Job Description
Locations - Cheltenham, Manchester
Salary - £66,581, plus £3,030 concessionary payment
Flexible working: Although this is a full-time role, we support flexible and
compressed hours and welcome job share applications. This is an office-based role
with limited opportunities for home working. Occasional travel between Cheltenham,
Manchester and London will be required.
About us
GCHQ is an intelligence, cyber, and security agency with a mission to keep the UK
safe. We use cutting-edge technology, ingenuity, and partnerships to identify,
analyse, and disrupt threats. Working with our intelligence partners, MI5 and MI6, we
protect the UK from terrorism, cyber-attacks, and espionage. At GCHQ, you’ll do
varied and fascinating work in a supportive and inclusive environment that
emphasises teamwork.
The role
As an Employment Lawyer within GCHQ’s Legal Directorate, you’ll provide expert
advice on employment law in a fast-paced and highly sensitive environment.
Working at the heart of national security, you’ll help shape decisions that impact our
people and our mission, managing a varied workload that spans casework, policy
and litigation.
Joining a small, collaborative team based in Cheltenham or Manchester, you’ll work
closely with HR and Security colleagues, as well as lawyers from the other
intelligence agencies, to deliver clear, well-considered advice on complex
employment issues. From handling litigation to advising on security-related matters,
your work will be intellectually challenging and often time-critical, requiring precision
and adaptability.
You’ll develop your expertise through exposure to diverse legal work and structured
training opportunities, taking on more complex matters as your experience grows.
While much of your role will be office-based, you’ll collaborate across locations and
disciplines, contributing to cross-agency projects and helping embed best practice
across the organisation.
Whether you’re drafting detailed advice, supporting investigations, delivering training
or shaping policy, you’ll play a vital role in ensuring our employment practices remain
robust, fair and aligned with national security priorities. This is a role that offers
opportunities for professional growth and progression within a supportive,
experienced and collaborative team.
About you
You’ll need to be a qualified solicitor or barrister/advocate in England and Wales,
Scotland or Northern Ireland with at least three years’ post-qualification experience
in employment law. You’ll bring excellent legal judgement, strong analytical skills and
the ability to provide clear, practical advice in a fast-paced, high impact environment.
With experience of managing a varied employment law workload, you’ll be confident
working under pressure to meet tight deadlines. Proactive and motivated with the
ability to pick up new areas of law quickly, you’ll combine technical expertise with
creativity, offering risk-based solutions that balance legal requirements with
operational needs.
You’ll work closely with HR and Security teams, as well as lawyers from other
agencies, so strong communication skills and the ability to build relationships across
disciplines are essential. You’ll be comfortable explaining complex legal concepts in
a clear, accessible way to non-specialist audiences.
Training and development
From the moment you join, you’ll be allocated a buddy and supported by a structured
induction that introduces you to your team, your role and the wider organisation.
You’ll take part in a formal onboarding programme and a bespoke induction into the
Employment Law team, helping you build confidence and clarity as you settle in.
You’ll have a wide range of learning opportunities, from on-the-job training and peer
support to formal courses delivered through the Government Legal Profession.
Whether you’re refining your expertise in employment law or exploring new areas
such as security-related legal issues, you’ll be encouraged to shape your own
development journey.
We’ll also support you in attending the annual Legal Induction course and provide
access to the Legal Information Online Network, which offers government training
packages and bespoke sessions from external legal firms. Alongside this, you’ll
benefit from regularly sharing knowledge and best practice across teams.