

• Analyse employee relations metrics and trends to identify opportunities for process improvements and proactive interventions.
• Present insights and recommendations to senior leadership based on data analysis and benchmarking against industry standards.

Project Management:

• Lead or participate in global employee relations projects and initiatives aimed at enhancing the employee experience and creating a positive workplace culture.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to implement employee relations programmes, ensuring alignment with organisational goals and objectives.

About you:

• Qualified lawyer (5 years +) with a focus on employment law.
• Full verbal and written fluency in English.
• Proven experience in managing employee relations cases..
• Experience dealing with a high-growth, scale-up company environment in an international environment would be an advantage.
• Strong understanding of international employment law and best practices across multiple jurisdictions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to handle sensitive situations with professionalism and discretion.
• Sense of urgency and able to work at pace
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.