REGIONAL SUPPORT OFFICER Based in the NEU South West office (Exeter, EX2 7FW) Permanent, full-time Commencing salary £47,701 per annum The National Education Union is a force for change in the world of education, bringing together more than 450,000 teachers, lecturers, support staff and leaders working in maintained and independent schools and colleges across the UK. Regional Support Officers have a key role in supporting members, activists and lay officers across the region. They do this by providing a wide range of support in delivering the region's strategic objectives to members and lay officers, in particular undertaking individual casework, advice on employment law and conditions of service, pay and bargaining, and recruitment and organising. The successful candidates will therefore need to be able to demonstrate good knowledge of employment law, practices, policies and procedures as well as a good understanding of trade union organising. We are looking for applicants who can work as part of a team with good organisational and communication skills, who are able to prioritise work under pressure, use initiative and have sound analytical and problem-solving skills. The role of Regional Support Officer is an office-based role, however other work and training may be required to be undertaken at different locations in the region and our London Headquarters. Prospective applicants are also advised that your normal place of work will be the NEU office specified in this advert and that the NEU operates 'Blended Working Arrangements' for office based staff, which means you will typically need to be based in the designated NEU office for 3 to 4 days a week (based on a full-time contract), with the remaining days based at home, and subject to business needs. In addition to salary, we offer good conditions including 33 days' annual leave plus four Christmas closure days and a defined benefit pension scheme. Salary and benefits are pro-rata for part-time applicants. Further details can be downloaded from our website via the button below where applicants will be able to complete an online application on our recruitment portal. Closing date is mid-day Tuesday 10 February 2026. We welcome applications from individuals seeking part-time, job-share or other flexible working arrangements. THE UNION IS FUNDAMENTALLY COMMITTED TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES IN ITS POLICIES AND PRACTICE
Feb 04, 2026
Full time
REGIONAL SUPPORT OFFICER Based in the NEU South West office (Exeter, EX2 7FW) Permanent, full-time Commencing salary £47,701 per annum The National Education Union is a force for change in the world of education, bringing together more than 450,000 teachers, lecturers, support staff and leaders working in maintained and independent schools and colleges across the UK. Regional Support Officers have a key role in supporting members, activists and lay officers across the region. They do this by providing a wide range of support in delivering the region's strategic objectives to members and lay officers, in particular undertaking individual casework, advice on employment law and conditions of service, pay and bargaining, and recruitment and organising. The successful candidates will therefore need to be able to demonstrate good knowledge of employment law, practices, policies and procedures as well as a good understanding of trade union organising. We are looking for applicants who can work as part of a team with good organisational and communication skills, who are able to prioritise work under pressure, use initiative and have sound analytical and problem-solving skills. The role of Regional Support Officer is an office-based role, however other work and training may be required to be undertaken at different locations in the region and our London Headquarters. Prospective applicants are also advised that your normal place of work will be the NEU office specified in this advert and that the NEU operates 'Blended Working Arrangements' for office based staff, which means you will typically need to be based in the designated NEU office for 3 to 4 days a week (based on a full-time contract), with the remaining days based at home, and subject to business needs. In addition to salary, we offer good conditions including 33 days' annual leave plus four Christmas closure days and a defined benefit pension scheme. Salary and benefits are pro-rata for part-time applicants. Further details can be downloaded from our website via the button below where applicants will be able to complete an online application on our recruitment portal. Closing date is mid-day Tuesday 10 February 2026. We welcome applications from individuals seeking part-time, job-share or other flexible working arrangements. THE UNION IS FUNDAMENTALLY COMMITTED TO EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES IN ITS POLICIES AND PRACTICE
The Open University UK
Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
Job Location: Milton Keynes, Remote/Hybrid Department: Legal Services Closing Date: 19 February 2026 Weekly Working Hours: 37 Contract Type: Permanent Fixed Term Contract: End Date: Not Applicable Welsh Language: Not Applicable Change your career, change lives The Open University is the UK's largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education. Find out more about us and our mission by watching this short video (you will be taken to YouTube by clicking this link). About the Role This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced employment law professional who is a qualified solicitor with at least 4 years' post qualification experience. The post-holder, together with the existing in-house employment lawyer, will be the main source of legal advice to the University on employment issues. The role will cover all aspects of employment law and the post-holder will provide legal support and advice to University colleagues in relation to contentious and non-contentious employment law matters. Key Responsibilities Providing legal advice on day-to-day employment law issues, both contentious and non-contentious. This will cover all aspects of employment law ranging from discrimination, performance management, redundancies, disciplinaries and grievances to Trade Union issues, TUPE transfers, employment status, reorganisations