Senior Legal Counsel, Mars Food & Nutrition Europe

Job Description

Job Description:

As a Senior Legal Counsel, you will report into the segment General Counsel, and will be a member of the Food & Nutrition European Regional Leadership Team, defining and driving the business and people related agenda. You will be an individual contributor setting the legal strategy at regional level and rolling it across all Business Units within the region. The role supports the regional growth agenda, whilst protecting our freedom to operate in line with The Five Principles.

Also, you will be responsible for day-to-day legal advice on regional and local levels, including Marketing, Sales, Corporate Affairs, and Commercial functions in all aspects of the Law (other than Marketing Properties and IP). You will manage the network of external legal partners in the relevant countries in order to ensure optimization and connection to the business, as well as consistency and quality of competent, timely and cost effective legal services.

Additionally, you will create collaborative relationships across the Legal function (such as Security, Compliance, Mars Global Services, Intellectual Property, and Marketing Properties teams and other segments) and other key stakeholders.

What are we looking for?

• Fully qualified lawyer with at least 8-12 years of experience

• Experience in a law firm and/or the legal department of an international company with regional experience in FMCG/retail sector

• Experience in being member of a Business Unit Leadership Team

• Know-how in legal areas above

• Management of outside counsel and legal spend

• Must be a self-starter, highly motivated with a bias for action (strong work ethic) and able to function independently in a “hands-on” environment.

• Can act decisively, with cross-cultural sensitivity

• Very good interpersonal skills and influencing skills; strong, flexible team player and collaborator that works to meet both personal and organization goals.

• Capable of analyzing complex legal and policy issues from a commercial perspective.

• Excellent organization, execution and project management skills.

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Be an engaged and high performing member of the Food & Nutrition European Leadership Team providing proactive & strategic advice & counsel to support the business’ growth & agenda not only from a legal perspective but also as a key partner of the business; participate in leadership team meetings when required both at local and regional levels

• Lead the Legal Function, setting the legal strategy at regional level (including external law firm support required), annual legal plan and rolling it across all Business Units within the region, anticipating legal issues and providing proactive business friendly, efficient and effective legal solutions

• Manage all day-to-day legal work of the region and local level (incl. factories within the region) consistent with the business and legal priorities

• Responsible for the review and approval of communications, advertising, promotions and product claims and related arrangements with third parties

• Review, negotiate, and formalize demand focused contracts and other contracts outside of Mars Global Services and Procurement counsel responsibilities

• Review and advise on company related policies, e.g. DT policies

• Review and advise on employment law related matters, including major re-orgs or labour proceedings, supporting People & Organisation (P&O) and Associate Relations teams

• Support the Sales teams in legal related matters, including the design & implementation of negotiation strategy and resolution of conflicts, all in compliance with competition law

• Advise Public and Corporate Affairs as well as SRA to influence the development of policy and regulatory legal environment and support compliance, when becoming effective

• Advise on quality related issues from a legal perspective and be a permanent member of the Food & Nutrition crisis team for the region

• Manage and co-ordinate disputes & litigations

• Partner with corporate and tax on corporate governance related matters

• Manage and coordinate the external legal network in conjunction and legal budget in conjunction with Legal Operations and finance teams.

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with over 140,000 diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.

• Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.

• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.

• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.