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Brazil Legal Counsel at Forvia in São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo, BR
Skills
Job Description
Your mission, roles and responsibilities
Interiors Business Group is looking for its Brazil Legal Councel to be based in Sao Bernardo do Campo Headquarters.
The Brazil Legal Counsel provides legal and compliance support to the company’s operations in Brazil, with Headquarters, 2 plants in Sao Bernardo do Campo and another plant in Goiana, Pernambuco. The role advises local management and operational teams on legal matters, supports contract review and governance, contributes to compliance deployment, and helps ensure that business activities are conducted in accordance with applicable laws, internal policies, and ethical standards. The position works closely with the local management, HR, Finance, Purchasing, Operations, and Group Legal & Compliance teams to provide pragmatic, business-oriented legal advice while helping to mitigate legal and compliance risks.
KEY MISSIONS — LEGAL
Provide day-to-day legal advice and support to local management and operational teams in Brazil.
Draft, review, and negotiate commercial contracts, supplier agreements, service agreements, NDAs, and other legal documents.
Support legal matters related to corporate, commercial, labor, regulatory, and operational topics.
Assist in the management of litigation, claims, disputes, and pre-contentious matters in coordination with the Group Legal & Compliance and external counsel.
Support corporate governance and legal entity administration for Brazilian entities.
Provide legal support to HR on employment and labor-law matters, in coordination with local HR and external counsel when required.
Advise Purchasing and Operations teams on contractual risks, liability, confidentiality, termination clauses, and compliance requirements.
Support real estate, lease, facility, and operational legal matters where applicable.
Contribute to legal risk identification, escalation, and mitigation across Brazil operations.
Ensure proper legal documentation, record keeping, and follow-up of legal matters.
Coordinate with external counsel and monitor the quality, timing, and cost of external legal support.
Support legal input for local projects, business changes, restructuring, or transformation initiatives.
KEY MISSIONS — COMPLIANCE
Support the deployment of the company compliance program in Brazil, including Code of Conduct, internal policies, and compliance procedures.
Contribute to compliance awareness, training, and communication initiatives for local teams.
Support prevention and monitoring activities in key compliance areas, including anti-bribery / anti-corruption, conflicts of interest, competition law, trade compliance, sanctions, and data protection.
Assist in third-party due diligence processes for suppliers, intermediaries, consultants, and other business partners.
Support the review and follow-up of compliance alerts, red flags, and mitigation actions.
Participate in local compliance risk assessments and contribute to action plans.
Support internal investigations and Speak-Up / whistleblowing matters when requested, ensuring confidentiality and appropriate escalation.
Monitor completion of mandatory compliance trainings and support follow-up with local teams.
Help ensure that local practices are aligned with Group compliance requirements and applicable Brazilian regulations.
Promote an ethical culture and a Speak-Up mindset across the Brazilian operations.
Provide regular updates to the Group Legal & Compliance and relevant stakeholders on legal and compliance matters.
Your profile and competencies to succeed
EXPERIENCE
5+ years of relevant experience in legal counsel, commercial law, compliance, or corporate legal roles, preferably in an international industrial, manufacturing, or automotive environment. Experience in contract management, labor-law support, compliance programs, and interaction with operational teams in Brazil is appreciated.
EDUCATION
Law degree in Brazil. Admission to practice law in Brazil is required. Additional training or certification in compliance, corporate law, labor law, or business ethics is appreciated.
KEY COMPETENCIES
Solid knowledge of Brazilian corporate, commercial, labor, and regulatory matters.
Good understanding of compliance principles, including anti-corruption, conflicts of interest, third-party due diligence, and Speak-Up processes.
Strong contract drafting, review, and negotiation skills.
Pragmatic, business-oriented legal judgment with the ability to propose practical solutions.
Ability to identify, assess, and escalate legal and compliance risks.
Strong stakeholder management with local management, HR, Purchasing, Finance, Operations, and regional legal teams.
High level of integrity, confidentiality, and professional ethics.
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple topics in parallel.
Good communication skills in Portuguese and English.
Ability to work in an international and matrix organization.