Legal Director, Sustainability

Global applicants welcome Location: Geneva Function:Legal Role: Permanent

Legal Director, Sustainability

Why does this role exist?

This role exists to support JTI’s Corporate Sustainability team and other key stakeholders in navigating complex sustainability frameworks and ensuring that business practices align with applicable laws and regulations

What will you actually do?

• Provide strategic legal advice on sustainability laws, regulations, standards and emerging expectations

• Review public sustainability communications, claims, commitments and reports

• Advise on corporate governance, board-level sustainability oversight, director duties and stakeholder accountability

• Support legal matters related to climate, environmental topics, product stewardship, circularity, biodiversity, waste and emissions

• Translate complex legal requirements into practical, business-oriented guidance

• Distinguish legal requirements from voluntary commitments, market practice and stakeholder expectations

• Design fit-for-purpose governance frameworks, controls, approval processes and risk escalation mechanisms to reduce the risk of enforcement actions, litigation, reputational harm and audit deficiencies

• Embed sustainability obligations through contracts and supply chain or other functional programs in collaboration with cross-functional stakeholders

• Identify and mitigate greenwashing, social washing and reputational risks across external and internal communications

• Monitor and interpret legal and regulatory developments across relevant jurisdictions

• Manage various tasks and projects as they arise and upon the manager’s request

Who are we looking for?

• Legal degree and qualification in good standing in at least one jurisdiction

• Minimum 10 years of experience, including in-house experience, ideally within consumer goods or food and beverage

• Demonstrated experience advising on sustainability matters

• Fluent written and verbal English

• Deep understanding of applicable laws and regulations across the European Union and Switzerland

• Knowledge of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to issue spot and develop creative solutions to complex problems

• Ability to simplify complex matters and demonstrate sound judgment, including in ambiguous situations

• Excellent interpersonal skills and a collaborative spirit, with the ability to build trusted relationships and exert influence across all levels of the organization

What do we offer?

• The opportunity to support JTI’s Corporate Sustainability team and other key stakeholders on complex sustainability frameworks

• The opportunity to contribute to business practices that align with applicable laws and regulations

• A role within LRA, Legal Affairs Global Functions, based in Geneva

• A culture that encourages ownership, value focus, responsible choices and constructive challenge