European Legal Counsel (One-Year Maternity Cover)

Start date:
Between October and November 2026 (subject to agreement)
We are looking for a European lawyer to join our legal team on a maternity cover basis. This is an in-house role for a lawyer who has a broad skillset and practical experience across a wide range of legal topics — spanning sustainability, HSEC, human rights, regulatory compliance, employment, and corporate and contract law. The selected candidate will work closely with teams across Glencore's industrial and marketing operations, providing practical, solutions-oriented advice across a diverse range of matters.
The main tasks and responsibilities include:
Oversee legal aspects of HSEC and human rights programmes, including regulatory compliance and risk management.
Provide legal support to the Responsible Sourcing team in connection with Glencore's responsible sourcing programme.
Support the Sustainability and HSEC & human rights teams on issues management, including stakeholder engagement and related legal risk.
Provide legal advice and support on sustainability initiatives, including the development and implementation of policies and strategies to promote environmental stewardship and social responsibility.
Monitor European regulatory developments across natural resources, mining, and energy, and advise on applicability and implementation implications.
Draft, review, and negotiate a variety of commercial agreements for various parts of the business.
Advise on employment law matters, including employment contracts, labour relations, and employee benefits.
Support the Corporate Affairs teams with legal guidance on external communications, and reputational matters.
The ideal candidate
Degree in law and bar admission with additional qualifications such as an LL.M. or equivalent preferred.
3-5 years of post-graduate experience in a generalist in-house or private practice role, with exposure to some or all of the following: sustainability, HSEC, human rights, employment, commercial law and regulatory compliance.
Full professional proficiency in either German or French, with fluent English language skills (written and verbal), Spanish language skills an advantage.
Experience working in industrial or regulated sectors such as mining, energy, or manufacturing is highly desirable.
Ability to handle multiple tasks, prioritise effectively, and work in a fast-paced, multinational environment.
Effective analytical, communication, and negotiation skills.
Ability to build trusted relationships with different teams.
Motivated and keen to develop skills and knowledge.
A collaborative team member with a high level of trust and integrity.
Basic familiarity with AI tools and an interest in using them to improve efficiency is an advantage.
Holding a Swiss work permit or passport holder of CH / EU / EFTA.
Benefits
We are committed to providing benefits, which promote mental, physical, and financial well-being. From healthy meal options in our restaurants and bistros to free use of the in-house gym including sport classes with professional trainers.
We reimburse public transport for commuting to work; alternatively, we offer free parking space.
We provide tuition assistance for further education and training courses.
We have a competitive parental leave policy. Our childcare benefits also include emergency childcare services and financial assistance towards daycare costs.
Employees’ Swiss Pension 2nd pillar is fully paid by Glencore.
Who we are
Glencore is one of the world’s largest global diversified natural resource companies and a major producer and marketer of more than 60 commodities. Through a network of assets, customers and suppliers that spans the globe, we produce, process, recycle, source, market and distribute the commodities that advance everyday life.
With over 140,000 employees and contractors and a strong footprint in over 30 countries in both established and emerging regions for natural resources, our marketing and industrial activities are supported by a global network of offices.
Glencore’s customers are principally industrial consumers, such as those in the automotive, steel, power generation, battery manufacturing and oil sectors. We also provide financing, logistics and other services to producers and consumers of commodities.
Important information:
This material does not purport to contain all of the information you may wish to consider. For further important information, including in connection with forward-looking statements and other cautionary information, refer to the Important notice section of Glencore’s 2025 Annual Report, which is available at glencore.com/publications. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future events, results, performance, achievements or other outcomes expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. This document does not constitute or form part of any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer to purchase or subscribe for any securities.
Other information:
The companies in which Glencore plc directly and indirectly has an interest are separate and distinct legal entities. In this document, “Glencore”, “Glencore group” and “Group” are used for convenience only where references are made to Glencore plc and its subsidiaries in general. These collective expressions are used for ease of reference only and do not imply any other relationship between the companies. Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer collectively to members of the Group or to those who work for them. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies.
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