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Head of Legal & Compliance Africa

Location: 

Abidjan, CI, 01 BP 1045

At Barry Callebaut, we are on a journey to transform the cocoa and chocolate industry. As the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, our actions truly shape the future of our industry. We are a business-to-business company, serving the entire food sector, from the cocoa bean to the finest chocolate product. We are a company with a purpose, we believe in doing well by doing good and reinvesting in the communities we operate. We have a long-standing commitment to sustainability and our goal is to shape a sustainable cocoa and chocolate future. We are headquartered in Zurich, and have more than 12,000 passionate Employees working in more than 40 countries worldwide. We are very proud of who we are and what we do. And of course, we are always looking for talented people to help us have a positive impact on our industry and beyond!

 

About You

 

We are looking for an experienced Legal Counsel to be based in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, to take on the role of Head of Legal & Compliance for Africa. This role ensures compliance with local and international regulations, mitigates legal risks, leads ethics and governance programs, and supports business leaders with practical, business-oriented legal guidance. It also will be responsible for a broad range of corporate and commercial legal matters and for effectively and efficiently managing legal and compliance risks in African countries, including but not limited to Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon and Nigeria. The position also includes broader regional counsel responsibilities, acting as the primary legal representative for the African region.

 

Key Responsibilities include:

 

  • Provide general legal advice and counseling to the regional and local management teams
  • Proactively manage and mitigate all legal and compliance risks in the region
  • Draft and negotiate commercial contracts and support the business in day-to-day commercial activities, with a focus on cocoa sourcing & trading activities
  • Handle the corporate legal affairs of all regional subsidiaries of the Barry Callebaut Group
  • Support strategic projects and initiatives, including acquisitions, restructurings and construction projects
  • Support the implementation of the Group's global sustainability strategy
  • Ensure compliance with laws and regulations as well as the Group's Code of Conduct, and internal policies & regulations
  • Lead implementation of compliance programs, including anti-bribery, anti-corruption, sanctions & embargos, data protection, conflict of interest and code of conduct initiatives
  • Support corporate secretariat duties, including holding statutory meetings within the legal deadline, governance documentation, board resolutions, and corporate filings
  • Ensure legal entities across Africa meet statutory, regulatory, and corporate governance obligations
  • Maintain corporate records including in the Group’s database or platforms and oversee regional legal documentation standards
  • Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including auditors, regulatory bodies, and industry partners
  • Represent the Legal & Compliance department in strategic discussions, ensuring financial considerations are prioritized in decision-making

 

About You

 

  • 10+ years of working experience in a multinational company
  • Deep knowledge and experience of the African market
  • Experience in a similar industry is an advantage (i.e. manufacturing, trading & sourcing)
  • Solid experience in commercial and corporate law, especially OHADA law, regulatory compliance and dispute management
  • Experience in managing teams and coordinating external counsel
  • Experience with compliance regimes such as FCPA, UK Bribery Act, GDPR and African Local regulations
  • Strong experience in company secretary activities including handling external directors and shareholders
  • Sound business judgment and ability to quickly analyze complex legal matters
  • Leadership, coaching and stakeholder management capabilities
  • Strong ethical mindset and resilience in a fast-paced environment
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively
  • Business partner mindset and hands-on mentality
  • Good organization and communication skills and ability to communicate with all levels of the organization
  • Strong communicator in diverse and international working environment
  • Fluency in English and French

 

At Barry Callebaut, we are committed to Diversity & Inclusion. United by our strong values, we thrive on the diversity of who we are, where we come from, what we’ve experienced and how we think. We are committed to nurturing an inclusive environment where people can truly be themselves, grow to their full potential and feel they belong. #oneBC - Diverse People, Sustainable Growth.

If you want to learn more about Barry Callebaut, please find further information here.

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