and Freedom of Speech. Handling Employment Tribunal claims from inception to final hearing, including drafting and preparing Employment Tribunal documentation and witness statements. Representing the University at Employment Tribunal hearings, and where necessary, instructing and liaising with counsel in relation to any tribunal proceedings where external legal counsel is engaged. Conducting and/or contributing to negotiations (if appropriate) on behalf of the University where a dispute has arisen, or in relation to contentious matters. Drafting, updating and reviewing employment contracts, policies and procedures, settlement agreements and other employment related documentation, including the employment law provisions of wider commercial agreements. Delivering training on employment law topics/issues to the People Services department and others across the University when required. Develop and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders, in particular within People Services, and external legal advisors. Communicate legal options and advice to colleagues at all levels, and provide advice on the merits of claims and disputes. Make commercial recommendations based upon risk assessment of the situation. Contribute to the management of relationships with external law-firms to ensure best value and consistently high levels of quality and service. Help to monitor and manage external employment law-related spend, ensuring costs are controlled. Keep up to date with Continuing Professional Development (CPD) so as to maintain a practicing certificate and to ensure legal advice and documentation are aligned with current law. Other reasonable duties may be required consistent with the grade of the post. About You Qualified Solicitor (or equivalent), with at least 4 years' post qualification experience, specialising in employment law. Highly developed knowledge and understanding of all aspects of employment law. Experience of managing and advising on a wide range of employment related issues (contentious and non-contentious). Ability to handle Employment Tribunal claims from Early Conciliation through to final hearing, including advocacy/representation at hearings. Strong drafting skills in relation to both contentious and non-contentious work. This includes pleadings, witness statements and other documentation in relation to Employment Tribunal claims; contracts; policies and procedures; settlement agreements; TUPE provisions in commercial agreements; and other employment-related documentation. Ability to work both independently and as part of a team, to tight deadlines and to manage own case load as well as to prioritise effectively against conflicting demands. Excellent interpersonal and communications skills, and capable of building effective relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders at all levels of seniority. Innovative and pragmatic problem solver with strong commercial awareness and sound judgement. Ability to communicate complex legal matters to colleagues in an understandable way and in a manner that can usefully inform individuals with a range of expertise, understanding, experience and priorities. Knowledge and application of IT skills. Experience of working in a large complex organization. In-house legal experience (preferably within the higher education sector or other unionised or public sector environment,). If currently working in private practice, experience of clients within the higher education sector or other unionised or public sector environment. Support with your application If you have any questions, or need support or adjustments relating to your application, the recruitment process, or the role, please contact us on or email quoting the advert reference number. What's in it for you? At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance. Get all the details of what benefits we offer by visiting our Staff Benefits page (clicking this link will open a new window). We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it's a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you. It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where the successful candidate can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that attendance in the office will be required when appropriate and in response to business needs. Next steps in the Recruitment process We anticipate that we will be conducting a two-stage interview process for this role. We expect that first-stage interviews will be taking place online via Microsoft Teams in early to mid-March followed by second-stage face-to-face interviews taking place on-site at our Milton Keynes office in mid to late-March. Early closing date notification We may close this job advert earlier than the published closing date where a satisfactory number of applications are received. We would therefore encourage early applications. How to apply To apply for this role please submit the following documents: CV A personal statement of up to 1000 words. You should set out in your statement why you are interested in the role and provide examples of where your skills and experience meet the required competencies for this role as detailed in the job description. You can view your progress and application communications when you are logged into our recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folders if you do not receive associated email updates. If you have any queries or questions about the recruitment process, or regarding your application,please contact: . Looking for Associate Lecturer (AL) roles? Please use our AL home page to find AL vacancies. The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion which is reflected in our mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas. We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive environment so that all in our OU community can reach their potential. We recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge, and culture, and that this difference brings great strength.We strive to recruit, retain and develop the careers of a diverse pool of students and staff, and particularly encourage applications from all underrepresented groups. We also aspire to make The Open University a supportive workplace for all through our policies, services and staff networks.
