Head, legal & compliance

The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) is a global partnership to make palm oil sustainable. Today, the RSPO is a global, non‑profit organisation with over 6,000 voluntary members across 104 countries and territories, representing every link in the supply chain : oil palm producers, palm oil processors and traders, consumer goods manufacturers, retailers, banks and investors, environmental or nature conservation non‑governmental organisations (NGOs), and social or developmental NGOs.

At RSPO, we believe that our success is built by the passion, dedication, skills, and expertise of our people. They are the ones who drive our organisation to new heights and guide us through the next phase of our development.

As Head of Legal & Compliance to the RSPO, this position is responsible for the legal and compliance work of the organisation and serves as a business partner to the Leadership Team and the Board of Governors. This position reports to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). S / he will lead the Legal & Compliance Unit to provide legal advice to management and internal stakeholders of RSPO across all functional divisions and the jurisdictions in which RSPO operates. S / he works closely with global colleagues and external counsels to oversee contracts and regulatory compliances, while helping to develop and implement global policies and procedures.

S / he will assist in research on and coordination of establishing operations in new jurisdictions, ensures compliance with the organisation’s governing structures and takes the lead in identifying and managing potential legal risks for current activities and operations.

The location of this role is Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

KEY ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provides legal representation to the organisation and manages the full range of legal advisory and responsibilities for RSPO’s legal entities including regulatory and statutory compliances in all relevant jurisdictions.
• Leads complex legal projects that span legal, business, and functional boundaries (e.g., cross geographies, subject matter areas, jurisdictions, Committees)
• Provides legal counsel to staff in all division on a variety of complex issues, develops and implements staff-friendly plans, systems, and procedures.
• Identifies, research and analyses legal issues that affect the RSPO and its activities at the national and international levels associated with the organisation’s activities, operations, and strategic initiatives, including but not limited to, revenue diversification, and jurisdictional and programmatic expansion.
• Develops and provides trainings on legal issues, processes, and policies to multi‑level audiences in all divisions in the Regional Offices and Global Teams.
• Develops and manages the Legal and Compliance budget and manages any contracts with external counsel.
• Works closely with the Membership Unit to support the governance aspects of the annual General Assembly and liaise with RSPO’s legal advisor to ensure compliance with the Swiss Commercial Register.
• Builds and maintains relationships with and information flow to external advisors retained by the RSPO, as needed.
• Leads special projects and other duties, as assigned by the CEO
• Apart from the duties stated above, to perform any duty or duties reasonably assigned.

THE SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT

Education

Admission to practice law in the relevant jurisdiction, such as :

Experience

Corporate & commercial law

Technical and Professional Knowledge

Compliance and rules applicable to non‑profit organisations or certification schemes in Asia, Europe, Africa, US and LatAm.

HOW TO APPLY

Qualified applicants are invited to send in their updated CV giving comprehensive details of educational background, work experience, and related achievements to Please state “Job Application – Head, Legal & Compliance” in your email subject line.

RSPO is an equal opportunity employer. Due to the volume of applications received, only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

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