Senior Legal Associate

Function:  Legal

Reports to: Legal Manager

Location: Bosques, CDMX (Hybrid).

Terms & Conditions: Full time position, (Hybrid).

Who we are…and what we offer

Be part of the world’s most successful, purpose-led business. Work with brands that are well-loved around the world, which improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. We promote innovation, big and small, to make our business win and grow; and we believe in business as a force for good. Unleash your curiosity, challenge ideas and disrupt processes; use your energy to make this happen. Our brilliant business leaders and colleagues provide mentorship and inspiration, so you can be at your best. 

Every individual here can bring their purpose to life through their work. Join us and you’ll be surrounded by inspiring leaders and supportive peers. Among them, you’ll channel your purpose, bring fresh ideas to the table, and simply be you. As you work to make a real impact on the business and the world, we’ll work to help you become a better you.

We haveestablishedfour Legal Powerhouses in Bangalore, Mexico City, São Paulo and Barcelona,which forman integral part of the Legal Function and provide defined, structured services to our other lawyers and to the wider business.

Where this position fits-into the team:

• Part of the Unilever Legal Powerhouse
• Part of the Supply Chain, Business Services, Digital & Technology Legal Team
• Integral part of the Unilever’s Legal Function - a global operation consisting of approximately 500 lawyers and specialists

Role purpose

To support Supply Chain, Business Services, Digital & Technologyteamwith the review, negotiation, and drafting of bespoke or push-back clauses within, terms and conditions with 3rd party suppliers with whom Unilever business, by both influencing them to accept our own standard templates or, alternatively, negotiating the use of their templates, with changes that suit Unilever’s interests.  

To ensure there are adequate terms and conditions and schedules included in the supplier contracts so that the contract risk profile of 3rdparty suppliers providing or supporting Unilever’s operations is adequately managed and addressed.

To interact with other members of the Unilever legal team who own the contracts’ subject matter expertise in order to ensure that up to date version of clauses, templates and schedules are used. 

To support the fact-gathering and timeline creation processes for commercial contract disputes and claims, made against or to be made by, Unilever, and support the identification of likely relevant contract terms, for further analysis by claims subject matter experts.

To support Supply Chain, Business Services, Digital & Technology team’s projects.

Governance & Compliance

• Support the operation of governance schedules and processes for key suppliers.
• Support the operation of required ongoing compliance activities for key suppliers.
• Understand changes to standard clauses, and highlight deviations and risks, if outside of standard clauses.
• Ensure the organization’s internal contract document templates are accurate and up to date.
• Identify opportunities to improve current contract processes and devise plans to implement these changes.

Stakeholder Management

• Support the development and management of stakeholder relationships within Unilever and with key third parties, including within Legal, Customer Operations, Procurement, Finance, Marketing, Business Operations Sustainability, HR, local Data Protection Officers and other businesses.

Key Interfaces

• Supply Chain, Business Services, Digital & Technology Legal (including external legal counsel)
• Data Privacyand Cybersecurity teams
• Media and Marketing teams
• Procurement
• Supply Chain teams
• Customer Operations

Key Skills

Essential

• Professional qualification in Law
• Minimum of 4 yearsof hands-on experience in drafting, reviewing and negotiating high-complexity contracts
• Minimum of 4 years of law firm or FMCG/supplier industry experience working within a large complex business environment requiring analysis of contracts and supporting data and making balanced risk recommendations.
• Minimum of 4 years of experience as a commercial lawyer in one or more of the following procurement areas: 
• Logistics (e.g. road freight, rail freight, ocean freight, warehouse services).
• Business Services (e.g. HR, R&D, Finance services)
• Marketing and/or Media Services (e.g. marketing and media agencies, PR, packaging design, events and activations, field marketing services, AdTech, Ad production, social platforms)
• Digital& Technology Services(e.g.SaaS, software licensing, IT services)
• Raw & Packaging materialsorproduction items
• Capital Expenditure(e.g.manufacturing equipment and services, construction or civil works)
• 3rd Party manufacturing 
• Fluent in English and Spanish
• Significant experience providing risk-based advice and risk reporting on different types of contracts and aggressive and defensive commercial claims.
• Contract drafting, analysis and negotiation skills, from both a Legal and Procurement perspective
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent stakeholder management
• Attention to detail, proven ability to draft accurately and effectively in a legal register of language. A test may be required as a part of the application process.
• Ability to work with colleagues across multiple time zones, cultures and countries.
• Achieving outcomes and results by influencing the way resources and personnel not in your control are utilized.

Preferable

• Multi-lingual will be an added advantage e.g. Portuguese or French.
• Prior and substantial understanding ofFCMGsupply chain processes and the legal aspects of FCMGsupplier relationships

Leadership Behaviors

• Care deeply
• Focus on what counts
• Stay 3 steps ahead
• Deliver with excellence