Feb 03, 2026
Full time
Job Location: Milton Keynes, Remote/Hybrid Department: Legal Services Closing Date: 19 February 2026 Weekly Working Hours: 37 Contract Type: Permanent Fixed Term Contract: End Date: Not Applicable Welsh Language: Not Applicable Change your career, change lives The Open University is the UK's largest university, a world leader in flexible part-time education combining a mission to widen access to higher education with research excellence, transforming lives through education. Find out more about us and our mission by watching this short video (you will be taken to YouTube by clicking this link). About the Role This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced employment law professional who is a qualified solicitor with at least 4 years' post qualification experience. The post-holder, together with the existing in-house employment lawyer, will be the main source of legal advice to the University on employment issues. The role will cover all aspects of employment law and the post-holder will provide legal support and advice to University colleagues in relation to contentious and non-contentious employment law matters. Key Responsibilities Providing legal advice on day-to-day employment law issues, both contentious and non-contentious. This will cover all aspects of employment law ranging from discrimination, performance management, redundancies, disciplinaries and grievances to Trade Union issues, TUPE transfers, employment status, reorganisations and Freedom of Speech. Handling Employment Tribunal claims from inception to final hearing, including drafting and preparing Employment Tribunal documentation and witness statements. Representing the University at Employment Tribunal hearings, and where necessary, instructing and liaising with counsel in relation to any tribunal proceedings where external legal counsel is engaged. Conducting and/or contributing to negotiations (if appropriate) on behalf of the University where a dispute has arisen, or in relation to contentious matters. Drafting, updating and reviewing employment contracts, policies and procedures, settlement agreements and other employment related documentation, including the employment law provisions of wider commercial agreements. Delivering training on employment law topics/issues to the People Services department and others across the University when required. Develop and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders, in particular within People Services, and external legal advisors. Communicate legal options and advice to colleagues at all levels, and provide advice on the merits of claims and disputes. Make commercial recommendations based upon risk assessment of the situation. Contribute to the management of relationships with external law-firms to ensure best value and consistently high levels of quality and service. Help to monitor and manage external employment law-related spend, ensuring costs are controlled. Keep up to date with Continuing Professional Development (CPD) so as to maintain a practicing certificate and to ensure legal advice and documentation are aligned with current law. Other reasonable duties may be required consistent with the grade of the post. About You Qualified Solicitor (or equivalent), with at least 4 years' post qualification experience, specialising in employment law. Highly developed knowledge and understanding of all aspects of employment law. Experience of managing and advising on a wide range of employment related issues (contentious and non-contentious). Ability to handle Employment Tribunal claims from Early Conciliation through to final hearing, including advocacy/representation at hearings. Strong drafting skills in relation to both contentious and non-contentious work. This includes pleadings, witness statements and other documentation in relation to Employment Tribunal claims; contracts; policies and procedures; settlement agreements; TUPE provisions in commercial agreements; and other employment-related documentation. Ability to work both independently and as part of a team, to tight deadlines and to manage own case load as well as to prioritise effectively against conflicting demands. Excellent interpersonal and communications skills, and capable of building effective relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders at all levels of seniority. Innovative and pragmatic problem solver with strong commercial awareness and sound judgement. Ability to communicate complex legal matters to colleagues in an understandable way and in a manner that can usefully inform individuals with a range of expertise, understanding, experience and priorities. Knowledge and application of IT skills. Experience of working in a large complex organization. In-house legal experience (preferably within the higher education sector or other unionised or public sector environment,). If currently working in private practice, experience of clients within the higher education sector or other unionised or public sector environment. Support with your application If you have any questions, or need support or adjustments relating to your application, the recruitment process, or the role, please contact us on or email quoting the advert reference number. What's in it for you? At The Open University, we offer a range of benefits to recognise and reward great work, alongside policies and flexible working that contribute towards a great work life balance. Get all the details of what benefits we offer by visiting our Staff Benefits page (clicking this link will open a new window). We are open to discussions about flexible working. Whether it's a job share, part time, compressed hours or another working arrangement. Please reach out to us to discuss what works best for you. It is anticipated that a hybrid working pattern can be adopted for this role, where the successful candidate can work from home and the office. However, as this role is contractually aligned to our Milton Keynes office it is expected that attendance in the office will be required when appropriate and in response to business needs. Next steps in the Recruitment process We anticipate that we will be conducting a two-stage interview process for this role. We expect that first-stage interviews will be taking place