Managing Legal Counsel – Employment Legal | S4 | Legal | London TSQ

Santander (www.santander.com) is evolving from a global, high-impact brand into a technology-driven organisation, and our people are at the heart of this journey. Together, we are driving a customer-centric transformation that values bold thinking, innovation, and the courage to challenge what’s possible. 

This is more than a strategic shift. It’s a chance for driven professionals to grow, learn, and make a real difference.  

Our mission is to contribute to help more people and businesses prosper. We embrace a strong risk culture and all our professionals at all levels are expected to take a proactive and responsible approach toward risk management. 

THE DIFFERENCE YOU MAKE  

Santander UK Group is looking for a Managing Legal Counsel – Employment Legal based out of our London office.  

Reporting to the Director, Litigation & Contentious Regulatory, this role forms part of the Litigation & Contentious Regulatory leadership team and is Santander UK Group’s lead employment legal role. You will lead the Employment Legal team and provide strategic, business-focused advice on significant employment legal, regulatory and reputational matters across Santander UK Group. 

We’re shaping the way we work through innovation, collaboration and disciplined risk management. In this role, you will be responsible for:

• Lead the Employment Legal function, setting direction, priorities and standards and ensuring high-quality, commercial advice on complex people matters. 

• Develop a high-performing team, with accountability for performance, capability, engagement, succession planning and an inclusive culture. 

• Advise senior stakeholders and governance for a on strategically significant employment legal matters, including executive, committee and Board-level papers and participation where required. 

• Oversee material contentious matters, including employment litigation, ADR, investigations, whistleblowing, complex employee relations issues, industrial relations and settlement strategy. 

• Provide strategic non-contentious advice on SMCR, Conduct Rules, Fitness & Propriety, remuneration, senior leader and MRT changes, organisational change, TUPE and collective consultation. 

• Strengthen legal risk management through effective governance, controls, reporting, MI, lessons learned and continuous improvement. 

• Deliver value from legal resources by insourcing strategic employment, employee benefits and pensions advice where appropriate, allocating work effectively across internal and external resources, managing panel firms, budgets and costs, capturing effective MI and embedding best practice. 

WHAT YOU’LL BRING 

Our people are our greatest strength. Every individual contributes unique perspectives that make us stronger as a team and as an organisation. We’re enabling teams to go beyond by valuing who they are and empowering what they bring. 

The following requirements represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities essential for success in this role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.  

Professional Experience  

• Substantial experience leading a legal team or significant legal practice area in a complex, regulated organisation. (Required) 

• Deep UK employment law expertise across contentious and non-contentious matters, in a financial services environment. (Required) 

• Credibility and judgment to advise Executive, Board and senior governance audiences on sensitive, business-critical matters. (Required) 

• Proven ability to manage complex litigation, investigations, organisational change, external counsel, budgets and competing priorities. (Required) 

• Track record of improving legal service delivery, controls and commercial outcomes. (Preferable) 

Education 

• You must hold either a current Solicitors Practising Certificate for England and Wales or be fully admitted to the English Bar or hold a Scottish or foreign jurisdiction equivalent or commercial qualification  

Hard Skills 

• Employment legal expertise – Strong expertise across contentious and non-contentious UK Financial Services-related employment law, including SMCR, Conduct Rules, remuneration, investigations, whistleblowing, people change, TUPE, collective consultation and industrial relations. 

• Governance and resource management – Ability to oversee material legal risk, advise senior committees, manage external counsel and budgets, and give clear strategic advice. 

Soft Skills 

• Leadership and people development - Sets direction, develops capability, manages performance and builds an inclusive, high-performing team. 

• Influence and communication - Communicates with clarity and judgment, influences senior stakeholders and challenges constructively. 

• Commercial judgment - Combines strong legal analysis with pragmatism, accountability and focus on outcomes. 

WE VALUE YOUR IMPACT 

At Santander, your contribution matters. We recognise the difference you make every day, and we make sure you feel valued, supported and rewarded in return. 
Here, recognition goes beyond pay. It’s about the pride you feel in your work, the impact you have on customers and communities, and the opportunities you have to grow and thrive — personally and professionally. 

Salary Range: 

• 30 days’ holiday plus bank holidays, which increases to 31 days after 5yrs service, with the option to purchase up to 5 contractual days per year 

• £6,000 car allowance per year  

• Company funded individual private medical insurance 

• Protection for you and your family, with company-funded death-in-service benefit and income protection insurance, and the option to take advantage of discounted rates for additional life assurance and critical illness cover. 

• Share in Santander’s success by saving or investing in our share plans.  

• As a Santander UK employee, you are able to request staff versions of our products like our Edge Current Accounts and Credit Cards with no fees, as well as apply to many other deals and discounts in Santander products and services 

• Competitive rewards that reflect the real impact you make and the value you bring. 

• Wellbeing that goes beyond work — we work with a range of wellbeing partners across our 4 pillars of wellbeing (physical, mental, social and financial) to give you access to a suite of apps, discounted gym and fitness access, weekly online classes, flexible healthcare and mental health support. 

• Support for every life stage — from menopause and pregnancy to parenthood and beyond, with enhanced family leave, childcare options and tailored wellbeing support. 

• Time to give back through volunteering opportunities that let you make a difference in the communities we serve. 

• Global growth opportunities to shape your career, learn new skills and explore what’s possible across our international network. 

Ready to be recognised? It starts with you. 

LOCAL COMPLIANCE  

At Santander, we’re proud to be an inclusive organisation that provides equal opportunities for everyone — regardless of age, gender, disability, civil status, race, religion or sexual orientation. 

 
We’re committed to creating a recruitment experience that’s accessible, fair and welcoming for all candidates. 

We want our people to thrive — at work and at home — while delivering the best outcomes for our customers and supporting each other to grow. 

 
To make this possible, our roles are site-based with a hybrid working pattern, where colleagues are expected to attend the office at least 12 days per month (pro-rata for part-time roles). 

When applying, please consider the travel distance, time and cost to your chosen office location(s).  

Right to work in the UK 

• All candidates must have the right to work in the UK to commence employment with Santander. 

WHAT TO DO NEXT 

If this sounds like a role you are interested in, then please apply.  

If there’s anything we can do in the recruitment process to help you achieve your best, get in touch. Whether it’s a copy of our application form in another format or additional assistance, we’re available through email. You can contact us at resourcing@santander.co.uk.