GOVERNMENT LEGAL DEPARTMENT
Deputy Director, Employment Group
Location: Bristol
Salary: £81,000
Who we are
At the Government Legal Department (GLD), we’re responsible for providing legal guidance on issues that really matter. As the largest provider of legal services to the Government, we offer support on issues ranging from human rights to social care, and from education to the environment. Working with every key department in Whitehall, 3,000 team members collaborate to handle issues that impact on every aspect of society.
Whether developing and drafting legislation, providing guidance on policies, driving value from contracts or bolstering economic and trade relationships with national and international partners, this is deeply meaningful work that other employers simply cannot match. Because where else would you have the opportunity to lead a Legal Division that works to directly to affect the wellbeing of the UK’s citizens? Join us, and you’ll enjoy all the support you need to deliver the best possible results for people from every walk of life.
The role
When you join us in this key role, you’ll be a part of the leadership team for GLD’s Employment Group. The Employment Group undertakes a mix of litigation and advisory work for all Government Departments and their agencies as well as ACAS and other Civil Service employers. The work we do is unique to government, and includes advising on Civil Service employment policy, cross cutting issues with wider implications, transformation programmes, TUPE and Industrial Relations. You won’t get the chance to do this anywhere else. You will be taking over leadership of an established and high functioning legal team based in Bristol. The main clients are Ministry Of Defence and Department for Transport and agencies. You will work closely with the Deputy Director leading the sister team based in London.
You’ll provide inspiring, confident and empowering leadership, to ensure delivery of high professional standards of work across the team, build a vibrant and collaborative office culture, break down silo working and encourage collaboration and sharing of knowledge. You’ll develop trusted relations with senior client stakeholders and offer personal leadership on legal advice to the clients where SCS input is required. You’ll also need to work collaboratively as a member of the Employment Group’s senior leadership team, taking corporate responsibility for aspects of the leadership of the Division and wider GLD.
About you
To be successful in this role you’ll have experience of leading a team at a senior level, managing a quality service, changing, and improving as well as communicating and influencing. It is vital that you have sound knowledge and experience of employment law in a litigation and advisory context and a track record of picking up new and complex areas of legal work quickly. You’ll be able to provide legal advice in high-profile and fast-moving situations and experience of providing high levels of client care, with effective management of legal risk in your own work and that of others. It is also important to understand how you feel you will contribute to a role within GLD.
Benefits
Working at GLD is going to be a rapid but exciting learning curve. We offer a supportive and thorough career progression & development programme with opportunities to work in a number of legal areas. You can also expect a competitive pay package, an excellent Civil Service Pension and flexible working arrangements.
Much more than the law
Our vision is to be an outstanding legal organisation and a brilliant place to work where everyone can thrive and fulfil their potential. This is an exciting time for GLD, with cutting edge legal work on global issues and a transformation agenda which is ensuring the Department exemplifies the Modern Civil Service.
To apply
You’ll need to complete the online application process no later than midday on Tuesday, 7th April2026. This should include a CV setting out your career history and a Statement of Suitability.
Apply
By clicking on the ’Apply’ button below