Job description
Job Description: Job Purpose/Overview: Given complex and evolving legal / regulatory landscape in Turkiye, ambitious business targets for all segments in Turkiye in upcoming years and high cost of external legal consulting there, it is important to have a legal resource on ground in-house in Istanbul to build a closer relationship to the business to ensure proper legal contribution to business growth in Turkiye and navigate proactively potential legal implications.
The resource will support the business units of Mars Pet Nutrition, Royal Canin and Mars Snacking and will allow to synchronize cross-divisional approach within Petcare, and raise efficiency in managing legal workload on cross-segment basis. This role will be reporting to CEA Sr. Legal Counsel PN, RC, MS and being a member of One Mars CEA Legal team.
Key Responsibilities
Leading legal support for Turkiye and Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia for PN and Snacking) markets (West markets) to ensure proper legal support for business strategy implementation and proactive risk management across all areas of law, but with specific focus for those listed below. Business Partnership Providing legal contribution to West markets business priorities / market roadmap development and implementation; Serving ambassador of Mars Five principles and Governance & Compliance culture in Istanbul office, being role model for all associates and speaking up on company events on respective topics; Serving as trustful, reliable business partner to cluster LT members and market heads being based in Istanbul; Building on proper cross-functional collaboration by establishing clear ways of working and communications with key function leaders in West markets.
Risk assessment and proactive risk management Identifying, evaluating and addressing risks on business initiatives and different areas of operation thoughtfully and providing quality, pragmatic, expert strategic legal advice in ‘how make it happen’ mode to ensure business strategy implementation in West markets. Proactive risk mapping and risk assessment, providing to business units proposals on how to establish and manage compliance programs, and leading respective compliance efforts in the areas of law with most significant potential legal exposure in West markets.
List of respective areas of laws for West markets to be aligned with CEA Sr. Legal Counsel PN, RC, MS. Developing and launching company policies and processes in West markets within legal function area of responsibility, eg., on Po. As, stamps, etc. in collaboration with another One Mars CEA Legal team members Associates Legal capabilities development Provide legal updates on newly enacted laws in Western markets with practical focus on, ‘what does it mean for Mars business’ Preparing and conducting trainings for associates in Western markets to enhance their legal capabilities and Governance & Compliance culture in CEA Develop self service tools for associates, launch them for associates and put on CEA Legal HUB to support Governance & Compliance culture in CEA and ensure One Mars CEA Legal team operates in line with Efficiency principle by providing such tools which will enable associates to handle standard processes w/o legal function involvement, and staying focused and involved in those areas where legal contribution matters most Sales and procurement agreements Templatizing key contracts, devising tracker and repository for contracts Reviewing agreements and counterparties’ comment upon agreements, stepping into negotiation on legal aspects when needed Serve as ‘gate keeper’ in internal escalation for proper decision making upon potential risks – prior to final internal contract approval Review of advertising/ marketing communication to ensure compliance with advertising guidelines & applicable Laws Providing legal assessment and legal contribution to the employment documents templates, and legal risk assessment for associates related cases – when it is more complex then covered by respective guidelines and trainings Ensure compliance with applicable data privacy legislation and local Anticorruption laws and Mars global policy in collaboration with Mars Global Data privacy and Ethics & Compliance teams accordingly Litigation management for PN and Snacking in Turkiye and another West markets – developing and coordinating litigation strategies, participate in the trials in Turkiye and managing and supervising external legal counsels, tracking developments and outcomes to minimize exposure.
Managing external communication upon legal matters representing Mars in communication with governmental bodies in Turkiye upon legal matters; Participating in negotiations with counterparties on legal matters across West markets. ‘Digital first’ mindset – ensuring optimum utilization of digital compliance management tools at the units and driving momentum towards digitization of legal matters, including contribution to CEA Legal hub development.
Management of outside counsel and legal budget in West markets Handle other matters, not explicitly listed in the section, but falling within the scope of general legal support for Mars legal entities and business operations in Turkiye and West markets Context and Scope: This role will report to the Senior Counsel CEA for Mars Nutrition, Royal Canin and Mars Snacking Provide meaningful contribution to business strategy implementation, as well as managing wide range of legal matters in West markets (Turkiye, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia), building strong business partnership and cross-functional collaboration which includes interactions with LT members being based in Istanbul office.
Synchronize cross-divisional approach while managing legal matters within Petcare Serve as ambassador of Five Principles, Intelligent Risk taking and proactive risk management culture within West markets associates. Driving Compliance initiatives and self service tools implementation among CEA business units associates, incld.
via CEA Legal hub development Collaborate with regional legal associates (MP, Data Privacy, Security, Compliance etc.) for alignment on key projects and ensure proper resources allocation Education & Professional Qualifications: The position requires an attorney with a minimum of 5-7 years of experience with LLB/ LLM degree from a reputed Law school.
Knowledge / Experience: Generalist lawyer having expertise and experience in various commercial / business matters, incl. Contracts, Competition law, Marketing and Advertising, Employment, Consumer protection and Data Privacy, being able to provide contribution and insights to business strategy / priorities implementation, as well as handling the broad spectrum of day – to -day legal matters.
Previous work experience as in house legal in a company preferably FMCG/ Pharma (good to have not mandatory). Key Mars Leadership Competencies: Self-awareness Drives results Optimizes Work Processes Balances Stakeholders Communicates effectively Manages ambiguity Key Functional Competencies & Technical Skills: Ethical leadership Intelligent risk taking Contracts Competition law Employment law Advertisement law