Legal Counsel Customs and Export Controls Governance

Fresenius Medical Care is the world's leading provider of products and services for individuals with renal diseases of which around 3.9 million patients worldwide regularly undergo dialysis treatment. We care for more than 344,000 dialysis patients and provide our products in around 150 countries. With a strong focus on innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction, we have consistently achieved remarkable growth and established ourselves as a trusted brand in the dialysis market.

PURPOSE AND SCOPE:

As a (Junior) Legal Counsel Customs and Export Controls Governance (m/f/d), you will contribute to the legal backbone of Fresenius Medical Care's global trade operations. In this role, you will provide legal guidance on customs and export control matters, support the development of compliant and cost-efficient supply chains, and help integrate trade governance into our global processes. You will collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure adherence to international trade laws and internal policies, while driving continuous improvement and automation in trade-related legal frameworks. This is an exciting opportunity to grow within a dynamic legal environment and make a meaningful impact on global healthcare logistics.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide legal advice, counsel and guidance and on a range of trade governance matters such as customs and export controls, free trade agreements, special customs regimes and related risk management issues.
• Ensure that FME and affiliates operate globally in accordance with applicable trade governance laws and regulations, as well as applicable and relevant internal policies.
• Support and advise on the development and optimization of supply chains and flows of goods to achieve cost optimization in accordance with global trade laws.
• Support the integration and automation of trade governance processes into FME's global operations and processes from a legal perspective.
• Support the development, implementation and continuous improvement of Global Standard Operating Procedures (GSOPs) for customs and export controls, providing legal guidance and review in collaboration with stakeholders.
• Continuous review of customs and export controls legislation and its applicability to FME business models and transactions.
• Legal support and guidance in customs broker engagement and performance reviews.
• Collaboration with stakeholders and the Customs and Export Controls Governance team for assessing training needs.
• Support global development and customization of trainings to FME professionals involved in trade-related activities.
• Support the coordination of global support for handling trade authorities' audits, reviews and challenges.
• Support in the development for automation of trade-related processes and activities.

EDUCATION:

• Fully qualified lawyer, incl. above-average university degree.

EXPERIENCE AND REQUIRED SKILLS:

• At least 2 years of relevant experience in customs and export controls in an international law firm and/or in-house legal department of an internationally operating and complex corporation, specializing in customs and export control matters.
• Preferred Master's degree or equivalent.
• Experience in roll-out and implementation of customs and export control policies, processes and trainings.
• Ideally, experience in the healthcare sector.

Technical skills

• Good knowledge knowledge of global trade, including customs, and export control laws and regulations.
• Knowledge of relevant commercial, tax and supply chain processes.
• Ability to understand and apply regulatory requirements to business operations.
• Experience with relevant trade compliance tools or willingness to learn.
• Excellent written and spoken English, additional languages highly welcome.

Soft skills

• Innovation Mindset: embrace use of technology, automation and data analytics.
• Ability to work autonomously and to remotely.
• Ability to interpret complex customs and export control laws and regulations and apply them to real-world situations.
• Ability to deal with ambiguity, complexity and conflicting priorities, whilst keeping a focus on main drivers.
• Sound legal judgment under time pressure, balancing legal risk with business goals.
• Global mindset and cultural sensitivity, with the ability to work effectively across regions and time zones.
• Humor, highest professionalism for Fresenius Medical Care combined with self-modesty.
• Distinct and highly committed team-player.
• Team player with strong and effective communication and relationship skills.
• High ethical standards and professionalism.
• High attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy.
• Willingness to travel.

Location

• Role allows for a remote hybrid working model in accordance with company policies.