Ice Cream - Legal Counsel Benelux & France

Note: Deadline for applying is 23.59 the day before the Job Posting End Date.

ICE CREAM IS LOOKING FOR Ice Cream - Legal Counsel Benelux & France

Location: The Netherlands (Amsterdam)

Full-time: Yes

Local conditions apply  

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.

The Ice Cream division at Unilever is preparing to stand on its own, aiming to become an independent, EUR 8.3 billion publicly listed company by the end of 2025. We’re on a mission to create the ultimate snacking company.​ A place where growth, innovation, founder and ownership mentality, and performance are cultivated and rewarded. And where we craft extraordinary ice cream experiences - transforming ordinary moments into lasting memories.​ Because we know, life tastes better with ice cream.​

The Magnum Ice Cream Company is all about growth. Growing our business. Growing our customers’ businesses. Growing our people’s careers.​ Growth begins with empowerment. So we free our people to be innovative, responsible entrepreneurs, driven and equipped to give our consumers more amazing products and unforgettable moments – and having fun doing it.​  

With 19.000 expert ice cream colleagues and iconic brands like Wall’s, Cornetto and Ben & Jerry’s, loved in 76 countries, we are the world’s largest Ice Cream company leading the industry.  We have been taking pleasure seriously for more than 100 years, serving happiness with every lick or scoop of ice cream for generations.  

We are investing to unlock the full growth potential of The Magnum Ice Cream Company as a standalone entity, once we separate from Unilever, which is planned to happen before the end of 2025.  

We dream big but keep things simple to act fast.​ 

If you want to grow with us, make an impact, and shape the future of Ice Cream, this is the place for you! 

JOB PURPOSE:

Find your purpose at Unilever Ice Cream. Help to protect and land innovations that drive our business to win and grow. Be a frontline lawyer to help business navigate uncertainties and comply with the law, being the guardians of our values. Learn from brilliant leaders and diverse colleagues in a global environment, becoming your best self.

Are you a lawyer with (7-9 years’ experience) passionate about ice cream innovation and commercial negotiations, in a constant evolving world, and would like to be part of a multi-cultural European legal team, for the leading ice cream business in the world? Then this role is tailored for you.

WHAT WILL YOUR MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES BE?

The Benelux and France Legal Counsel will have a rich and engaging role, business partnering the Benelux General Manager and his leadership teams and will be responsible for:

• Ensuring compliance of all operations in Benelux (Competition Law, Business Integrity, Data Privacy, Anti-Bribery, Governance, Corporate Secretary) through effective business partnering to the Benelux Leadership Team and the wider Benelux Ice Cream organisation (Marketing, Sales, Procurement, Supply Chain, R&D and Finance). Collaboration across the European Legal team as well as the Corporate Centre (for Tax, IP, Corporate, M&A, Business Integrity and Data Protection teams).  

• Partnering the Benelux Leadership team and support transformational projects arisen around the creation and development of the Ice Cream Company, manage the Legal Department budget.

• Managing legal risks & reputation for operations in Benelux by supervising any major crisis and/or litigations in relationship with Authorities (Competition, Consumer, Environmental, Data Protection Authorities amongst others) and Competitors, and implementing policies and compliance program in Benelux.

• External legal issues impacting the Ice Cream business such as Competition/ Commercial, Corporate, Marketing, regulatory, and Advertising Environmental/sustainability, related and where relevant.

• Supporting both to the Benelux and French  Sales team in managing supplier/distributor relations by negotiating, analyzing, and drafting the various contractual agreements (single agreement, GTC/GTS, international agreements) whether for In-Home Retail Clients, European Alliances, Wholesalers & chains (Foodservices & OOH), Direct to Consumer & E-commerce.

• Advising both the Benelux and French teams on sales and route to market topics and projects / alternative business models, including Business2Business/Customer Development models /ecommerce;

• Advising on all legal aspects, including contracts assessments with suppliers, distributors, Ecommerce, Logistics, Factory maintenance and contractors;

EXPERIENCE YOU SHOULD HAVE/THE QUALITIES WE LOOK FOR

SKILLS: Legal Expertise, 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: Dutch or Belgium/French lawyer (6 - 9 years’ experience/PQE), experienced in both Dutch and French/ Belgium corporate law, commercial & sales contracts,  competition law, factory support, issues management.

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.

• Able to work with team members in different jurisdictions, in a truly distributive leadership.

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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