online via Microsoft Teams in early to mid-March followed by second-stage face-to-face interviews taking place on-site at our Milton Keynes office in mid to late-March. Early closing date notification We may close this job advert earlier than the published closing date where a satisfactory number of applications are received. We would therefore encourage early applications. How to apply To apply for this role please submit the following documents: CV A personal statement of up to 1000 words. You should set out in your statement why you are interested in the role and provide examples of where your skills and experience meet the required competencies for this role as detailed in the job description. You can view your progress and application communications when you are logged into our recruitment system. Please check your spam/junk folders if you do not receive associated email updates. If you have any queries or questions about the recruitment process, or regarding your application,please contact: . Looking for Associate Lecturer (AL) roles? Please use our AL home page to find AL vacancies. The Open University is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion which is reflected in our mission to be open to people, places, methods and ideas. We aim to foster a diverse and inclusive environment so that all in our OU community can reach their potential. We recognise that different people bring different perspectives, ideas, knowledge, and culture, and that this difference brings great strength.We strive to recruit, retain and develop the careers of a diverse pool of students and staff, and particularly encourage applications from all underrepresented groups. We also aspire to make The Open University a supportive workplace for all through our policies, services and staff networks.
Job Title: Talent Engagement Lead Location: London Hours: FT 2 days a week in office Introduction Different skillset, different mindset. At PeopleScout, our creativity is redefining RPO. We blend fresh, industry-first thinking with deep in-house expertise - from occupational psychologists to social media strategists - to deliver talent solutions that both inspire and perform. As a multi-award-winning RPO provider, we're transforming the future of recruitment across every industry, skill set, and geography. We're now looking for someone who can own, shape, and deliver impactful communication and engagement strategies that inspire, inform, and connect people in a fast-paced, dynamic candidate market. With a clear focus on the end-to-end candidate experience, you'll play a pivotal role in telling our story, strengthening connections, and bringing our employer brands to life through creativity, insight, and innovation. The Role As a Talent Engagement Lead, you will be responsible for developing and executing strategic internal and external communications that strengthen culture, drive engagement, and enhance the organisation's brand and reputation. Working closely with senior leaders and client stakheholders, you'll craft clear and compelling messaging, manage multi-channel and innovative recruitment campaigns, and measure impact through data and feedback. The role combines strategic thinking with hands-on delivery whether it's creating engaging content, leading change communications, or driving initiatives that foster connection and inclusion across diverse audiences. The role will have the opportunity to partner with the client to shape best-in-breed communications strategies that combine market best practice with behavioural science. Who we're looking for You're a creative and strategic communicator who knows how to connect people with purpose. You'll have proven experience in: Communications Candidate engagement The ability to turn complex information into clear, engaging messages. Essential skills include exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and the confidence to influence at all levels. It is essential that you have experience with engaging with and attracting candidates from within the public sector or Law enforcement industries Desirable experience includes working within environments with significant recruitment volume peaks, using innovative engagement techniques and tools as well as a keen interest in continual process improvement. What's in it for me? As a PeopleScout employee, you're set to gain so much from being part of our team, including: Potential to earn extra cash through our employee recognition scheme or our performance driven quarterly and annual bonus programmes Time off to rest, recover or conquer items on the bucket list through our 27 days holiday (+ 8 bank holidays, pro rata for part time staff) and our holiday purchase benefit Great company paid benefits including private medical insurance , health cash plan, life assurance, company pension and access to an Employee Assistance Programme Look after your health and get cash back on your everyday healthcare costs with our flexible dental and cash plan benefits or grab some great discounts at your local gym A strong care for the community and planet with opportunities to give back and care for our environment with eco-friendly benefits like our cycle to work scheme Development plans with customised learning solutions, including tuition reimbursement and degree sponsorship A group of diverse, passionate people to socialise and build your career with If you're still reading then you are definitely a fit for us available to people managers & senior professional roles About us PeopleScout is an industry award winner and leader in the development of best-in-class recruitment outsourcing and talent consultancy. Annually, we hire over 200,000 people for our client organisations from nurses to lecturers, from engineers to hotel cleaners. What sets us apart is our talent advisory heritage, this enables us to reframe, evaluate and assess how organisation and application behaviour can be modified and improved to deliver the very best talent for our clients. We are an equal opportunities employer and positively encourage applications from persons regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. Next steps / Call to action If this sounds like you, we would love to hear from you. Click the apply button, and start your application today!
