Employment and HR Paralegal

We are delighted to share this new and exciting opportunity for an Employment & HR Paralegal to join our dynamic organisation.

As the voice of the UK’s co-operative movement, we empower and support co-operative enterprise with specialised knowledge and expertise, to grow the co-operative economy and create a fairer society. From football clubs and farms to convenience stores and pubs, there are more than 7,000 co-operatives in the UK, each owned and controlled by their members and based on a set of shared principles and values. By promoting shared wealth through member ownership, we are committed to enable anyone in the UK to form, or join, thriving and sustainable co-ops.

As our Employment & HR Paralegal you will provide essential legal and HR support to the HR Advice Team, ensuring the delivery of high-quality services to members. The role will involve handling ACAS and tribunal case work, assisting with consultancy projects, and managing member communications, contributing to the development and delivery of HR and Health and Safety services.

As an organisation we are led by our unwavering values of solidarity, self-responsibility, equity, and honesty, therefore if you share these core values, we would be delighted to receive your application.

Core responsibilities

We invite all interested parties to learn more about the role and our organisation within the recruitment pack, which can be downloaded from the recruitment documents section.

• With guidance from Senior Employment Lawyer, you will provide support to the HR Advice Team in managing ACAS and Tribunal cases. This includes but is not limited to:
• Managing ACAS early conciliation processes, including securing knowledge of the matter under conciliation, understanding potential claimant expectations, and coordinating with members to provide informed advice on merits and liability, leading to constructive settlement of claims.
• Engaging with ACAS over settlements and drafting COT3 settlement documentation.
• Reviewing new Tribunal claims, identifying legal issues and the necessary steps for an effective defence.
• Liaising with members to gather and verify documentary and verbal evidence, ensuring accurate and comprehensive responses to Tribunal claims.
• Drafting formal responses to Tribunal claims, preparing case management documents for Tribunal preliminary hearings, including agenda forms and draft lists of issues.
• Assisting with advocacy at Tribunal preliminary hearings and preparing document bundles in compliance with case management orders.
• Taking comprehensive witness statements, ensuring they cover all relevant issues and securing timely approval from witnesses for exchange in accordance with Tribunal orders.
• Rigorously monitoring and meeting all Tribunal time limits and orders, and coordinating with witnesses, members, and HR Advice Team members to confirm their availability for hearings.
• Support the team with paid consultancy work, such as conducting investigations into misconduct, interviewing witnesses, collating evidence, and drafting reports.

• Collaborate with the HR Manager to prepare and disseminate HR and employment law updates to members, ensuring they are informed of new developments.
• Coordinate with our third-party provider the delivery of Health and Safety services to members, including managing updates, arranging seminars and working with the marketing team to promote services.
• Administer various HR-related forums (CEA Directors, HR Operations, Reward, Wellbeing, DEI, Talent, Health and Safety), including scheduling, agenda setting, maintaining member lists, and fostering member engagement.
• Manage the onboarding process for new HR and H&S package subscribers and administer consultancy business terms of engagement.
• Maintain user licenses for Brightmine and WTW reward databases, manage case records on Salesforce and organise the Shared Drive to provide a centralised source of documentation.

Essential skills:

• Educational background in Human Resources, Law, or a related field

• Experience with case management and administrative support in a legal or HR environment.

• Strong understanding of employment law, tribunal procedures and HR practices.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with proficiency in drafting legal and HR documents.

• Good organisational and administrative skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.

• Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the capacity to build positive relationships with members and colleagues.

Benefits

At Co-operatives UK we are a mindful, inclusive, and equal opportunities employer. As an organisation that is owned and controlled by its members, we put our people at the forefront of all that we do. We offer:

• Flexible working options
• Pension scheme
• Discounted travel to work schemes
• Employee wellbeing assistance programme including free eye tests
• Personal and professional growth and development, including coaching
• Trade union

To apply please follow our application process and complete the application form – CVs cannot be accepted: www.uk.coop/careers

Application deadline: Midnight, Tuesday 19^th November 2024

Interviews: Week commencing 2^nd December 2024, in Manchester.