Senior Legal Counsel

Key Responsibilities Legal Strategy & Corporate Governance Support the Head of Legal (General Counsel) in delivering a responsive, practical and trusted legal service, advising the business on legal, regulatory, governance and compliance matters aligned with Re-turn’s objectives and obligations as operator of Ireland’s national Deposit Return Scheme. Provide practical, commercial advice across a broad range of areas, including governance, commercial contracts, competition, consumer, data protection, employment and environmental regulation. Support compliance with relevant Irish and EU legislation, governance standards and regulatory requirements. Support the business on governance best practices, board materials, and corporate matters. Engage with government bodies, regulatory agencies, and key stakeholders to support the successful delivery of strategic projects in full legal compliance. Monitor legislative and regulatory developments at national and EU level and advise the business on their implications and opportunities. Contract Negotiation & Commercial Legal Support Draft, review and negotiate commercial agreements with suppliers, retailers, producers and technology partners. Structure and negotiate contracts that balance strong commercial outcomes with effective risk mitigation. Maintain robust contract management processes, templates, and playbooks to streamline operations. Litigation, Risk Management & Dispute Resolution Manage legal risks, disputes, regulatory inquiries, and any potential litigation, working to minimise financial, operational, and reputational exposure. Develop and implement risk mitigation strategies, particularly in relation to consumer claims, supplier disputes, environmental compliance, and data protection. Support internal investigations and compliance matters, collaborating closely with HR, Finance, Operations, and other teams. Cost Savings & Reducing External Legal Spend Help build a cost-efficient in-house legal function by reducing reliance on external advisors for routine matters. Develop templates, playbooks and processes to improve efficiency and consistency. Support targeted, cost-effective use of external legal advisors for specialist matters. Strategic Contribution Work closely with the Head of Legal and executive leadership to provide strategic legal input that supports Re-turn’s ambitious growth and delivery of Ireland’s circular economy goals. Represent the Legal Function in cross-functional projects and internal working groups ensuring legal, regulatory and governance considerations are identified and considered at an early stage. Key Skills & Competencies Qualified solicitor with a minimum of 5 – 8 + years PQE , gained in a top-tier law firm and in-house environment. Generalist legal experience and strong commercial awareness, with the judgment to advise pragmatically across commercial, regulatory, governance, contractual, operational and compliance matters. Proven experience in drafting and negotiating a diverse range of commercial contracts. Solid understanding of Irish and EU regulatory frameworks, ideally with exposure to regulated sectors, data privacy, environmental/sustainability, consumer, or competition law. Experience supporting corporate governance, board-level matters, and company secretarial functions. Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities as a proactive self-starter with minimal supervision. Personable, collaborative and trusted, with excellent communication and stakeholder management skills and the ability to translate legal issues clearly for non-legal audiences. Proactive self-starter with strong project management and organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities with minimal supervision. Genuine interest in sustainability and contributing to a high-impact environmental mission.