Managing Counsel Supply chain for Watches & Fine Jewellery Division Regional Compliance and Data Privacy Officer

PURPOSE OF THIS ROLE: 

The Managing Counsel will be the strategic legal business partner for the Swiss Watches & Fine Jewellry operations and the Compliance and Data Privacy matters at a regional level (Switzerland, India, Mexico, Brazil & Panama). He/she will play a key role in managing complex and hands-on legal matters for a wide range of legal and business ethics topics.  

By delivering innovative and robust legal solutions to safeguard the long-term sustainability of Supply activities and drive the Maison’s ongoing competitiveness, he/she will play a pivotal role in shaping both the strategic direction (including business development and innovation) and the operational execution of legal services for the WFJ Division’s supply chain and operations, supporting daily activities as well as cross-border initiatives. 

This includes direct involvement in strategic decision-making, contract negotiation, compliance, and risk management across all operational domains: Logistics, Quality and Procurement, Packaging, Manufacturing and sub-contracting in cooperation with the General Counsel, Switzerland. 

This position is central to ensuring the legal security and operational excellence of WFJ’s complex value chain, in close cooperation with the business teams of the WFJ Division and the Legal Product team based in France, to provide strategic legal guidance, help guide on risk and opportunities and enabling business growth, while ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, internal policies and business ethics principles. 

This role also covers Compliance and Data Privacy matters for the Swiss Region. He/she will provide expert legal and compliance support to all divisions and functions, working closely with business partners, HR, and operational teams, and collaborating with the wider Legal and Business Ethics communities around the world. 

WHAT IMPACT YOU CAN CREATE AT CHANEL? 

• Leadership & Team development:  

• Provide strategic legal leadership across the Swiss and France legal team, acting as a key point of reference and escalation for complex operations matters. 

• Establish and model best practices, ensuring high standards and consistency in legal advice and risk management across the WFJ supply chain and operations. 

• Collaborate closely with legal teams in other geographies, particularly with central legal teams in France and global legal colleagues, to ensure alignment and promote a shared legal culture. 

• You will play a key role in the management of different legal service deliveries: 

• Commercial contract negotiation and drafting (supplier, manufacturing, logistics, innovation, and distribution agreements) 

• Provide legal guidance on innovation projects, manufacturing (internal and external), logistics, stock management, and after-sales service. 

• Legal aspects of logistics, including service contracts, stock transfers (e.g., Vémars to GFC), and supporting day-to-day operations for both jewellery and watch divisions 

• Oversee legal support for the supply chain and operations teams of the WFJ Division based in Switzerland, providing advice on contract negotiation and drafting and addressing legal issues throughout the lifecycle of projects in coordination with the General Counsel Switzerland, for the Watches & Fine Jewellery Division; 

• You will also interface regularly with finance (for intra-group flows and financial management), marketing (for regulatory and product compliance); 

• More specifically, the Managing Counsel will support different business and operations teams such as the: 

• (i) development, quality and procurement team 

• (ii) industrial equipment procurement and point-of-sale promotion / packaging team  

• (iii) manufacturing and sub-contractor management team 

• (iv) innovation team: product, raw materials, manufacturing process and industrial equipment. 

• (v) logistics and service team; 

• Regional Compliance and Data Privacy: 

• Support the development, adaptation and deployment of compliance and data privacy programs, policies and procedures in the region in alignment with global standards and local regulations. 

• Advise on data protection and privacy matters, including  GDPR, Swiss FADP, LGPD and other local privacy laws), cross-border data transfers, and incident response, supporting internal teams and leading privacy-related projects. 

• Develop and deliver training sessions and awareness programs on compliance, privacy, and legal topics. 

• Conduct risk assessments, compliance reviews/audits, and DPIAs; coordinate investigations (internal and/or external) and recommend corrective actions as needed. 

• Collaborate with internal stakeholders (IT, HR, Marketing, Operations) to ensure legal compliance in business initiatives. 

• Maintain and update internal registers and tools for data processing, consent management, and compliance monitoring. 

• Coordinate the Regional Compliance Committee meetings 

• Finally, you will be required to participate in cross-functional projects within the legal and compliance department with other teams, at a global or regional level, ensuring that Chanel’s legal and compliance standards are consistently met across all geographies and business activities. 

• Collaborate with the Global Legal team on topics such as compliance, corporate, technology. 

YOU ARE ENERGIZED BY:  

• Building strong and trusting relationships with all your business counterparts and legal community 

• Working in a highly collaborative matrix and international environment: Collaborating and influencing across Corporate and Global team to bring relevancy, diplomacy and integrity.  

• Thinking innovatively of different ways to approach challenges, leveraging insights, data, and strategic planning. Proactively identify emerging trends and craft innovative solutions to navigate both current and future challenges. 

• Shaping Strategic Direction and tackling complex legal challenges: Lead high-impact legal strategy in a dynamic role for the Corporate, influencing and guiding key decisions to drive the company’s growth.  

WHAT YOU WILL BRING: 

• Advanced law degree, preferably Swiss law 

• Good knowledge of the Watches and Jewellery industry and its supply chain and regulatory specificity 

• Good knowledge of data privacy laws (e.g. GDPR and local equivalents) and compliance frameworks (e.g., anti-bribery, anti-corruption, sanctions).  

• Bar exam and minimum of 12+ years of legal experience, preferably both in a law firm and a multi-national company  

• Strong contract drafting and negotiation skills  

• In-depth knowledge of the watches and jewelry industry, supply chain, and regulatory specifics  

• Recognised team player setting up priorities that serve CHANEL best interests 

• Positive, constructive and pragmatic attitude and business enabling mindset  

• Tech savviness / capacity to continuously implement and enhance legal tools  

• Fluent in English, French and Spanish (Portuguese would be a plus) 

• Excellent communication, influencing, and relationship-building skills  

• High ethical standards, integrity, and ability to handle sensitive and confidential information. 

OTHER ASSETS: 

• Strategic vision of the supply chain strategy to combine the interests of the business and the ethical values at CHANEL 

• Good influencing and relationship skills to navigate an international, private matrix company  

• Critical thinking  

• Strong interpersonal skills – able to work well with and influence many different stakeholders, excellent clear and constructive communicator 

• Strong organizational skills (ability to handle a broad range of legal matters & get things done in a timely manner)  

• Decision maker, knows how to defend a position, negotiate, and display diplomacy 

• Strong moral compass and courage, does not shy away from difficult discussions or decisions 

• Global mindset and high awareness of what is happening around brings business impacts 

• Good at inspiring others (listen, share, build trust) 

• Stimulates innovation (creativity) 

• Strong team spirit 

• Flexible and agile 

• Truly inclusive leadership 

Location: Geneva, Switzerland with periodic visits to the manufacturing sites and markets within the Swiss region