Job Description

Chene-Bougeries, Geneva, CH



The Legal Director, Global Corporate has overall global responsibility for the group's legal affairs relating to corporate matters, M&A and strategic projects, finance, and procurement. The role encompasses day-to-day operational responsibility for legal matters, supervisory responsibility for a range of legal projects, and proactive management of legal risks within the group.

Responsibilities:

Negotiate with financial institutions on banking facilities and other banking arrangements.



Advise the group on strategic M&A projects, acting as principal legal adviser with or without external counsel.



Where appropriate, instruct and oversee external counsel, including as to budgeting, according to project requirements.



Monitor corporate legal compliance, proactively identify legal risks, lead and shape group policy and process.



Structure, document, and execute intra-group corporate actions, such as capital increases, dividend distributions, and internal re-organizations. Work closely with corporate secretariat, finance, and other functions as required.



Oversee the execution by regional teams of regional corporate projects such as M&A deals or corporate re-structuring exercises. Accountable towards group management for securing the outcomes.



Participate in group management working groups to asses major operational and strategic proposals in the global business.



Collaborate with the sustainability department on sustainability initiatives including in the areas of financing, public reporting, regulatory compliance, and operational risk.



Negotiate commercial contracts, e.g. for corporate procurement, advising stakeholders on the legal and business implications of contracts and find business-oriented solutions



Occasional need to travel.



Work in our Geneva office in line with our hybrid working arrangements.

What does it take to be successful in this role:

Bar admission in at least one jurisdiction

Substantial experience (typically 15+ years) in multinational law firms and in leadership roles of legal departments of a multinational companies, including some experience in the agricultural commodities industry.

Fluent in English (spoken and written); additional languages an asset.

Demonstrable experience in corporate law, banking law, and commercial law. Experience in competition law, tax law, and labor law will be an advantage.

Demonstrable experience in strategic business leadership and ability to look beyond a purely legal perspective to the wider commercial implications.

Experience with working in an international environment and the language, cultural, and legal complications posed by it.

Qualification or other demonstrable expertise in a common-law legal system

Strong aptitude for processing information, making effective judgements, and formulating defensible legal positions on novel issues.

Ability to review and redraft documents quickly and accurately.

Context-switching without loss of depth and focus.



Ability to get information from people without direct supervision.



Sound critical thought, ownership of outcomes, willingness to dissent from consensus and convey well reasoned perspectives.



Comfortable working in a team or alone and managing legal matters with/without guidance, as required.