Key responsibilities include:
1.
People Management and Team Leadership
Lead, mentor, and develop a team of legal professionals
Ensure roles and responsibilities are clearly allocated, oversee workload distribution and track adequacy of resources to needs, manage the performance and professional development of the team, including through regular meetings and feedback sessions.
Foster a collaborative, high-performance culture within the legal team, encouraging proactivity and self-leadership as well as knowledge-sharing, innovation and continuous improvement.
2.
Legal Support for Purchasing Contracts
Provide senior-level legal advice on a wide range of purchasing agreements, specifically covering raw materials, transportation services, energy, mining services and heavy mobile equipment (HME), indirect purchases and IT, CAPEX, industrial equipment and services (IES), chemicals, and packaging. Ensure strict compliance with applicable laws and regulations, including anti-bribery regulations, competition laws, and import/export restrictions.
Oversee the drafting, review, and negotiation of robust contracts related to the purchasing of goods and services. While leading the function, maintain a hands-on approach by personally contributing to and drafting key strategic or complex agreements
Lead the development, maintenance, and continuous optimization of standard templates, clause books and playbooks to ensure efficiency and risk mitigation across the EMEA region.
3.
Compliance and Regulatory Monitoring
With the Compliance team, design and implement the role of the legal team with respect to Responsible Purchasing initiatives.
Oversee the implementation and adherence to corporate compliance policies, including anti-corruption policies.
Monitor legal developments in the EMEA region that are relevant to Purchasing matters.
4.
Dispute Resolution and Risk Management
Manage and resolve disputes with suppliers, including mediation, arbitration, and litigation when necessary.
Mitigate risks related to contract performance, payment terms, and the delivery of goods and services.
Work proactively with internal and external stakeholders to prevent legal disputes and mitigate legal exposure.
Provide legal training and guidance to Purchasing teams on managing contractual obligations and risks.
5.
Collaboration and reporting
Actively participate in Monthly Purchasing Management Team Meetings, regular 1-on-1s with the Purchasing VP, and other key leadership meetings to ensure full visibility into the Purchasing function’s roadmap. You will contribute directly to strategic discussions and project kick-offs, proactively anticipating legal needs and aligning high-level priorities with overarching business objectives.
Provide General Counsel EMEA with regular reports on legal risks, compliance issues, and team performance related to Purchasing; adhere to Legal Department and Group reporting processes.
Collaborate with the other EMEA Business Legal Teams to ensure a good level of cross-teams information; provide expert support on local purchases requiring specialist knowledge
Collaborate cross-functionally with other functions (logistics, supply chain, operations, finance) to ensure legal strategies actively support overall business goals
6.
External Counsel Management
Develop and maintain a network / panel of external legal counsel across multiple jurisdictions for complex Purchasing issues, seeking synergies with the other EMEA Business Legal teams.
Ensure value for money and quality control of external legal services; ensure that proper processes are followed for budgeting, cost control and invoice management.