Legal Counsel Seeds Europe

Syngenta Seeds is one of the world’s largest developers and producers of seed for farmers, commercial growers, retailers and small seed companies. Syngenta seeds improve the quality and yields of crops. High-quality seeds ensure better and more productive crops, which is why farmers invest in them. Advanced seeds help mitigate risks such as disease and drought and allow farmers to grow food using less land, less water and fewer inputs.

Syngenta Seeds brings farmers more vigorous, stronger, resistant plants, including innovative hybrid varieties and biotech crops that can thrive even in challenging growing conditions.

Syngenta Seeds has its global headquarters in the United States, Syngenta Seeds Europe is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland.

Purpose of the role:

This position is integral to supporting Syngenta’s Field Crops Seeds business across the Europe region, with a primary focus on providing legal counselling on regional matters in the Seeds division, including sunflower, corn, wheat, barley, and oilseed rape, while engaging directly with the Field Crops Europe leadership team. The business partnering aspects of this position will include presenting legal expert topics, advice on complex legal matters on regional as well as at the Commercial Unit level, and delivering anti-trust and compliance trainings. The role offers high visibility within the organization and requires the ability to navigate demanding legal landscapes while supporting business objectives.

Accountabilities:

• Provide legal support to the Field Crops Seeds Commercial Unit in Europe
• Draft and negotiate contracts for sunflower, corn, wheat, barley, winter oilseed rape, such as material transfer agreements, licensing (in and out) agreements, R&D collaboration agreements with private and public parties and production & supply agreements
• Support the hybrid cereals strategy, including legal advice on go-to-market models and online/direct distribution systems
• Provide legal advice on competition law, risk management, compliance, Code of Conduct, and company policies
• Counsel on freedom to operate (FTO) matters and EU regulatory laws for seeds
• Conduct Convention on Biological Diversity/Nagoya compliance checks in connection with Germplasm Acquisition, Registration and Flow (GARF) process to ensure all germplasm acquisition, registration, and flow activities align with international biodiversity regulations and access and benefit-sharing requirements
• Advising on French language contracts and collaborations
• Support certain seeds tax hub related matters, focusing on legal aspects of seeds global tax and transfer pricing

• Master degree in law from a university in Switzerland or another European civil law jurisdiction. Admission to the bar would be a plus.
• Minimum of 2 years post-qualification work experience in a legal department of a multinational group and/or an international law firm
• Professional fluency in English and French, with demonstrated ability to draft and negotiate in English and French; German would be a plus
• Strong analytical and negotiating skills. Strong influencer with the ability to build and maintain stakeholder relationships and networks. Excellent interpersonal skills with high cross-cultural sensitivity
• Proven business acumen and legal judgement
• Exceptional organizational skills with ability to prioritize and execute tasks efficiently with a hands-on attitude
• Demonstrated capacity for independent work and decision-making
• Aptitude for rapid acquisition of new knowledge and skills in diverse legal areas
• Ability to understand complex organizational structures and ability to communicate complex and highly technical information clearly and concisely
• Commitment to long-term professional growth within the organization
• Prior experience in the agricultural sector would be preferred

We offer a variety of financial and non-financial benefits including:

• We offer a position which contributes to valuable and impactful work in a stimulating and international environment
• Flexible working arrangements and environment with an open culture and diverse workforce
• The opportunity to work with and learn from highly qualified and experienced employees
• Learning culture (Together we Grow) and wide range of training options
• You will profit from a competitive pension fund plan, annual bonusses, onsite doctor, gym, canteen, and other benefits such as Family friendly initiatives, Child and Family allowance

Learn more about our team, our mission and how we achieve our goals.

We kindly ask you to include your motivation letter, your CV, work certificates and diploma copies in your application.

Syngenta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.