Senior Legal Counsel in Kingston upon Thames

Manpower are currently seeking an interim Senior Legal Counsel, to work with our global FMCG client Unilever, renowned for brands such as Dove, Sure, Persil, and Simple, and become an integral part of their fast-paced FMCG environment. The position is based in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey. This is a full‑time temporary role to run until end December 2026, requiring 36.25 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Compensation for this role is competitive, paying between £70,000 and £77,000 per annum, pro rata, depending upon experience. The role currently offers a mix of remote and onsite working, subject to adjustment based on business requirements.

Job Purpose

Find your purpose at Unilever. You will lead innovations, big and small, that will make our business win and grow. You will learn from brilliant business leaders and colleagues in a truly global and diverse culture to ultimately become a better you. If you are a lawyer who is passionate about delivering legal business partnering in a dynamic environment focused on innovation, clear growth priorities and creative solutions then this role is just for you.

Responsibilities

• Business Partnering the United Kingdom/Ireland Personal Care business.
• Provide strategic counselling on critical business issues and projects of the United Kingdom/Ireland Personal Care Business in accordance with the PC EU Business Unit strategy.
• Provide legal advice and commercial risk analysis to the United Kingdom/Ireland marketing and R&D teams on legality and support for product claims and marketing materials in line with all relevant local legal and regulatory laws and guidelines governing cosmetics.
• Provide legal advice and trainings on competition law issues.
• Coordinate and defend, in accordance with the business strategy, outgoing and incoming competitive challenges in respect of product claims, marketing campaigns etc.
• Coordinate and defend, in accordance with the business strategy, incoming and outgoing litigation in respect of the Personal Care Business.
• Provide strategic business advice on initiatives and material agreements with customers and suppliers to ensure full compliance within the organization.
• Membership of PC European Business Unit Legal Team supporting the European PC BU GC and UKI GC in landing the European PC strategy and managing the cross‑geography risk for PC.
• Supporting on all global and BU innovation projects in respect of input on United Kingdom/Ireland deployment, liaising with PC global marketing legal on risk analysis and remediation.

What You Need to Succeed

• Thrives on the Assert, Disaggregate, Simplify vision of Personal Care, with determination to make a personal difference.
• Ability to maintain a passion for high performance, with a Future Fit mindset to identify the need for change and not be daunted by leading strategic initiatives into unknown territory.
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills required in a role that has a significant range of contractual arrangements and innovative marketing models requiring broad-based business acumen.
• Must be able to quickly and agilely prioritise competing demands.
• Must be able to quickly assimilate information, scoping out legal risks and provide pragmatic, commercial advice to the business, with a solution orientated approach.
• Must be able to lead senior decision makers, including coordinating input from a number of business partners, such as R&D and Regulatory Affairs.
• Excellent communication skills both written and oral: ability to communicate with business partners.
• Must consistently bring their best self to a role of strategic importance.

Experiences, Qualifications & Skills

• Fully qualified UK lawyer with PQE of general marketing/commercial/compliance legal experience.
• Experience sitting on business leadership teams and/or providing counsel to senior business leaders.
• Experience working cross‑functionally with multiple stakeholders.
• Broad-based legal experience supporting a consumer business, including drafting and negotiating a variety of commercial agreements and advising on marketing claims.
• Legal expertise - broad based marketing and commercial legal skills.
• Business partnering - providing legal counselling across cross function LTs.
• Problem solving - ability to analyse & propose legally and commercially viable solutions.
• Business acumen - strategic understanding, application and execution.
• Stakeholder management - influence key stakeholders and act as an agent for change.
• Collaboration - working successfully with both business and x‑functional teams.
• Decision making - exhibits solid judgment and integrity.
• Risk management - demonstrating rigour and focus on risk‑based advice.
• Project management - excellent organization, execution, and project management skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.