Senior Legal Counsel (Employment Law)

About MVH Europe:

Mars Veterinary Health (MVH) Europe is a family of leading veterinary care providers committed to creating a better world for pets. Our network includes trusted brands such as AniCura and Linnaeus operating over 500 animal hospitals and clinics across 17 European countries. Together our teams deliver high-quality modern veterinary care for companion animals ensuring peace of mind for pet owners through excellent access and patient safety.

AniCura our largest brand in Europe provides care to over three million patients each year through 12500 dedicated professionals. Linnaeus operating primarily in the UK and Ireland is home to over 6000 Associates empowered to deliver exceptional care through a culture of collaboration clinical excellence and continuous development.

At MVH Europe we prioritize a culture of accountability inclusion and wellbeing. We believe our purpose to make A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS starts with building a better world for our people. We support our teams through strong governance comprehensive wellbeing programs and a shared passion for delivering exceptional outcomes in veterinary care.

Role Overview:

The Senior Legal Counsel (Employment Law) will be responsible for providing legal affairs support across all four Operating Units but with a particular focus on employment law matters.

This role sits within the Legal Affairs team in the broader Legal function serving all MVHE Operating Units in a variety of matters and particularly supporting commercial activities across multiple jurisdictions. The postholder will operate autonomously yet collaboratively delivering practical legal solutions aligned with business priorities.

Function: The Legal Function is made up of three teams Legal Affairs Compliance and Risk & Insurance which work together to provide legal regulatory and risk support to the entire geographical footprint of Mars Veterinary Health Europe currently comprising four geographical Operating Units (UK & Ireland Central Europe North-West Europe and Mediterranean & CEE) made up of 19 jurisdictions.

Team: The Legal Affairs Team supports all Operating Units and Group Functions with general legal matters including employment competition contracts (in collaboration with Procurement colleagues) corporate M&A and dispute management.

Key Responsibilities

Legal Affairs Team

• Provide legal support to MVHE and individual clinics in strategic as well as a wide variety of day-to-day legal matters e.g. commercial contracts (in collaboration with the Procurement Team) leases employment data privacy (in collaboration with the Compliance Team) and disputes.

• Provide M&A acquisition and integration support (in collaboration with external counsel).

• Manage Company Secretarial matters for MVHE legal entities.

• Organise and conduct training on various legal/compliance/risk topics (in collaboration with the Compliance and Risk teams).

• Represent the Legal Affairs team as subject matter expert in in strategic projects.

• Develop and implement strategies to efficiently manage legal risks.

• Manage use of external counsel to ensure high quality and cost-efficient support.

• Monitor legislative changes and industry trends to ensure internal clients are informed of relevant developments.

Senior Legal Counsel (Employment Law)

• Act as trusted business partner to all Operating Units across all business functions but with particular focus on HR (People & Organisation).

• Draft review and negotiate employment contracts secondment agreements and termination packages across multiple countries.

• Advise on restructurings collective consultation processes and employee-relations issues partnering with HR leads.

• Ensure compliance with local employment law (e.g. working time benefits data-protection) and assist with the roll-out of standardized people-policies.

• Support talent mobility by assisting with immigration and work-permit processes expat policies and tax-equalization matters.

• Lead employment-law due diligence in acquisitions and divestitures; integrate new entities into MVHEs global HR frameworks.

• Assist the HR team to investigate and resolve workplace investigations (discipline grievances harassment) ensuring fair process and risk mitigation.

• Develop and deliver training on key employment-law topics (e.g. GDPR for HR anti-discrimination remote working).

Summary of the Role

• Job Title: Senior Legal Counsel (Employment Law)

• Department: Legal (Legal Affairs Team)

• Reports To: Assistant General Counsel (Central Europe North-West Europe)

• Location: Amsterdam (Hybrid)

• Contract: Full-time

• Languages: Fluency in Dutch and English (additional European languages are a plus)

Education & Professional Qualifications:

• Dutch Law Degree or equivalent with appropriate legal conversion course where applicable.

• Minimum 8 years PQE with strong focus on employment law.

• Knowledge / Experience

• Deep knowledge of EU and local labour regulations and collective-bargaining processes.

• Proven track record handling complex restructurings and cross-border mobility.

• Strong drafting negotiation and stakeholder-management skills.

• Preferred

• Fluency in another European language.

• Experience of working in/advising clients in Europe or on a pan-European basis.

Key Competencies:

• Adaptability & Resilience: Thrives in fast-paced evolving environments.

• Analytical & Strategic Thinking: Identifies risks opportunities and effective solutions.

• Business Acumen: Understands commercial drivers and offers pragmatic goal-oriented advice.

• Communication: Conveys complex issues clearly and concisely to varied audiences.

• Integrity: Demonstrates strong ethics and professionalism at all times.

• Legal & Regulatory Insight: Interprets complex frameworks and applies them practically.

• Stakeholder Management: Balances diverse interests with tact and collaboration.

Our offer:

• Join a purpose driven company where were striving to shape the future of veterinary care together.

• An industry competitive salary and benefits package.

• A stimulating work environment with good opportunities for personal development.

• Freedom to take responsibility and the opportunity to influence.

• Flexible working hours hybrid working international digital work environment.

• Learning and development opportunities.

• The opportunity to cuddle our beloved 4-legged friends in our offices.

• We are always open for a conversation to discuss your individual needs.

Interested

Please contact Fleur Janssen Group Corporate Recruitment Partner who is happy to tell you more about this opportunity and the recruitment process. Or apply by submitting your resume through clicking the apply button below.

Internal Candidates/Associates: If you are interested in this position please reach out to the Corporate Recruiter to understand the internal recruitment

MVHE is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from candidates with diverse backgrounds.