International Contract Manager Legal Counsel

Location: Singapore, Singapore

Thales is a global technology leader trusted by governments, institutions, and enterprises to tackle their most demanding challenges. From quantum applications and artificial intelligence to cybersecurity and 6G innovation, our solutions empower critical decisions rooted in human intelligence. Operating at the forefront of aerospace and space, cybersecurity and digital identity, we're driven by a mission to build a future we can all trust.

In Singapore, Thales has been a trusted partner since 1973, originally focused on aerospace activities in the Asia-Pacific region. With 2,000 employees across three local sites, we deliver cutting-edge solutions across aerospace (including air traffic management), defence and security, and digital identity and cybersecurity sectors. Together, we're shaping the future by enabling customers to make pivotal decisions that safeguard communities and power progress.

ROLE DESCRIPTION SUMMARY

The Job Holder will be part of the Legal, Contract and Compliance Department of Thales international division (DGDI) for Southeast Asia, supporting all Thales businesses in Southeast Asia and Taiwan ("the Region").Within DGDI, you report hierarchically to the Legal, Contract and Compliance Director for Southeast Asia.Thales has been present and has grown from strength to strength in the Asian region for over 50 years, providing state-of-the-art solutions for customers in the avionics, secure communications and information systems, defense mission systems and strategy, research and technology, and digital security domains. The position particularly covers IBS Business Line (Identity and Biometrics Solutions) activities in the Region.The IBS Business Line offers Identity and Biometrics Solutions to governments, public authorities, police forces, and private entities in the field of civil identity, with more than 200 programs deployed worldwide: secure documents (biometric passports, electronic ID cards, driving licenses, other documents), management of sovereign identity, trusted digital infrastructures, border crossing management solutions, biometric solutions for criminal investigations. This is a rapidly growing activity for several years.

KEY ACTIVITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

As an International Contract Manager Legal Counsel, you are accountable for:

The position particularly covers IBS Business Line (Identity and Biometrics Solutions) activities in the Region. It also covers transversal activities in the Region for dedicated countries like Philippines and Thailand. On both sides, it covers a wide range of activities, mainly on export markets.For the files you will be responsible for, you will be expected to:During the offer / bid phase:

• Advise operational teams (Capture Leader, bid manager, sales team…) on a legally relevant contractual structure contributing to the offer's competitiveness and in line with local regulations,
• Draft and negotiate, or participate in the drafting and negotiation, of contracts with clients / partners / subcontractors / suppliers while ensuring the consistency of their contractual and financial content with Thales' interests,
• Participate in the risk analysis process and the construction of mitigation plans with the help of operations (possibly estimating financial provisions for risks such as delay, if necessary),
• Prepare and negotiate cooperation agreements, support business development (LOI, MOU, Consortium Agreement, JV Agreements, etc.),
• Provide support to purchasing for the definition of contractual clauses to be flowed down in subcontracting contracts, as well as potential support during negotiation,
• Prepare and present all review documentation related to the bid / offer, in line with the applicable review and approval process, including clear recommendations,

During the project phase:

• Ensure that, from contract signature, the contractual framework is known by the project team, kept up to date, and that deviations are tracked and managed,
• Define with the project team a risk and opportunity management strategy to minimize the impact of any risk occurrence, through requests for waivers or deadline extensions, or to improve the project's financial outcome by generating claims and/or amendments,
• Contribute effectively to the legal function KPIs defined at the Group level,
• Monitor and manage with the Litigation Department any disputes arising during project execution (collect relevant data related to the contractual and operational environment and associated evidence).

Other:

• Actively contribute to the implementation of the Group's compliance program actions, notably by assisting the compliance officer in implementing all pillars of the program (Antitrust, Anticorruption, GDPR, Trade compliance & Duty of vigilance),
• On anticorruption,
  • perform, analyze, implement and update the screening and due diligence files of any Third Party with whom Thales wish to enter into a contractual relationship, in close coordination with the competent Compliance officer as well as all the other relevant stakeholders (i.e. business capture leaders, country directors, and all relevant local functions and concerned Thales' business units) in accordance with the applicable Third Party Integrity Assessment Instruction,
  • report to the Compliance Officer any identified situations of non-compliance which would require the definition of a corrective action plan and/or a reporting to Chief Compliance Officer and VP Legal & Contract of TNSEA,
• Provide country legal intelligence and knowledge to the relevant global, regional, or corporate stakeholders
• Interface with external counsels for analysis and management of specific legal issues in the framework of complex contractual and/or legal arrangements or claim/litigation procedures in the Region on a need-basis,
• Participate in a cross-functional working group for Legal, Contract and Compliance Department (contract management, IP, standard contracts, insurance…),
• Contribute to the development and delivery of training to operational teams (compliance, contract management,…),
• Regular travel in the Region and occasional travel in France are to be expected.

KEY KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

To be successful in your role, you will have demonstrated and/or acquired the following knowledge and experience:

• With a minimum Bachelor's degree in Business Law or from a Business School complemented by a Specialization in Law, you have 8 to 12 years of proven experience in a legal counsel or lawyer position in an international environment,
• Perfect command of English language, verbal and written (Mandatory) as there will be a lot of coordination needed to be done with different stakeholders across the globe.
• You understand the stakes associated with the Group's compliance program,
• You master the techniques related to third-party review (third-party screening) and are able to conduct compliance analyses,
• During your experience, you have developed strong proactivity towards stakeholders and good ability to manage priorities,
• Endowed with analytical and synthesis skills, you assess situations accurately and can easily propose pragmatic solutions,
• You enjoy sharing your experiences and best practices, with a collective and collaborative mindset,
• You also have good listening and communication skills,
• You are keen to work in diverse teams and have inter-cultural awareness and interest,
• You have full mastery of IT tools, all types of data exchange platforms, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint

At Thales, we're committed to fostering a workplace where respect, trust, collaboration, and passion drive everything we do. Here, you'll feel empowered to bring your best self, thrive in a supportive culture, and love the work you do. Join us, and be part of a team reimagining technology to create solutions that truly make a difference – for a safer, greener, and more inclusive world.

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