Legal Lead, External Workforce & AI-Enabled HR Solutions
Duration: 12 months
Working Style: Remote (UK & Ireland)
Pay Rate: £26.77 per hour
About the Role
We are seeking a highly experienced legal professional with strong expertise in labor/employment law, global workforce compliance, and an understanding of procurement frameworks. Experience with AI and digital HR technologies is a strong advantage.
In this role, you will serve as the primary legal advisor for External Workforce Management (EWM), ensuring full compliance with global and local regulations, supporting policy development, and guiding the legal oversight of AI-enabled HR and classification tools. You will collaborate cross-functionally with P&O, Legal, Procurement, IT, and senior business leaders to reduce risk, streamline decision-making, and support the global rollout of integrated workforce and AI-driven HR solutions.
Key Responsibilities
1. Legal Strategy & Advisory (External Workforce)
* Serve as the primary legal advisor for External Workforce (EWM) matters, including worker classification, co-employment risks, tenure rules, and country-specific restrictions.
* Provide legal guidance on workforce solutions, policy development, and implementation in collaboration with P&O, Procurement, and Legal.
* Ensure ongoing compliance with global and local labor regulations, regulatory changes, and audit requirements.
* Support the creation, enhancement, and maintenance of global and local EWM compliance frameworks.
2. Procurement & Contracting
* Provide legal oversight for supplier agreements, negotiation strategies, and contracting templates for external workforce providers.
* Partner with Procurement to ensure compliance within the source‑to‑contract lifecycle, including supplier governance, commercial escalations, umbrella agreements, and pricing discussions.
* Ensure contract language aligns with accurate worker classification and legal requirements across jurisdictions.
3. AI & HR Technology Implementation
* Guide legal assessment and oversight of AI-enabled HR tools, including worker classification models, sourcing systems, and decision-support technologies.
* Evaluate AI compliance risks (e.g., GDPR, discrimination, algorithmic transparency, explainability).
* Support governance design, policy updates, and change management associated with AI deployment.
* Advise on the responsible and compliant use of AI models—particularly where they significantly improve accuracy or decision-making.
4. Cross-Functional Governance & Stakeholder Management
* Represent Legal as a standing member of consultation forums, steering committees, and HR/Legal governance groups.
* Act as the escalation point for country audits, risk topics, complex worker classification queries, and policy deviation requests.
* Partner closely with P&O, Procurement, Finance, IT, Legal, and TalentFlex teams to support smooth global deployment of workforce and AI solutions.
5. Risk Management, Audits & Operational Excellence
* Identify, assess, and mitigate legal risks related to external workforce operations and AI tool usage.
* Support global and local audits, risk assessments, and lead alignment on remediation actions when necessary.
* Contribute to operational excellence by reducing delays caused by fragmented legal support and improving efficiency in global decision-making processes.
Required Qualifications
Education & Expertise
* Master’s degree in Law; specialization in labor/employment law strongly preferred.
* 7+ years of experience in labor law, employment regulation, or external workforce governance (in-house or law firm).
* Strong understanding of procurement contracting and commercial negotiations.
Technical & Functional Skills
* Demonstrated ability to assess regulatory implications of HR policies and workforce models.
* Experience with AI implementation or AI‑related legal frameworks is highly desirable.
* Strong knowledge of global labor regulations and cross-border employment complexities.
* Ability to convert legal guidance into clear, actionable operational advice.
Soft Skills
* Excellent stakeholder management with the ability to influence across global teams.
* Exceptional communication skills, capable of simplifying complex legal topics.
* Analytical mindset with strong organizational abilities and multitasking skills.