Sr. Counsel, Sustainability - ECE

Job Summary:

At Mars we believe that the world we want tomorrow is one where both our planet and people thrive. Sustainability at Mars encompasses social and environmental aspects and is an important part of Mars Snacking’s global strategy. 

The Senior Counsel, Sustainability – Europe and Central Eurasia (ECE), will serve as the key legal advisor, enabler and strategic partner for the company’s sustainability initiatives and efforts across the ECE region.  

The Senior Counsel will work closely with cross-functional teams on a global, regional, cluster and local level, including with sustainability experts in human rights, environment and packaging, to support compliance with existing and evolving sustainability regulations and standards, as well as with voluntary commitments and goals in ECE.  

Key Responsibilities 

Global/Regional/Cluster/Market level: 

• Support compliance with sustainability, human rights, packaging and environmental laws across the Mars Snacking business segment in ECE and provide expert guidance on sustainability-related legal risk and strategy;  

• Provide strategic and day to day legal advice on the following:  

• Sustainability-related activities and programs, claims, goals, and commitments, including packaging, environmental regulations, corporate social responsibility (CSR), human rights, and sustainability governance matters across the ECE region. 

• How to operationalize sustainability related regulations within Mars Snacking ECE on a local, cluster and regional level to ensure Mars Snacking’s commitments related to sustainability, packaging, corporate social and environmental issues are in compliance with external legal landscape in ECE and anticipate evolving regional and local regulations.  

• Contract compliance with sustainability requirements.  

• Assist Mars Snacking Sustainability Assistant General Counsel in the review of sustainability reports, disclosures, and communications to stakeholders, as well as marketing materials, and provide regional legal insights during the formulation of sustainability policies, commitments and goals to ensure legal compliance with regulations in ECE. 

• Support Mars Snacking Sustainability Assistant General Counsel and Corporate Compliance team as appropriate in relation to regulatory inquiries, investigations, or legal inquiries related to sustainability, human rights, packaging and environmental issues in Mars Snacking’s operations and supply chain with impact on ECE.  

• Manage and handle legal issues, challenges, disputes or legal proceedings related to environmental, packaging, human rights and sustainability issues in ECE in close alignment with relevant global stakeholders.  

• Participate in cross functional collaboration across Sustainability teams, R&D, Commercial, Demand, Legal, etc.  

• Support the integration of sustainability considerations into the company’s business operations, risk management, and corporate governance frameworks on a regional and cluster level. 

• Keep regional Mars Snacking Associate General Counsel informed and aligned as to sustainability related operational compliance (including but not limited to packaging, human rights, and sustainability reporting), challenges and investigations for ECE. 

External/internal: 

• Partner with Public Affairs teams who carry out horizon scanning and relevant internal stakeholders on the likely or actual business impact of proposed/passed sustainability regulation and policies at regional, cluster and local levels, ensuring the company's compliance and proactive adaptation and provide expert guidance and perspective on pressing policy matters;  

• Partner with Corporate Affairs to support external engagements and strategic initiatives in the sphere of sustainability and advise on antitrust considerations in the context of sustainability efforts. Support the representation of Mars Snacking in external forums on sustainability matters, as required;  

• Partner with the regional sustainability team to conduct training sessions and workshops for internal teams on legal requirements, best practices, and developments in sustainability law. 

• Seek assistance from and manage external counsel when necessary. 

Job Specifications/Qualifications 

1. Education & Professional Qualification 

• A lawyer qualified to operate in house in at least one of the member states of the European Union (preference is France or Germany) 

• Additional certifications in sustainability, ESG, or environmental law are highly desirable. 

2. Knowledge/Experience 

• 8 - 10 years’ experience in private practice and in-house with focus on European sustainability, environmental law, corporate governance and human rights topics. Experience in CPG sector is a plus. 

• Strong business partnership experience at regional level  

• Proven track record of advising on complex sustainability issues within a multinational or large-scale organization. 

• Experience working with EU regulations and familiarity with the legal landscape across multiple European jurisdictions. 

• Diversified legal experience in private practice/ corporate environments, as well as engagement in policy and legal forums.  

• Demonstrated effectiveness of working with internal senior stakeholders, third party experts, NGOs, government and regulatory organizations. 

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with over 140,000 diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.
• Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.