Senior Manager Legal & Compliance

Your key Responsibilities

As Senior Manager Legal & Compliance you report disciplinarily to the CEO of RT, with a functional reporting line to the Group functions Legal & Compliance and you work in close collaboration with the management of RT and Südzucker Benelux companies.

This function centres around 5 key domains of responsibility

1. Strategic Legal Leadership

• Serve as the principal legal advisor to the management and operational teams of RT and Südzucker Benelux companies. This includes developing and implementing legal and compliance strategies, advising on corporate governance, mergers & acquisitions, representing Südzucker Companies in negotiations, dispute resolution and litigation and providing legal input on strategic dossiers with public policy impact (e.g. energy, sustainability, food & sugar regulation).

2. Compliance & Regulatory Oversight

• Ensure full compliance with Belgian, Dutch, and EU laws and regulations, including competition law, GDPR, Whistleblowing, ESG/CSRD, and sector-specific requirements. Act as compliance champion throughout the organisation and monitor Belgian and EU regulatory developments affecting the (agro)food and sugar sectors.

3. Contract Management & Negotiation

• Draft, review, and negotiate important and complex commercial contracts as well as  important supply/distribution/confidentiality agreements in collaboration with the involved departments. Oversee legal aspects of key real estate, leasing and operational contracts and provide business-oriented legal solutions to support commercial objectives.

4. Risk Management & Business Partnering

• Identify, assess, and mitigate legal and compliance risks across all business activities, strategic projects and initiatives.
• Proactively monitor legislative and regulatory developments, advising management on implications and opportunities while collaborating closely with Finance, Operations, HR and Sales departments.

5. Leadership & Collaboration

• Coordinate activities with legal, compliance & insurance/real estate group functions, external advisors, and cross-functional teams.
• Act as a legal interface with public authorities at Flemish, Walloon, federal and EU level and support participation in sector federations and policy platforms, ensuring coherent and compliant positioning and influencing.

Candidate Profile

Qualifications & Experience

• Master’s degree in Law; specialization in corporate, commercial, competition or financial law is a plus
• Minimum 8-10 years of relevant legal experience, with significant in-house experience in a multinational, industrial manufacturing company
• Proven expertise in commercial contracts, corporate law, compliance and regulatory affairs. Sector exposure to (agro)food/FMCG, industrials, or regulated manufacturing (for product, safety, consumer, and competition nuances) is a plus
• Solid knowledge of Belgian and Dutch law; familiarity with other European legislations is an asset Experience in managing complex legal projects, disputes, and external counsel
• Exposure to regulatory or public-policy environments in an industrial or (agro)food-sector context is an asset.

Skills & Competencies

• Strategic thinker with strong business understanding and solution-oriented mindset
• Excellent analytical, negotiation, and communication skills; able to translate complex legal topics into clear, actionable guidance for senior management
• High integrity, sound judgment, and resilience under pressure
• Fluency in verbal and written French, Dutch and English; other European languages are a plus
• Strong interpersonal skills with a wide variety of people; able to build trust and influence cross-functionally
• Tech-savvy, embracing digital tools to enhance legal and compliance processes
• Autonomous, diplomatic, and proactive, comfortable operating independently and as part of a team in a matrix organization and in complex, multi-level governance environments.