Overview

Senior Legal Counsel EMEA Jobs in Machelen, Flemish Region, Belgium at O&M Halyard EMEA

Title: Senior Legal Counsel EMEA

Company: O&M Halyard EMEA

Location: Machelen, Flemish Region, Belgium

1. POSITION SUMMARY

Under the direction of the Legal Director, International Markets, responsible for leading legal support for the EMEA region of Owens &Minor International BusinessUnit (OMI) and provides strategic and business advice for EMEA region.

The role acts as a senior legal adviser and commercial partner to the EMEA leadership team, supporting commercial execution, operational decision-making, risk management and regional governance.

The role also leads legal advice to International Markets on ESG matters, including sustainability governance, responsible supply chain, modern slavery, human rights, greenwashing, ESG reporting and related regulatory developments.

2. JOB FUNCTIONS

  • Advises key business and commercial stakeholders on legal, regulatory and compliance issues affecting the EMEA business.
  • Leads day-to-day regional legal support, including prioritising legal work, managing legal risk, coordinating with legal and compliance colleagues and overseeing external counsel.
  • Leads legal review, drafting and negotiation of commercial contracts, including customer, distributor and supplier agreements.
  • Supports RFPs, tenders and strategic customer opportunities, including reviewing customer paper, procurement requirements, deviations, approvals and negotiation strategy.
  • Provides legal support to QARA on regulatory, quality and compliance matters, including product-related risk, customer/regulator communications, recalls, field actions and claims substantiation.
  • Advises on product, regulatory, sustainability and marketing claims, including promotional materials, tender responses, customer communications, website content, ESG claims and substantiation requirements.
  • Leads legal advice on ESG matters primarily for EMEA as well as the broader International Markets, including the European ESG regulatory framework, sustainability governance, responsible supply chain, human rights, greenwashing and ESG reporting.
  • Advises HR and business leaders on employment law and workforce matters, including employee relations, restructures, investigations, terminations, consultation requirements and employment disputes.
  • Supports litigation, disputes, investigations and other contentious matters, including management of external counsel.
  • Identifies recurring legal and governance issues and develops practical improvements to templates, playbooks, processes and training.
  • Provides practical legal advice on corporate, commercial and operational matters, escalating specialist issues where appropriate.
  • Acts as an active member of the EMEA leadership team, contributing to regional strategy, commercial planning, operational decision-making and risk management.
  • Revises and updates corporate governance policies and procedures to assure the company conducts its business in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations.
  • Guides and mentors junior legal staff.

3. KEY RELATIONSHIPS

  • General Manager, EMEA
  • EMEA Leadership Team
  • VP, International Markets
  • International Markets Legal Director
  • Director, ESG & Sustainability

4. EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

  • Law degree and entitlement to practicein at least one relevant European jurisdiction required
  • 8+ years’ post-qualification experience, preferably including significant in-house experience in a multinational healthcare, medical device or other regulated commercial environment.
  • Demonstrated ability to deliver practical, innovative and business-focused legal solutions that improve speed, consistency and decision-making while managing legal risk
  • Work experience in and general knowledge of both common law (in the United Kingdom and/or the Republic of Ireland) and civil law (in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, and/or Spain).
  • Experience advising on European ESG regulation, sustainability governance and ESG strategy, including the European ESG regulatory framework, responsible supply chain, modern slavery, human rights, greenwashing, ESG reporting obligations and related legal risk management.

5. KNOWLEDGE SKILLS& ABILITIES

  • High ownership mindset, with the ability to work independently, drive matters to resolution, manage ambiguity and support senior stakeholders without unnecessary escalation.
  • Strong commercial contracting capability, including drafting, reviewing and negotiating customer, distributor and supplier agreements across EMEA.
  • Ability to operate confidently across common law and civil law jurisdictions.
  • Working knowledge of key EMEA legal and regulatory issues affecting a healthcare and medical device manufacturing business, including data protection, regulatory compliance, product-related risk and marketing claims.
  • Strong working knowledge of ESG regulation and strategy, including the European ESG regulatory framework, responsible supply chain, human rights, greenwashing and ESG reporting.
  • Commercially minded, pragmatic with the judgment to identify material legal risks and provide proportionate, actionable advice.
  • Clear and persuasive communicator who can advise senior stakeholders and explain complex legal issues in practical business terms.
  • Proactive, organised and able to manage competing priorities across jurisdictions, business functions and time zones.
  • Able to develop and improve templates, playbooks, processes and training materials to improve legal consistency, contracting efficiency and business self-service.
  • Able to manage external counsel effectively, including scoping, supervision, budget discipline and quality control.
  • Fluent in English. Additional language skills, particularly French, German, Dutch or Spanish, are an asset but not essential.

6. ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

  • Ability to undertake occasional travel
  • Ability to participate in calls and meetings outside standard local business hours from time to time to support collaboration across EMEA, APAC and US time zones.
  • Performs additional duties as directed.

7. KEY COMPETENCIES

  • The person in this role understands that he/she will operate in an ISO9001 & ISO14001 controlled environment and is willing to implement and understand the basic principles of these quality standards.
  • Must actively demonstrate Owens & Minor’s IDEAL values: Integrity, Development, Excellence, Accountability and Listening

Owens & Minor is an equal opportunities employer

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