General Counsel Supply Chain & She (Safety, Health & Environmental)

UNILEVER IS LOOKING FOR A General Counsel Supply Chain & SHE (Safety, Health & Environmental)

Location: Rotterdam to Amsterdam from March 2025

Local conditions apply

Full-time

For the recruitment of this position, we would like to emphasize that local conditions apply to the position and for this vacancy in principle we will first consider candidates based in the Netherlands. If you are based outside of the Netherlands and you are interested to apply, please feel free to do so but we can only take your application on if a decision is made to also recruit outside of the Netherlands.

If you are in the Unilever Ice Cream business or consider choosing to work for the Unilever Ice Cream business, you will work for the Global, leading Ice Cream player with €7.9bn Turn Over in 2023. The Ice Cream business is operating in a highly attractive category, as we are part of the 1 trillion snacking and refreshment industry, growing consistently at high pace. We have strong brands equities: 5 of top 10 selling brands including Wall’s, Magnum, Ben &Jerry’s. We are investing to unlock the full growth potential of Ice Cream as a standalone entity, once we separate from Unilever, which is planned to happen by November 2025.

Ice Cream has distinct characteristics from Unilever’s other operating businesses and the growth potential of Ice Cream will be better delivered under a different ownership structure. As Ice Cream company we are committed to developing and nurturing talent within our Ice Cream company. You will have ample options for career growth and exploration, allowing you for you to explore roles and opportunities across the new organisation. Your career development will be a priority for us, and we are dedicated to supporting your growth journey within the new company. We hope that you will want to build the new chapter of our Ice Cream history together with us.

Unilever Ice Cream is the largest global Ice Cream Company in the world, with over 100 years of experience delivering a diverse range of indulgent, yet responsible, craft food experiences and treats delighting consumers. Committed to innovation, quality, and sustainability we have 35 brands, including 3 one billion Euro brands (Magnum, Wall’s, Ben & Jerry’s), a strong presence in over 60 countries, generating annual revenue of over $8 billion. All brands are driven to transform moments into memories through indulgent yet responsibly made and marketed products. We have a well-developed strategy to deliver growth and value creation which is clear on where to play and how to win.

We turn the ordinary into the extraordinary by designing unique and innovative Ice Cream experiences that make life taste better, creating joyful experiences. In our Ice Cream business, we’re crafting the future through innovation and imaginative minds, creating unique products. We spark moments of happiness for people and within the communities where we operate. However, it is not as simple as it may seem. As Ice Cream makers we are serious about happiness. With warm hearts, we create the coolest products.

JOB SUMMARY:

Are you a senior lawyer (+10 years’ experience) passionate about Supply Chain & SHE (Safety, Health & Environmental) matters and projects in a constant evolving world, and would like to be part of a multi-cultural global legal team, for the leading ice cream business in the world? Then this role is tailored for you.

WHAT WILL YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES BE?

This role will be part of the Chief Legal Officer team that need to enable the success of a standalone Ice Cream company that is geared for future success as a market leader in its industry.

The Supply Chain & SHE (Safety, Health & Environmental) General Counsel will be responsible for the following:

• Business Partner Supply Chain and SHE initiatives, their leads and teams, supporting and advising various global and regional stakeholders including finance and operations to implement a broad variety of international corporate projects.

• Contribute to the strategic discussions, projects and activities with business leaders of Supply Chain & SHE. Be a key contributor to allow the strategic objectives to be fulfilled.

• Business partnering procurement team through designing of templates, policies and trainings and support procurement teams in negotiation of the strategic different supply contracts, such: logistic, procurement of production items and finished goods.

• Support (directly or indirectly through the law firms) of different large supply chain projects such as restructurings, capex, medium and large claims against suppliers and out of court disputes with the suppliers.

• Supporting performance management of outsourcing partners,

• Provide timely review of contracts and provide support to partner Supply Chain and SHE, protecting and enforcing key rights and mitigating legal risks.

• Manage and provide guidance and review of relevant supply chain related documents.

• monitoring upcoming regulatory changes and advising the business on advocacy strategies, advising on site development pathways for new facilities, working cross-functionally to ensure operational compliance, negotiating commercial transactions with vendors;

• Develop and implement internal policies, as well as training materials (e.g. Contracts policy);

• Ensure proper collaboration with other legal team members of the globe and align on main goals with relevant business leaders. Act as mentor and point of contact for other Legal Team members for topics related with Supply Chain & SHE.

