Senior Legal Counsel – Employment & Labour Relations

We are seeking an experienced Senior Legal Counsel – Employment & Labour Relations to join our team in Germany (preferably Munich or Stuttgart).In this role, you will act as a key advisor on all employment law and labour relations matters, working closely with your team colleagues, HR, leadership, and international headquarters. You will play a critical role in navigating complex stakeholder environments, leading negotiations with Workers Councils ensuring compliance with German labour law in an international corporate setting.

This role requires strong legal expertise, business acumen and the ability to independently drive topics while collaborating with global stakeholders.

Role decription & resposibilities

• Lead and manage Workers Council negotiations, including preparation, strategy, and execution
• Provide expert advice on individual and collective labour law matters
• Act as the main point of contact for employment law and HR compliance topics in Germany
• Coordinate and manage quarterly and strategic labour-related processes with international headquarters
• Navigate complex environments with divergent stakeholder interests, ensuring balanced and compliant outcomes
• Drive and oversee employment-related projects, including restructuring, terminations, and organizational changes
• Manage relationships with external law firms, acting as a strong internal counterpart
• Ensure alignment between local operations and global policies, especially with HQ located outside Germany
• Provide guidance on health and safety and co-determination topics in collaboration with internal stakeholders
• Support and advise senior leadership with clear, pragmatic legal recommendations
• Take ownership of topics independently while maintaining regular alignment with key stakeholders
   

Qualifications

• Law degree preferred
• Extensive experience in German employment and labour law
• Proven track record in leading Workers Council negotiations (hands-on)
• Strong experience working in matrix organizations with headquarters outside Germany
• Demonstrated ability to manage stakeholders at executive level
• Experience in coordinating with and managing external legal counsel
• Solid understanding of HR compliance and labour relations frameworks
• Exposure to health and safety and co-determination topics is a plus
• Fluent in German and English
• Excellent communication and negotiation skills
• Empathetic yet able to assert and influence when needed
• Structured, proactive, and capable of working independently
• Great teamworker