Legal Counsel

pSelect how often (in days) to receive an alert: Create Alert /p pZespri is more than simply the world's single-largest marketer of kiwifruit. We like to think of ourselves as fruit on a mission and as rebels with a cause: to help people, communities and the environment around the world thrive through the goodness of kiwifruit. We are proudly the world's largest marketer of kiwifruit, selling kiwifruit in more than 50 countries. We work with around 2,800 New Zealand and 1,500 international growers and post-harvest companies to source the best-quality Zespri Kiwifruit which we supply through our distribution partners to wholesale and retail customers. We are one of New Zealand's best-known international brands, dedicated to creating sustainable long-term value for growers. /p h3He aha te mahi? What’s the role? /h3 pBased in Antwerp, the Legal Business Partner provides strategic, practical and commercially focused legal advice to an assigned business or regional portfolio. Partnering with leaders and teams, the role supports the delivery of Zespri’s strategy through sound decision-making, legal and regulatory compliance, ethical conduct and effective risk management. /p pAs part of a global Legal Business Partnering team, the role delivers consistent, efficient and value-adding legal support across Zespri. By developing a deep understanding of the portfolio, the Legal Business Partner anticipates legal risks and opportunities and translates complex legal issues into clear, actionable business solutions. /p h3Key Accountabilities /h3 h3Legal Business Partnering /h3 ul liDevelop a strong understanding of the assigned portfolio, its strategic objectives, operating environment and links to the broader business. /li liProvide timely, practical and commercially focused legal advice that enables business outcomes within legal, ethical and risk parameters. /li liIdentify legal and commercial considerations, communicate options and trade-offs, and support informed decision-making. /li liAct as a trusted adviser to stakeholders, anticipating needs and escalating significant or complex matters when required. /li /ul h3Strategic Initiatives and Commercial Delivery /h3 ul liAct as legal lead or advisor on strategic initiatives, projects, transactions and business change relevant to the assigned portfolio. /li liIdentify legal requirements and risks across current and future operating models and manage related legal workstreams. /li liAdvise on contracts, commercial arrangements and other legal matters, engaging specialists where necessary. /li liImprove legal service delivery through standardised frameworks, tools and guidance, while building legal capability across the business. /li /ul h3Risk, Disputes and Compliance /h3 ul liProactively monitor emerging legal, regulatory and industry developments impacting the portfolio or business. /li liPartner with stakeholders to assess and mitigate legal risks in line with strategic objectives and risk appetite. /li liSupport disputes, litigation, investigations and other contentious matters, balancing legal, commercial, financial and reputational considerations. /li liPromote ethical conduct, effective governance, compliance and sound risk management. /li /ul h3Governance, Regulatory and External Relationships /h3 ul liSupport governance, entity management and corporate secretarial requirements in partnership with relevant teams. /li liAssist engagement with regulators, government bodies and external stakeholders. /li liManage external legal advisers to ensure quality, value and effective delivery. /li liBuild strong relationships across Legal, Risk, Compliance and business teams. /li /ul h3Collective Accountability and Behaviours /h3 ul liContribute positively to the Legal and wider Risk, Assurance Legal functions. /li liCollaborate across teams and regions to deliver consistent outcomes. /li liMaintain confidentiality and demonstrate integrity, professionalism and sound judgement. /li liRole model company values, customer focus, high performance and constructive challenge. /li /ul h3Ko wai koe? Who are you? /h3 pWe're looking for a team player with 7 years experience in post-qualification legal experience, and strong commercial legal expertise across areas such as corporate, commercial contracts, intellectual property, international trade, regulatory matters and dispute resolution. You will also fulfill the following: /p h3Qualifications Experience /h3 ul liIn-house experience within a global or multinational organisation preferred, ideally in FMCG, agribusiness, the primary sector or other consumer-focused industries. /li liBachelor's degree or post graduate qualification in law (or equivalent). /li liExperience working across jurisdictions, cultures and complex stakeholder environments is advantageous. /li /ul h3Skills Attributes /h3 ul liFluency in English language to communicate with stakeholders across all levels. Dutch language proficiency is an advantage. /li li