Who we are

On July 1, 2025, IPL Plastics merged with Schoeller Allibert to form IPL Schoeller (the ‘company’). The Company’s operations are split across North America (11 manufacturing plants) and Europe (16 manufacturing plants). The company is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

IPL Schoeller is a leading manufacturer of sustainable rigid packaging solutions across a range of end market segments including returnable transit packaging, consumer and industrial packaging, environmental containers and agricultural packaging. The company employs c.4,100 employees across North America (1,600 employees) and Europe (2,500 employees).

Sustainability is essential to the long-term success of our business. As a packaging company that develops plastic-based solutions for our customers, it is imperative that we meet the customer needs while being mindful of our operational impacts and the need to preserve our planet. We are committed to running our business responsibly and in ways that drive environmental, social and economic value for our stakeholders, including shareholders, customers, employees and local communities.

The role

The Director of Employment Law (Global) will be a key member of the Legal team responsible for providing strategic legal guidance to the group on employment matters in Ireland and across the EU, UK, US, and Canada, including with respect to contentious matters. The role will be based at the company’s global headquarters in Dublin, Ireland (or potentially elsewhere in Europe), and will report to the Chief Legal Officer. The Director will support the business and HR teams on workforce-related risk, compliance, and governance, and will coordinate external counsel and lead on employment litigation strategy. The role requires strong experience in international employment and labour law, including some experience of collective consultation and data privacy considerations in an employment context. The following is a list of key support areas required from the role but is not intended to be exhaustive.

· Provide strategic legal advice on global employment law and process governance matters in Ireland, the EU, the UK, the US, and Canada.

· Lead and advise on contentious employment matters, including grievances, gross misconduct, performance management, and employment terminations.

· Manage employment litigation and threatened claims (e.g., unfair dismissal and discrimination claims), including decisions on strategy, the oversight of external counsel, and settlement negotiations.

· Support global reorganisations and restructurings from an employment perspective, including workforce consultation, redundancy programmes, and harmonisation initiatives.

· Advise on complex employee relations matters and investigations, ensuring fair process and defensible outcomes.

· Support HR on the revision of employment documentation and policies (including contracts, handbooks, codes of conduct, and disciplinary and grievance procedures).

· Support the development and implementation of global training for HR and business stakeholders.

· Identify and mitigate employment-related legal risks in business operations and strategic workforce initiatives in close partnership with HR.

· Provide legal support to HR on talent, rewards, benefits, and mobility initiatives, to enable business objectives while ensuring legally compliant employment practices.

Provide clear and practical legal insights to senior leadership on workforce strategy, litigation exposure, and material employment risks

Qualifications and Experience

• Law degree from a recognised institution; admission to practice in Ireland, another EU jurisdiction, the UK, or at least one other major jurisdiction relevant to the company’s business.

• 8+ years of legal experience, with significant exposure to employment law matters (contentious and non-contentious).

• Proven record in managing legal aspects of employment-related compliance.

• Strong understanding of regulatory frameworks and legal risk management in employment practice.

• Excellent drafting, negotiation, and communication skills in English. Fluency in a second European language relevant to the company’s business would be an advantage.

• Ability to work effectively across cultures, time zones, and legal systems.

• Experience in a multinational corporate environment with law firm experience preferred.

• Litigation experience in non-employment matters would be an advantage

If you have the above experience and are looking for a role where you can make a real difference, apply today to find out more!