Legal Counsel

Essenscia; Brussel Hoofdstad; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hospitalisation insurance

Group insurance

Company car

Public transport reimbursement

Meal vouchers

Hybrid working arrangements

Annual leave 31 days

Job summary

Essenscia is seeking an experienced Legal Counsel to serve as the central point of contact for all legal matters within the Belgian chemical and life sciences federation. The role combines strategic advice with hands-on execution across a broad range of regulatory topics.

You will advise management and member companies, oversee governance, draft and negotiate contracts, and ensure compliance with applicable laws.

Qualifications

• Hold a Master's degree in Law and at least five years of relevant experience as an in-house counsel, lawyer or legal adviser.
• Solid, broad legal background with ability to translate complex legislation into practical advice.
• Knowledge of energy and climate legislation or willingness to develop expertise in these areas.
• Interest in working within a highly regulated industrial environment.
• Clear communication, practical advice, and ability to identify risks while finding workable solutions.

Responsibilities

• Advise management, colleagues and member companies on a wide variety of legal issues.
• Oversee legal governance of the association, including articles of association and general meetings.
• Draft, review and negotiate contracts with partners, suppliers and other stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with relevant regulations, including antitrust and data protection; help establish sound internal processes.
• Monitor legislative developments and assess impact on essenscia and its members.
• Take ownership of legal and regulatory matters within one or more policy areas as appropriate.
• Collaborate with in-house experts and external advisers, including member companies and industry associations.
• Participate in working groups within Cefic, as well as with VBO/FEB, Voka and AKT.

Skills

Legal expertise

Energy & climate law

Multilingual (Dutch, French, English)

Education

Master's degree in Law

Job description

essenscia is the Belgian federation for the chemical and life sciences industry. We represent around 700 companies, ranging from SMEs to multinational groups active in chemicals, plastics, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. We support our members with expertise and advice and advocate for the sector's interests at all levels of policymaking.

To strengthen our legal expertise, we are looking for an experienced and versatile Legal Counsel. You will serve as the central point of contact for all legal matters within essenscia, combining strategic advice with a hands‑on approach. This is not a narrowly defined specialist role. You will work on a broad range of legal matters and, depending on your experience and interests, have the opportunity to deepen your expertise in regulated areas such as energy, environmental legislation and other industry‑specific regulations.

Your role

• Advise management, colleagues and member companies on a wide variety of legal issues, translating complex legislation into clear and practical solutions.
• Oversee the legal governance of the association, including articles of association and general meetings.
• Draft, review and negotiate contracts with partners, suppliers and other stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with relevant regulations, including antitrust compliance and data protection, while helping to establish legally sound internal processes.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory developments and assess their impact on essenscia and its member companies.
• Take ownership of legal and regulatory matters within one or more policy areas, depending on your expertise and the organisation's priorities.
• Work closely with in‑house experts and external advisers, including member companies and industry associations.
• Participate in working groups within our European federation, Cefic, as well as at VBO/FEB, Voka and AKT.

Who are we looking for?

• You hold a Master's degree in Law and have at least five years of relevant experience as an in-house counsel, lawyer or legal adviser.
• You have a solid and broad legal background.
• You have knowledge of energy and climate legislation or are willing to develop expertise in these areas.
• You are interested in working within a highly regulated industrial environment.
• You communicate clearly, provide practical advice and get straight to the point. You identify risks but focus above all on finding workable solutions.
• You work independently, set priorities effectively and take ownership of your files, even when dealing with new or unfamiliar topics.
• You are comfortable moving between strategic challenges and hands‑on execution and are willing to roll up your sleeves when needed.
• You are professionally proficient in Dutch and French and have a good command of English.
• You thrive in a lean and agile organisation where expertise, collaboration and member service are at the heart of everything we do.

What makes this role unique?

This position offers an exceptionally broad legal scope and direct exposure to some of the key challenges facing Belgium's chemical and life sciences industries. You will help shape a future‑oriented legal function, work close to decision‑making processes and collaborate with experts from different disciplines and regions. The role offers significant autonomy and the opportunity to further develop expertise in regulatory fields that match your background and interests.

What we offer

• A varied and impactful position within one of Belgium's largest industry federations.
• A collaborative working environment with room for initiative and professional development.
• A full‑time permanent contract with a competitive salary package and attractive benefits, including: hospitalisation insurance for you and your family, group insurance, company car or full reimbursement of public transport commuting costs, meal vouchers, hybrid working arrangements, 31 days of annual leave for full‑time employees