Legal Counsel

Sika Australia; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Sika Australia is seeking a senior in-house counsel to act as the central legal lead across its Australian entities. The role focuses on commercial contracts, regulatory compliance and advising management on complex legal matters within an industrial and manufacturing context.

Ideal candidates have 8+ years of post-qualification experience, with strong commercial law expertise and demonstrated ability to work independently with external counsel.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in Law and admission to the bar.
• 8+ years of post-qualification legal experience in reputable law firms and senior in-house roles.
• Strong commercial law expertise relevant to industrial and manufacturing businesses.
• Demonstrated ability to draft, negotiate and manage high volumes of commercial contracts independently and to demanding timelines.
• Proven capability to advise senior management, act as a standalone legal lead, and coordinate internal functions with external counsel.
• Experience leading compliance programmes and managing cross-functional stakeholders with high integrity.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality legal advice across Sika Australia's entities.
• Draft, review and negotiate commercial agreements including supply, procurement, distribution, agency, services, lease, financing and employment documents.
• Advise management on commercial, corporate, employment, regulatory and environmental law matters.
• Manage all litigation and dispute matters, coordinating strategy with external counsel.
• Lead development of compliance frameworks and monitor anti-corruption, data privacy and trade compliance.

Skills

Commercial law

Contract negotiation

Legal advisory

Leadership

External counsel management

Compliance programs

Stakeholder management

Regulatory compliance

Education

Master's degree in Law

Bar admission

Job description

• Provide high-quality legal advice and serve as the central coordination point for all legal matters across Sika's Australian legal entities, aligning internal functions and managing external counsel to control cost and timing.
• Draft, review and negotiate commercial agreements including supply, procurement, distribution, agency, services, lease, financing and employment-related documentation.
• Advise management on commercial contracts, corporate law, employment law, competition law, regulatory matters, environmental law, restructuring and dispute management, partnering with Human Resources on employment law and workplace policies.
• Manage all litigation and dispute matters, including civil, labour, consumer, environmental, criminal and regulatory disputes, whilst coordinating litigation strategy and managing external counsel.
• Lead the design and continuous improvement of compliance frameworks to identify and elevate compliance risks across anti-corruption, competition, data privacy and trade compliance.
• Ensure implementation of corporate governance principles, delegations of authority and internal approval frameworks, supporting corporate secretarial matters and statutory filings.
• Master's degree in Law and successful completion of the bar examination.
• At least 8 years of post-qualification legal experience, including time in a reputable law firm and senior in-house legal roles, with strong commercial law expertise relevant to industrial and manufacturing businesses.
• Demonstrated ability to draft, negotiate and manage high volumes of commercial contracts independently and to demanding timelines.
• Proven capability to advise senior management, operate as a standalone legal lead, and coordinate internal functions with external counsel.
• Experience leading compliance programmes and managing cross-functional stakeholders with high integrity and sound ethical standards.

As a market leader, Sika Australia understands and recognizes the contribution employees make to the success of our business.

In return for your experience and commitment, you will be rewarded with,

• A competitive salary package.
• A supportive working environment with a strong, positive company culture
• We invest in our employees – you will be provided with all relevant training and development.

We thank you in advance for your application, however only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Compliance and Important Information

• Applicants must hold unrestricted Australian working rights.
• Successful applicants will be required to undergo a Pre-Employment Medical including a drug and alcohol screen.
• Sika Australia is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees

Disclaimer – Sika Australia does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. Sika Australia is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

We offer competitive salaries, aligned with local market benchmarks and the specific scope and responsibilities of each role. Compensation is determined based skills relevant to the position, education and/or training. We are committed to fair and equitable pay practices in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

Sika Australia uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools to support the initial screening of job applications based on inherent duties of the role. However, we want to stress that AI does not make final decisions or disqualify candidates from consideration. Applications are carefully reviewed by our experienced hiring managers and recruiters to ensure a fair and thorough evaluation process.

By combining the efficiency of AI with the expertise and judgment of our hiring team, we are able to identify top candidates while maintaining a human-centered approach to hiring.

Sika is a specialty chemicals company with a globally leading position in the development and production of systems and products for bonding, sealing, damping, reinforcing, and protection in the building sector and industrial manufacturing. Sika has subsidiaries in 103 countries around the world and, in over 400 factories, produces innovative technologies for customers worldwide. In doing so, it plays a crucial role in enabling the transformation of the construction and transportation sector toward greater environmental compatibility. With more than 33,000 employees, the company generated sales of CHF 11.20 billion in 2025.