Job Description

Details

-----------


###

Reference number

401901
###

Salary

55,907
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
###

Job grade

Grade 7
Principal###

Contract type

Permanent###

Business area

EHRC - Enforcement###

Type of role

Legal Services###

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time###

Number of jobs available

1

Contents

------------

Location About the job Benefits Things you need to know Apply and further information

Location

------------


Cardiff, Manchester

About the job

-----------------

###

Job summary

The Commission is the regulatory body in charge of enforcing the Equality Act 2010. To help us achieve our vision of a fairer Britain, we have a range of enforcement powers that we use to challenge unlawful policies or practices, highlight important issues, clarify the law and protect people's rights.


Performing a key role in the Enforcement team, the Principal Lawyer will be responsible for conducting high profile regulatory work within our Legal Directorate. You will be working as part of a wider team who conduct cutting-edge litigation and interventions across a range of equality and human rights law.


Your responsibilities will include negotiating legal agreements with organisations we think have breached the Equality Act 2010, developing and monitoring action plans to prevent future breaches, and taking a lead role in unlawful act investigations or assessments of compliance into the Public Sector Equality Duty. You will also have a role in overseeing our Core work, including our Gender Pay Gap enforcement. You will provide specialist technical expertise and advice on equality law, and draw on your strategic planning skills to identify the best response to opportunities for use of the Commission's enforcement powers.


You will also supervise other members of the team and project manage delivery of enforcement work. As an Enforcement Team member, you will have the opportunity to learn new regulatory skills, take on areas of responsibility such as line managing, and shape the strategic direction of our enforcement work.


You will share our values of fairness, dignity and respect and will work with us to build upon our achievements, ensuring our vision becomes a reality. This is an exciting opportunity to join the team which has responsibility for exercising these enforcement powers to make widespread, positive change.

###

Job description

You will:

Have conduct of high-profile regulatory enforcement work, including investigations and binding legal agreements. This includes reviewing sensitive and confidential material, and handling potentially large volumes of evidence to assess compliance with the Equality Act 2010. Lead in the development of action plans with organisations, aimed at preventing breaches of the Equality Act 2010, including matters relating to workplace discrimination, harassment and sexual harassment, and victimisation. Supervise team members undertaking regulatory enforcement work, and assisting them to develop their skills. Take an active role in considering new enforcement referrals alongside the Senior Principal and other Principals in the team. Writing effective external and internal communications including letters, recommendations, briefings and reports, which are technically and legally correct. Translating complex legal concepts and advice into clear, concise language and draft accessible user-friendly documents for both internal and external audiences. Supervise our Gender Pay Gap enforcement and other Core work. Representation of the Commission with external stakeholders, assessment of risks and use of sound judgment in negotiations and interaction with those external bodies, including those we regulate. Responding to internal and external client needs and enquires, delivering appropriate solutions and responses to tackle systemic problems and in potentially novel situations. Proactively manage and monitor case budgets/resource to ensure both value for money and that work remains within budget. ###

Person specification

You must be a qualified solicitor, barrister, advocate/solicitor advocate (or other equivalent professional legal qualification) entitled to practice in England and Wales, and with post-qualification experience.


The knowledge, skills and experience required for the role can be found in the Candidate Pack (found below).

Benefits

------------


Alongside your salary of 55,907, Equality and Human Rights Commission contributes 16,196 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
In return you can expect to receive a competitive salary, 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays (full time FTE) and access to the Civil Service Pension Scheme and partnership pension schemes.


We will provide investment in your career, giving you access to Civil Service Learning, our peer learning programme, specialist training and mentoring.


We offer a range of family friendly benefits, such as enhanced parental leave, flexible working including non-contractual hybrid working.


You will also have access to our wellbeing offering, including our employee assistance programme, mental health supporters, health checks, discount gym membership and retail discounts, cycle to work scheme and other salary sacrifice options. In addition, we have a range of staff networks and social groups.

Things you need to know

---------------------------

###

Selection process details

If this sounds like the role for you, please download the application form and the Candidate forms from our Civil Service Jobs advert. You must submit both documents to be considered for the role.



Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.###

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.###

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:


UK nationals nationals of the Republic of Ireland nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020 Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements
###

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.



We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles .
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.###

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .

Apply and further information

---------------------------------


Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.###

Contact point for applicants

####

Job contact :

Name : Becky Roberts Email : Becky.Roberts@equalityhumanrights.com Telephone : 0161 829 8100
####

Recruitment team

Email : recruitment@equalityhumanrights.com ###

Further information

Appointment to the Equality and Human Rights Commission is overseen by the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles.




If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, please email the Commission's People Helpdesk in the first instance.




If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Equality and Human Rights Commission, you can contact the Civil Service Commission.