HEAD, LEGAL & COMPLIANCE

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is a global partnership to make palm oil sustainable. Today, the RSPO is a global, non-profit organisation with over 6,000 voluntary members across 104 countries and territories, representing every link in the supply chain: oil palm producers, palm oil processors and traders, consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, banks and investors, environmental or nature conservation non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and social or developmental NGOs.At RSPO, we believe that our success is built by the passion, dedication, skills, and expertise of our people. They are the ones who drive our organisation to new heights and guide us through the next phase of our development.As Head of Legal & Compliance to the RSPO, this position is responsible for the legal and compliance work of the organisation and serves as a business partner to the Leadership Team and the Board of Governors. This position reports to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). S/he will lead the Legal & Compliance Unit to provide legal advice to management and internal stakeholders of RSPO across all functional divisions and the jurisdictions in which RSPO operates. S/he works closely with global colleagues and external counsels to oversee contracts and regulatory compliances, while helping to develop and implement global policies and procedures.S/he will assist in research on and coordination of establishing operations in new jurisdictions, ensures compliance with the organisation’s governing structures and takes the lead in identifying and managing potential legal risks for current activities and operations.The location of this role is Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.Key Roles & ResponsibilitiesDuties include but will not be limited to the following:Provides legal representation to the organisation and manages the full range of legal advisory and responsibilities for RSPO’s legal entities including regulatory and statutory compliances in all relevant jurisdictions.Leads complex legal projects that span legal, business, and functional boundaries (e.g., cross geographies, subject matter areas, jurisdictions, Committees)Provides legal counsel to staff in all division on a variety of complex issues, develops and implements staff-friendly plans, systems, and procedures.Identifies, research and analyses legal issues that affect the RSPO and its activities at the national and international levels associated with the organisation’s activities, operations, and strategic initiatives, including but not limited to, revenue diversification, and jurisdictional and programmatic expansion.Develops and provides trainings on legal issues, processes, and policies to multi- level audiences in all divisions in the Regional Offices and Global Teams.Develops and manages the Legal and Compliance budget and manages any contracts with external counsel.Works closely with the Membership Unit to support the governance aspects of the annual General Assembly and liaise with RSPO’s legal advisor to ensure compliance with the Swiss Commercial Register.Builds and maintains relationships with and information flow to external advisors retained by the RSPO, as needed.Leads special projects and other duties, as assigned by the CEOApart from the duties stated above, to perform any duty or duties reasonably assigned.THE SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTEducationBachelor’s Degree in Law (LL.B or equivalent) from a recognised university. Strong academic background preferred.Professional Legal QualificationAdmission to practice law in the relevant jurisdiction, such as:Bar admission / called to the BarPractising Certificate or Advocate & Solicitor statusJurisdiction-specific qualification (e.g. CLP in Malaysia, BPTC in the UK, Bar Examination in the US)ExperienceMinimum of 10 years’ experience including significant professional experience as in-house legal counsel with experience:Corporate & commercial lawContract drafting and negotiationCompliance and regulatory mattersLitigation management (advantageous but not always required)Intellectual property, employment law, governance, or data privacy (depending on industry)Experienced in advising senior management and Boards of international organisations.Prior success in building relationships and communicating with diverse groups of people.Technical and Professional KnowledgeDemonstrated legal analytical skills, general business acumen and expertise in several of the core areas of work listed below:Compliance and rules applicable to non-profit organisations or certification schemes in Asia, Europe, Africa, US and LatAm.Employment law, anti-trust law and corporate governance.Enterprise-wide risk mitigation.Intellectual property, content management, licensing.Strong analytical skills and demonstrated ability to understand complex legal concepts and translate those to non-lawyers to create practical processes, guidance and training.Strong project management skills with attention to detail.Strong teamwork and solution-oriented.Demonstrate ability to work in a fast-paced, growth-oriented global or regional organisation.Flexibility in working hours to accommodate RSPO’s international office locations.Demonstrate strong leadership skills and experienced in exercising influence and managing change.Fluency in English and proficiency in additional major Asian or European language(s) is an advantage.Proficient in Microsoft office and Google platformHow To ApplyQualified applicants are invited to send in their updated CV giving comprehensive details of educational background, work experience, and related achievements to careers@rspo.org. Please state “Job Application – Head, Legal & Compliance” in your email subject line.RSPO is an equal opportunity employer. Due to the volume of applications received, only shortlisted candidates will be notified.