Jan 28, 2026
Full time
Job Title: Talent Engagement Lead Location: London Hours: FT 2 days a week in office Introduction Different skillset, different mindset. At PeopleScout, our creativity is redefining RPO. We blend fresh, industry-first thinking with deep in-house expertise - from occupational psychologists to social media strategists - to deliver talent solutions that both inspire and perform. As a multi-award-winning RPO provider, we're transforming the future of recruitment across every industry, skill set, and geography. We're now looking for someone who can own, shape, and deliver impactful communication and engagement strategies that inspire, inform, and connect people in a fast-paced, dynamic candidate market. With a clear focus on the end-to-end candidate experience, you'll play a pivotal role in telling our story, strengthening connections, and bringing our employer brands to life through creativity, insight, and innovation. The Role As a Talent Engagement Lead, you will be responsible for developing and executing strategic internal and external communications that strengthen culture, drive engagement, and enhance the organisation's brand and reputation. Working closely with senior leaders and client stakheholders, you'll craft clear and compelling messaging, manage multi-channel and innovative recruitment campaigns, and measure impact through data and feedback. The role combines strategic thinking with hands-on delivery whether it's creating engaging content, leading change communications, or driving initiatives that foster connection and inclusion across diverse audiences. The role will have the opportunity to partner with the client to shape best-in-breed communications strategies that combine market best practice with behavioural science. Who we're looking for You're a creative and strategic communicator who knows how to connect people with purpose. You'll have proven experience in: Communications Candidate engagement The ability to turn complex information into clear, engaging messages. Essential skills include exceptional communication, stakeholder management, and the confidence to influence at all levels. It is essential that you have experience with engaging with and attracting candidates from within the public sector or Law enforcement industries Desirable experience includes working within environments with significant recruitment volume peaks, using innovative engagement techniques and tools as well as a keen interest in continual process improvement. What's in it for me? As a PeopleScout employee, you're set to gain so much from being part of our team, including: Potential to earn extra cash through our employee recognition scheme or our performance driven quarterly and annual bonus programmes Time off to rest, recover or conquer items on the bucket list through our 27 days holiday (+ 8 bank holidays, pro rata for part time staff) and our holiday purchase benefit Great company paid benefits including private medical insurance , health cash plan, life assurance, company pension and access to an Employee Assistance Programme Look after your health and get cash back on your everyday healthcare costs with our flexible dental and cash plan benefits or grab some great discounts at your local gym A strong care for the community and planet with opportunities to give back and care for our environment with eco-friendly benefits like our cycle to work scheme Development plans with customised learning solutions, including tuition reimbursement and degree sponsorship A group of diverse, passionate people to socialise and build your career with If you're still reading then you are definitely a fit for us available to people managers & senior professional roles About us PeopleScout is an industry award winner and leader in the development of best-in-class recruitment outsourcing and talent consultancy. Annually, we hire over 200,000 people for our client organisations from nurses to lecturers, from engineers to hotel cleaners. What sets us apart is our talent advisory heritage, this enables us to reframe, evaluate and assess how organisation and application behaviour can be modified and improved to deliver the very best talent for our clients. We are an equal opportunities employer and positively encourage applications from persons regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status, or pregnancy and maternity. Next steps / Call to action If this sounds like you, we would love to hear from you. Click the apply button, and start your application today!
