Senior Legal Counsel

About us

As a leading provider of high-quality food and beverage ingredients, we work with farming communities across the globe to grow, source and produce ingredients that are good for consumers, farmers, and the world around us. We supply household food brands and manufacturers worldwide with cocoa, coffee, dairy, nuts and spices ingredients which are often grown on our own farms and estates and sourced from hundreds of thousands of farmers across ~50 countries. Along with our diverse manufacturing and innovation capabilities, this means we can provide ingredients for a range of products, from a plant-based latte mix to an almond based snack bar or a dairy-free ice cream. Making a positive impact on people and planet is a core component of our Purpose, to be the change for good food and a healthy future. With a deep-rooted presence in the countries where our ingredients are grown, we are closer to farmers, enabling better quality, and more reliable, traceable, and transparent supply. And whoever we’re with, whatever we’re doing, we always make it real.

Overview of the role

Reporting to the SVP & General Counsel ACO, the Senior Counsel will serve as a pro-active, strategic business partner to advise ofi businesses and functions and ensure the company follows all required laws and regulations and also to help enable business opportunities. They will work actively as a partner to the organization to further the business goals of ofi. Although based in Vietnam, the Senior Counsel will have a dual focus to support the ofi’s business units and functions across the ACO region, while also supporting the various ofi businesses and operations across Vietnam. The Senior Counsel will also support group/central functions and projects usually driven from the UK, Netherlands, US and Singapore from time to time. The ideal candidate for this position should have a broad exposure to diverse areas of law including the management of disputes, commercial contracts, labor & employment and international trade. An appetite to work across jurisdictions and cultures is a requirement as well as an ability to manage a diverse spectrum of stakeholders both internal as well as external counsel. They should come with a strong academic and professional background with exemplary ethical standards and integrity. Ability to work in a matrixed organization and a fast-paced environment with multiple competing demands and business customers is required. They should be a self-starter, able to work well in an individual and team environment. This position will require an individual who is able to consistently exercise sound judgement related to allocation of risk while also having the ability to suggest legal/business-focused alternatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Support business leadership, as well as other members of the Legal team, by researching and analyzing complex legal issues and providing advice that ensures compliance with rules and regulations.
• Has responsibility for promoting and embedding LCCS’s policies, practices and selected priorities through interactions with executive/key stakeholders, global and region heads.
• Draft, review and negotiate, alongside business personnel, under swift time constraints, a variety of contracts with vendors, customers and other third parties. Examples include Supply Agreements, MSAs, Consulting Agreements, co-manufacturing and toll-manufacturing agreements, IT/license Agreements, Purchase Orders, warehousing agreements, R&D contracts, sustainability program agreements etc.
• Advise the business and operations teams with a clear understanding of the meaning and implication of legal documents to the business.
• Handle, prepare and review documents related to corporate law matters, real estate transactions, environmental/health/safety matters, litigation, and data privacy among other business legal matters.
• Provides strategic support of selected regional and global Key Accounts, supporting the business and our customers.
• Work on cross-functional projects within the legal department.
• Assist in the development of policies and practices based on global and regional legal requirements.
• Stay current on legal and regulatory issues affecting the company and the industry.
• Collaborate on various legal, business, and administrative functions and initiatives.
• Assist with the managing of outside legal counsels and projects.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualification & other requirements

• LLB, Juris Doctor (JD) or equivalent degree is required.
• At least twelve (12) years previous work experience with an area of the law relevant to the position responsibilities is required.
• A combination of experience working within a top-tier private law firm and in-house is strongly desired.
• Experience working across the Asia Pacific region is preferred.
• Experience with consumer products or a regulated or agriculture industry is preferred.
• Must be fully licensed and in good standing to practice law in Vietnam.
• Must be able to navigate complex, global, and matrixed organizations.
• Must have executive presence, composure, and strong influencing abilities.
• Keen attention to detail is a must.
• Self-starter, highly organized, and able to deliver clear, business-oriented legal advice in a simple form in a fast-paced atmosphere is required.
• Team player who can collaborate with an internal team, while delivering with minimal supervision and administrative support is required.
• Proven track record of excellent judgment, analytical ability, critical thinking, and risk management skills are required
• Must be eager to learn new areas of the law and be strongly committed to learning the company’s businesses.
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, are required. Will be required to work with all levels within the organization, including those in domestic and foreign teams.
• High degree of professional ethics, morals and integrity are required.
• Fluent in Vietnamese and English, and able to draft to a high standard in both languages.

Note: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.

ofi is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to racial or ethnic origin, color, age, religion or belief, sex, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Applicants are requested to complete all required steps in the application process including providing a resume/CV in order to be considered for open roles.