Employment Lawyer

We’d all like amazing work to do, and real work-life balance. That’s waiting for you at Sainsbury’s. Corporate Services is made up of specialist teams, including Legal, Information Security, Safety & Insurance, and Company Secretary & Share Management. While each area is distinct, we’re all united by one thing: managing risk. That means identifying risks to the business, our people, stakeholders and shareholders, assessing their potential impact, and deciding how best to mitigate or accept them. What makes us different is the exposure we have to other specialisms. We don’t work in silos, and there are real opportunities to move laterally and grow your career. We also have an amazing leadership team - 50% women - and a genuine passion for Sainsbury’s as a brand and as a place to be. Hybrid – London Store Support Centre (on average twice per month) and Home.

Why join us

Joining Sainsbury's as a Group Employment Lawyer means becoming an integral part of a dynamic in‑house Employment Law team that plays a vital role in supporting stakeholders across the Group, including retail, logistics, and Sainsbury's Bank. You will have the opportunity to provide strategic legal advice, handle complex employment issues, and guide transformation projects while working closely with our People teams. This diverse and autonomous role offers the chance to work on a wide range of legal matters, contribute to commercial decisions, and continuously grow and develop your expertise within a collaborative and supportive environment.

What You'll Do

As the Group Employment Lawyer at Sainsbury's, you will play a key role in providing efficient, pragmatic, and solution‑oriented legal advice to stakeholders across the Group. Your responsibilities will include conducting and managing employment litigation, supporting transformation projects, advising on the legal aspects of commercial agreements, and providing day‑to‑day legal guidance. You will work collaboratively with our People teams on a range of transactional, policy, and litigation matters, offering risk analysis and recommendations on various employment and industrial relations issues. This role will require you to navigate complex legal challenges involving TUPE, trade unions, and collective consultation, reinforcing your role as a trusted advisor to our business while keeping abreast of employment law developments and delivering training to enhance organisational knowledge and compliance.

Who You Are

As the Group Employment Lawyer, you are a highly qualified legal professional with a strategic mindset. With a proven track record in Employment Law, either gained in private practice or in‑house, you possess the skills to provide commercially sound legal advice across a wide spectrum of employment‑related issues. Your ability to navigate complex legal matters involving TUPE, trade unions, and collective consultation demonstrates your expertise in guiding the business through strategic employment decisions. Your strong interpersonal, communication, and collaboration skills enable you to build effective relationships and work closely with stakeholders. Your energy, enthusiasm, and drive contribute to a high‑performing team environment.

Essential Criteria

• Professional qualification as a Solicitor or Barrister, with post‑qualification experience advising on UK employment law matters, gained in‑house or in private practice.
• Proven experience managing a caseload of respondent‑side employment tribunal litigation, including assessing legal and commercial risk, preparing and running claims in a high‑volume environment, drafting tribunal documentation and conducting ACAS conciliation.
• Strong experience supporting organisational change and transformation projects, providing employment law advice on matters such as restructures, operating model change, TUPE, collective consultation, redundancy and redeployment.
• Ability to provide pragmatic, commercially focused employment law advice across a broad range of UK employment matters, including day‑to‑day employee relations issues and complex, sensitive people matters.
• Evidence of drafting, reviewing and negotiating employment‑related documentation, including settlement agreements, employment contracts, policies and employment provisions within commercial agreements (for example outsourcing, supply or services contracts).
• Proven ability to manage multiple, competing priorities in a fast‑paced environment, while working collaboratively, supporting colleagues and contributing positively to a high‑performing team.

Benefits

Starting off with colleague discount, you’ll be able to get 10% off at Sainsbury's, Argos, TU and Habitat after 4 weeks. This increases to 15% off at Sainsbury’s every Friday and Saturday and 15% off at Argos every pay day. We’ve also got you covered for your future with our pensions scheme and life cover. You’ll also be able to share in our success as you may be eligible for a performance‑related bonus of up to 20% of salary, depending on how we perform. Your wellbeing is important to us too. You’ll receive an annual holiday allowance, and you can buy additional holiday. We also offer other benefits that will help your money go further such as season ticket loans, interest free car loan of up to £10k, cycle to work scheme, health cash plans, pay advance (where you can access some of your pay before pay day) as well as access to a great range of discounts from hundreds of other retailers. And if you ever need it there is also an Employee Assistance Programme; you’ll also be eligible for private healthcare too. Moments that matter are as important to us as they are to you which is why we give up to 26 weeks’ pay for maternity or adoption leave and up to 4 weeks’ pay for paternity leave.