Senior Legal Counsel – Employment Law
Location: London, Leeds
Type: Permanent, full time
Happy to consider part-time working
The Opportunity
We have a fantastic opportunity for a qualified employment lawyer with at least 7 years post qualification experience to join QBE’s in-house Legal Team reporting into the Head of Legal, Employment. In this role you will be required to provide pragmatic and effective legal advice and support to the People function and the business in the UK and across Europe.
This will encompass advising on a wide variety of employment issues including but not limited to disciplinaries and grievances, recruitment, restructures and organisational changes, contractual issues and reviews, policies, compensation and benefits, business transfers and service provision changes, redundancies, negotiated exits and regulatory issues.
Having the right to work in the UK is a requirement for this role. QBE may consider sponsorship at its discretion.
About QBE
At QBE, we get to the heart of what matters for our customers. And we do it all with a human touch.
We’re an international insurer with more than 13,000 people working across 26 countries – which means we’re big enough for your ambitions, yet small enough for you to make a real impact. It’s an exciting time. We’re building momentum towards our vision to become the most consistent and innovative risk partner.
What if you could have a positive impact – at work and in the world? As part of the QBE team, you’ll get to spend every day working with people who are passionate, talented and kind.
Your new role
About you
Be a qualified employment lawyer with at least 7 years post qualification experience (experience with advising regulated financial services entities a plus);
Possess a thorough understanding of UK employment law (experience or an interest in European employment law issues a plus);
Could think analytically and pragmatically and provide commercial, effective and proactive advice and guidance.
Have the confidence to act independently, take decisions and challenge the business where necessary.
Have strong interpersonal skills, an enthusiasm for the job you do, and a sense of humour.
Be able to foster and develop relationships with key stakeholders.
Be able to organise and prioritise workload and work under time pressures and deadlines.
Benefits
We offer a range of benefits to help provide holistic support for your work life, whatever your circumstances. As a QBE employee you will have access to and benefit from:
30 days holiday a year with the option to buy up to 2 additional days.
Hybrid working - We offer a hybrid working 2/3 days a week in the office.
Pension – you are automatically enrolled into the QBE pension plan, which entitles you to receive employer contributions of 10% of your basic salary.
To learn more about benefits of working with us, click Rewarding our people - QBE European Operations
Awards & Recognition
We value our employee’s experience with us and are proud to have been recognised for the following awards:
Insurance Post British Insurance Awards 2025:
Winner: Commercial Lines Insurer of the Year, Winner: Reinsurer of the Year - QBE Re, Winner: ESG, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiative of the Year, Winner: Insurance Personality of the Year - Chris Wallace, Executive Director UK insurance
AXCO Global Insurance Awards 2024 Winner: Network Management of the Year
Insurance Business UK 5-Star Cyber Awards 2024: QBE rated as a 5-Star Cyber Insurer
To learn more about our achievements, click here
Apply now and let’s make it happen!
If you’re looking for a career that combines your expertise and your empathy, click Apply today.
Your career. At the heart of it.
Skills:
Coaching for success, Commercial Acumen, Communication, Critical Thinking, Influencing, Intentional collaboration, Legal Consulting, Legal Risk, Litigation Management, Managing performance, Navigating ambiguity, Process Improvements, Regulatory Compliance, Stakeholder Management, Strategic ThinkingHow to Apply:
To submit your application, click "Apply" and follow the step by step process.
Equal Employment Opportunity:
QBE is an equal opportunity employer and is required to comply with equal employment opportunity legislation in each jurisdiction it operates.