Global Legal Counsel

BAT is evolving at pace into a global multi-category business. Our purpose is to create A Better Tomorrow™ by Building a Smokeless World. 
To achieve our ambition, we are looking for colleagues who are ready to join us on this journey! Tomorrow can’t wait, let’s shape it together!

The role is responsible for the provision of proactive, business relevant and strategic legal counselling of a high professional standard to the Global Marketing function, focusing on BAT’s Vapour products.

The Global Legal Counsel, Vapour is primarily responsible for proactively delivering legal and regulatory advice and guidance to the Vapour Category Marketing team with a commercial focus on building brands through consumer insights, product development, marketing activation and communication. This role will work closely with the Senior Global Legal Counsel to partner with the Vapour Marketing team and align cross-functionally to provide proactive legal and regulatory counselling and to be a global point of contact to support local deployment.

The Global Legal Counsel, Vapour is also expected to work effectively and collaboratively with Regional, DRBU and End Market Counsels and wider Legal and CORA teams to provide strategic COE legal and regulatory direction and guidance on key global Vapour Marketing initiatives as well as the associated governance and compliance processes.

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Take responsibility for the execution and delivery of key team and department objectives as allocated by the Senior Global Counsel.
• Provide legal support and regulatory advice relevant to the Marketing function’s strategic direction, development of the portfolio and brand and marketing communications, including:
• Identifying and mitigating legal risk in proposed and operational Marketing activities including intellectual property, data protection, consumer protection, competition and compliance risks,
• Identifying legal priorities and compliance procedures for the business to ensure an internal environment in which the business understands and meets its legal obligations,
• Managing complex and multi-stakeholder Group governance procedures, ensuring guardrails and escalation points are followed,
• Connecting with different internal teams to ensure specialist input is provided as required,
• Supporting, when required, the Operations Legal team in drafting relevant contracts to support marketing related activities in accordance with applicable company policies and procedures.

• Understand stakeholders’ key demands and perspectives, ensuring good stakeholder engagement and management practice to meet their needs.  Good judgement as to when to inform stakeholders of potential or existing problems or issues and keep them updated on actions taken.
• Provide commercially focused advice on key legal and regulatory issues in a straightforward and compelling way directly to internal and external stakeholders, enabling the business to deliver results whilst managing legal, regulatory and other risks. 
• Educate business stakeholders and Legal colleagues, including developing, organising and delivering regular training and awareness sessions as well as quick-guides to ensure understanding of key legal regulations and practices which may impact on Marketing’s strategy and commercial plans.
• Be willing to increase skills and knowledge base within the relevant regulatory area.
• Support and counsel Marketing and CORA in identifying and mitigating future regulatory risks.
• Carry out reviews of Advertising and Consumer Protection Laws in key markets to understand obligations pertaining to the marketing and sale of BAT’s products.
• Review regulatory approaches in other sectors and other New Categories, identifying synergies and potential trends that may apply to BAT.
• Analyse regulatory proposals and legislation, identifying operational impacts on the sale and marketing of BAT’s products.

What are we looking for?

Experience Required

·       Understanding of legal and regulatory issues relating to industry opportunities, threats as well as compliance requirements.

• Experienced in navigating and advising business stakeholders on legal and commercial risks associated with marketing activities for relevant product groups.

• Commercially astute with a clear understanding of CPG or marketing businesses and ability to understand and support strategic objectives and commercial plans.
• Work across a variety of issues demonstrating prioritisation, pragmatic solution-orientated advice and sound commercial judgement.

·       Awareness of legal issues relating to data privacy, competition and IP to enable potential issues to be identified at an early stage of an initiative, and an understanding of legal duty of care issues in the context of product liability.

Technical / Functional / Leadership Skills Required

• Demonstrates a blend of legal expertise, emotional intelligence, and creative problem-solving. You should excel in collaboration, adaptability, and continuous learning, making you effective in building relationships and adding value.

• Ability to work independently under pressure and to work smartly against unexpected and varied demands whilst highlighting points for wider awareness/escalation.

• Excellent communication skills, ability to explain and interpret legal issues being mindful of the audience.

• Skilled in engaging, communicating and presenting in a clear and coherent manner to commercial stakeholders.

• Ability to work across functions, building consensus and support where necessary.

• High degree of self-motivation and the ability to achieve defined and measurable results.

• Strong digital and IT skills (particularly understanding of social media platforms and competent use of PowerPoint, Teams etc.)

• Hands-on, positive and flexible attitude.

Education / Qualifications / Certifications Required

• Qualified lawyer (with 5+ PQE years or equivalent) with experience in commercial and regulatory law.

• In-house experience (via secondment or previous placement), and knowledge of product and consumer regulations.

BENEFICIAL 

• Experience in FMCG, heavily regulated industries, technology, digital marketing environment and/or retail is a plus.

What we offer you?
•    We offer a market leading annual performance bonus (subject to eligibility)
•    Our range of benefits varies by country and includes diverse health plans, initiatives for work-life balance, transportation support, and a flexible holiday plan with additional incentives
•    Your journey with us isn't limited by boundaries; it's propelled by your aspirations. Join us at BAT and become a part of an environment that thrives on internal advancement, where your career progression isn't just a statement – it's a reality we're eager to build together. Seize the opportunity and own your development; your next chapter starts here.
•    You'll have access to online learning platforms and personalized growth programs to nurture your leadership skills
•    We prioritise continuous improvement within a transformative environment, preparing for ongoing changes

WHY JOIN BAT?
We’re one of the few companies named as a Global Top Employer by the Top Employers Institute – certified in offering excellent employee conditions.

At BAT, we champion collaboration, inclusion, and partnership as the bedrock of our values. We wish to foster an environment where every individual can thrive, irrespective of factors such as gender, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership status, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, disability, age, skills, experience, education, socio-economic and professional background, as well as diverse perspectives and thinking styles. We recognise that our strength lies in embracing talent from all walks of life, empowering us to develop our culture of inclusivity and better achieve our business objectives.

We view career breaks not as obstacles but as opportunities and encourage everyone, without hesitation, to apply. Through our Global Returners program, we provide support to professionals seeking to re-enter the workforce after an extended absence, be it for family care, parental leave, national service, sabbatical, or starting their own venture.
Come bring your difference and see what is possible for you at BAT. Learn more about our culture and our award winning employee experience here.

We take pride in being a Disability Confident Employer. If you need any reasonable adjustments or accommodations to be made during the recruitment process to support you performing at your best, please inform the recruitment partner who will be in touch should your profile be selected for the role you applied for. We are wholeheartedly committed to optimising your prospects of success by making suitable arrangements so that you may showcase your full potential.