Head of Legal – Legal (Openbank Branch in Germany)

Head of Legal – Legal (Openbank Branch in Germany)

Mission and responsibilities:

As a Head of Legal in our German branch, you will lead the German Legal department and work with different stakeholders (Product, Fraud, Risk, IT, Compliance, etc.) of the Bank. You will be in charge of all legal matters related to the activity of our branch in Germany and the activities covered by Zinia in the German Market.

What you’ll be doing:

• Lead the legal department of our branch office in Germany, demonstrating high working capacity, responsibility, communication, and team management skills.
• Provide strategic legal advice to senior management and other departments on a wide range of legal issues.
• Participate in the development and updating of internal regulations of the legal area (models, policies, and procedures), adapting them to local regulation and group standards.
• Ensure an appropriate legal structure in the transactions carried out by the branch, supporting the business teams and ensuring alignment with global policies and standards.
• Act as the main representative of the branch on legal issues and ensure effective liaison with regulators and supervisors.
• Oversee and coordinate the branch\’s disciplinary and litigation proceedings, identifying potential risks arising from such proceedings, and managing litigation that directly concerns the branch in conjunction with the global legal departments.
• Review and support the drafting of corporate documents, commercial agreements (including NDAs), affiliate agreements, third-party agreements, and T&Cs subject to German regulation.
• Support Openbank’s HQ legal department in regulatory filings, corporate governance, business development, and other tasks as required by the German branch.
• Capture know-how and aid with knowledge sharing.
• Manage legal & operational risk.
• Identify and consult on legal risks concerning the development of new products and services according to German and European regulation.
• Help interpret and monitor changes to regulatory guidelines while proactively handling regulatory developments and advising internal stakeholders.
• Develop and implement processes for efficient and streamlined operations surrounding contract negotiation and processes.
• Develop and maintain form agreements, contract management systems, and other databases.
• Serve as lead counsel on strategic deals, resolving issues in existing commercial relationships, and handling pre-litigation legal disputes and inquiries.
• Drive all ongoing compliance review processes, including necessary filings, policies, and procedures.
• Provide time-sensitive support on a wide array of legal inquiries concerning all aspects of your country’s operations.

To be successful in the role you must have:

• Degree in German Law. Fully qualified lawyer in Germany.
• Years of experience in a similar role.
• Proven experience in the banking sector, particularly in consumer credit, distance marketing of financial products, payment methods, and marketing of banking and investment products.
• Fluency in English with excellent communication skills.
• Confidence making decisions in ambiguous situations.
• Ability to excel at leadership while also being hands-on.
• Ability to handle significant and complex legal matters with short turnaround times.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Experience with complex transaction management.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-pressure, entrepreneurial environment.
• Passion for the job.
• Experience in fintech or financial services, especially in payment service providers, consumer lending, and e-commerce platforms is a plus.

What do we offer?

• Immediate incorporation into a dynamic and agile company with a growth and expansion project.
• Working in start-up mode with the support of Grupo Santander.
• Competitive remuneration and attractive benefits package.
• Possibility of growth within the company and the Group.
• Collaboration in international projects and possibility of contact with different countries.
• Excellent work environment, social clubs, and frequent events (now virtual).

Would you like to grow with us? Join our team!

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