Director of Legal Employment and Compliance Counsel, Universal Music Group
4 days a week in office (Kings Cross, London)
Music-based entertainment
Be an early applicant
Music-based entertainment
1001+ employees
Be an early applicant
4 days a week in office (Kings Cross, London)
1001+ employees
Company mission
To shape culture through the power of artistry.
Role
Who you are
- Everyone is welcome to apply for our roles, and we are determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment because of gender, race, disability, sexual orientation, religion, belief, age, marital status, background, pregnancy, or caring responsibilities
- We also recognise the importance of diversity of thought within our teams and are fully committed to embracing the talents of people with autism, dyslexia, ADHD, and other forms of neurocognitive variation
- Our ideal candidate is a confident, collaborative, and highly organised professional with strong commercial awareness. You have a pragmatic, business-oriented approach, excellent communication skills, and the capability to foster productive relationships across multiple departments and stakeholders
- With an adaptable, proactive mindset, you thrive in a fast-paced global matrix environment and demonstrate professionalism and integrity in every interaction
- Qualified employment lawyer with at least 4-5 years’ post-qualification experience in employment law
- Proven track record advising on UK and international employment matters, ideally from a multinational law firm or in-house environment, ideally in a media, music or broader entertainment environment
- Demonstrable experience handling executive agreements, litigation, complex workplace investigations, redundancy processes, and TUPE transfers
- Strong drafting and negotiating skills with extensive experience developing employment contracts, settlement agreements, and related documentation
- Familiarity with corporate transactions (M&A), providing employment-related due diligence, documentation, consultation, and integration planning
- Experience developing employment policies, compliance frameworks, and providing effective training to diverse stakeholder groups
- Outstanding communication skills with the ability to provide pragmatic, commercially focused advice and effectively manage stakeholder relationships
What the job involves
- As Director Employment and Compliance Counsel your days will be diverse and engaging. You will provide trusted legal advice on various employment issues, collaborate closely with the People, Inclusion & Culture (PIC) department, and senior management, navigating both UK-specific and international employment law considerations. You will draft critical documentation, manage employment-related disputes, oversee consultancy agreements, advise on complex projects involving mergers and acquisitions, and lead strategic employment initiatives
- Drafting and negotiating executive contracts, bonus schemes, consultancy and settlement agreements
- Advising daily on employment-related issues arising across the business supporting the People Inclusion and Culture team on operations, business partnering, learning and talent issues
- Conducting and drafting preliminary employment litigation matters. Coordinating and overseeing employment litigation with external counsel when necessary
- Providing employment law guidance for global corporate transactions such as acquisitions, mergers, and divestments
- Supporting redundancy and TUPE processes, including consultations and related documentation
- Drafting, reviewing, and updating company employment policies
- Advising and supporting internal investigations and managing conflict of interest disclosures
- Proactively developing and delivering legal employment training
- Developing and delivering effective employment compliance training
- Assisting with European Works Council meetings preparation
- As our Director Employment and Compliance Counsel you will significantly shape our employment practices, influencing both strategic decisions and daily operations. Your expertise will ensure compliance and manage risk effectively, while your guidance will empower our leadership to handle complex employment matters confidently and sensitively. Ultimately, your role will be pivotal in nurturing a fair, compliant, and innovative workplace culture across UMG's UK and international operations
Salary benchmarks
Our take
Universal Music Group (UMG) was founded in 1998 and it has grown rapidly and steadily since, now establishing a position as one of the "Big Three" record labels (alongside Sony Music and Warner Music Group).
UMG differentiates itself from competitors with its internal links across business functions. Each artist can access the best recording technologies, merchandising services, management services, and live music services, as well as much more. This is not provided by other smaller and even larger companies, meaning UMG is in a unique position to build each artist’s “brand”.
UMG became a publicly traded company in late 2021 and has used funds to finance its international expansion. Valued at over $49.8 billion, this global music leader looks to remain in a strong position for years to come.
Kirsty
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
7% employee growth in 12 months
Company
Company HQ
Santa Monica, CA
Leadership
Lucian Grainge
(CEO & Chairman)Worked in the music business for his entire career. He has been named the most powerful person in the music business on four occasions in the 2010s by Billboard.
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