EXPERIENCE YOU SHOULD HAVE/THE QUALITIES WE LOOK FOR

SKILLS: Legal Expertise, M&A, Advanced Risk Management, Business Partnering, Stakeholder Management, Problem Solving, Decision Making, Business Acumen, Project Management, Collaboration, Influential Leadership, Negotiation Skills, Digital Curiosity, Versatility, Advocacy, Emotion Intelligent, Prioritisation Skills, Multitasking, External Network, External Communications, External Network, Budget and Management Controls.

EXPERIENCES & QUALIFICATIONS: senior lawyer (+10 years’ experience), with proven track record serving global organisations as business partner to Supply Chain & SHE (Safety, Health & Environmental) departments. Experience with drafting, negotiating and advising on commercial contracts in general. Ability to manage and navigate complex business requirements/projects and translate them into relevant contractual documentation. Previous experience in a multinational, preferable FMCG company

LEADERSHIP:

• You are an inclusive motivator of people. Your team delivers with real passion, growing and learning from each other whilst delivering quick wins.

• You are still responsible for your own results and as a manager, you also need to motivate others to deliver with passion, creating an inclusive and engaging climate around you. You can balance challenge with support and coaching. You understand the wider business context and you are emotionally intelligent enough to motivate people to deliver what is needed.

• Passion, energy and enthusiasm for your work and for everything that makes Ice Cream unique

• Outstanding communication and problem-solving skills

• A team player who is highly collaborative, flexible and enjoys working with others

• Boundaryless – will go above and beyond to get the job done

• Curious with an unquenchable desire to learn

• Strives for constant improvement

• A commitment to unyielding integrity who will serve as a role model

• A great sense of humor, enjoys fun and strives for a proper work-life balance

• Able to work across time zones and possessing global sensibilities

• A doer more than manager – always willing to roll up own sleeves to get something done

• Ability to assimilate information quickly, identify and articulate risks and provide pragmatic solutions

• A business partner mindset that emphasizes practical and effective solutions

• Close attention to detail

• Strong organizational skills

• Capable of multi-tasking, address changing demands in a fast-paced environment and juggling multiple projects while always meeting deadlines

• Lead with a global mindset to ensure our teams operate on a consistent legal practice on a worldwide, cross-jurisdictional basis.

WHAT DOES UNILEVER OFFER/WHAT IS IN IT FOR YOU?

Unilever is the place where you can be yourself and bring your purpose to life with the work that you do – creating a better business and a better world. We offer an exciting & dynamic work environment where you can make things happen. Furthermore, we offer some great reward and benefits!

• Attractive total remuneration package; excellent company pension, bonus, share scheme.

• Flexible cross-disciplinary career opportunities and a wealth of training opportunities & wellbeing resources whenever and wherever.

• Plenty of company-paid holidays to further ensure your work-life balance is maintained.

• We encourage an inclusive culture, which comes to life with interchangeable public holidays, paid paternity leave of 6 weeks and our transgender policy.

• Under the Hybrid Working principles, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 40%-60% in the office or at customers, suppliers or partners to connect and collaborate. For the time you work from home, we will ensure you are well equipped. When you are at the office , you can enjoy our tasty canteen with prepped food and own products.

• Informal culture and being the first one trying our new products.

• My Fitness Plan (reduction on your Fitness Subscription).

• Home work allowance

• Company laptop and mobile phone

• Green Mobility Policy.

EXCITED?

Join Unilever and our team! To apply, you must do so online. Please do not forget to upload your CV and a motivation letter. Your application will be reviewed against our requirements and we will be in touch shortly after the closing date to provide you with an update on the status of your application.

Looking forward to meeting you!

Please note this is a Direct Search led by Unilever. Applications from agencies will not be accepted, nor will fees be paid for unsolicited CVs.

Equal Opportunity Employer: Unilever is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regards to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, disability, age, parenthood, pregnancy or any other basis protected by applicable law, and will not be discriminated against.

By highlighting the gender diversity at the workplace, Unilever encourages women equally men to apply. If you look for a job after a long career break or after any type of leave, do not hesitate to apply.

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