Senior Legal Counsel

Are you ready to shape the future of sustainable agriculture and food production?

Join us at Cosun as a Senior Legal Counsel and be at the forefront of our purpose, “Unlocking the full potential of plants & people”. If you are a legal counsel/lawyer with a talent for supporting the business on legal matters, this role is your chance to make a significant impact.

About Cosun

Royal Cosun is an international and leading agricultural cooperative that has been in existence for 125 years and is owned by approximately 8,100 sugar beet growers. Our mission is to unlock the full potential of plants in a transparent and circular manner and convert them into valuable, plant-based solutions. Our purpose, ‘where plants inspire the future,’ is rooted in 125 years of Cosun history in successfully valorizing arable crops, such as sugar beets, chicory and potatoes, and co-products into a diverse portfolio of value-added products.

What will you do

As Senior Legal Counsel, you will serve as a strategic legal business partner to one or two designated business groups (Aviko, Cosun Beet Company, Duynie Group, Cosun Ingredients) within Cosun. You will provide proactive, solution-oriented legal advice and support to the commercial and management teams (CEO/CFO), ensuring alignment with the overarching legal strategy set by the Cosun General Counsel. Your role is pivotal in enabling business growth while managing legal risk and ensuring compliance. Your key responsibilities will be:

• Act as the primary legal business partner to the CEO/CFOs and leadership teams of assigned business groups.
• Translate the group-wide legal strategy into actionable legal support tailored to the business groups.
• Identify legal risks and opportunities in strategic initiatives, transactions, and operations.
• Advise and support from a legal perspective with a focus on various (international) commercial contracts.
• Advise on regulatory compliance, corporate governance and competition law.
• Support dispute resolution and litigation management in collaboration with external counsel.
• Educate and train business teams on legal risks, policies, and best practices.
• Liaise with external legal advisors, regulators, and other third parties as needed.
• Ensure legal compliance across business activities and contribute to internal audits and risk assessments.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of legal policies and procedures.

Join a dynamic team of experienced professionals, working side by side with your (legal) colleagues at Cosun headquarters and reporting to the General Counsel. You will gain deep insights into our organization and ample opportunities for further development. Your contributions will be recognized, and you will have the chance to take the next steps in your career within Cosun's senior leadership.

• At least 7-10 years’ experience as a lawyer in a top-tier law firm and/or legal counsel in a commercial organization, particularly in commercial contracting, preferably also intellectual property, corporate and compliance.
• Strong business acumen and ability to balance legal risk with commercial objectives.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong analytical skills, able to assess legal risks and commercial interests.
• Team player
• Hands-on mentality and flexible.
• Good command of Dutch and English, both spoken and written.

This role offers

• An excellent annual year salary including holiday allowance:€92.515 - €132.165
• An annual bonus based on results
• Comprehensive Benefits: excellent pension scheme, generous holidays, and more.

Based in Breda with flexibility and opportunities for hybrid working, you will be part of Royal Cosun, a forward-thinking cooperative with 8,100 members and 4,500 employees worldwide. Our business groups include Cosun Beet Company, Aviko, Duynie, and Cosun Ingredients. We unlock the potential of plants into enjoyable, plant-based and circular products.

Apply now or contact Mart Grootenboer, Talent Acquisition Specialist for more information.

Join us and contribute to a sustainable future with Cosun! 🌱