Senior Legal Counsel, EU Digitalization

SURFsara; Utrecht; On-site; EUR 61,000 - 87,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

36 holidays per year (based on a 40‑h)

NS Business Card 1st class

Home working allowance

Job summary

SURF is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel for EU Digitalization to translate European digitalization legislation into practical applications for SURF and its members. You will analyze laws, identify risks, and provide concrete recommendations, policies, and contracts to support SURF's legal strategy.

You will advise the board and management on legal implications, opportunities, and implementation steps, ensuring structured processes and timely involvement of stakeholders across SURF.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in law from a university.
• At least five years of relevant legal work experience as a lawyer.
• Proven knowledge of European digitalization legislation (AI Act, Data Act, DSA, CRA, NIS2).
• Extensive experience with IT contracts and digital services issues.
• Strong analytical skills and ability to translate complex legal matters into practical advice.
• Ability to bring structure to processes and engage stakeholders in implementation.
• Excellent verbal and written communication in Dutch and English.

Responsibilities

• Translate European digitalization legislation into practical recommendations, policies, legal frameworks, and contracts.
• Advise the board, management, and colleagues on legal implications, risks, and opportunities.
• Develop and maintain contract templates, legal models, and guidelines for the organization.
• Work closely with fellow legal professionals and other specialists to resolve complex legal issues.

Skills

Analytical skills

Verbal and written communication

Contract negotiation

Education

Master's degree in law

Job description

Are you a legal professional who not only follows the European digital agenda but also wants to help shape it in practice? At SURF, you'll work on complex legal issues at the intersection of law, technology, and policy. You'll translate new European legislation into concrete recommendations, policies, and contracts that have a direct impact on Dutch education and research. You'll work in a legal field where not all answers are yet clear and will have the freedom to help shape the direction of these developments.

Where you will work

SURF is the ICT cooperative for Dutch educational and research institutions. Together with them, we work on digital services and complex innovation challenges to enhance the quality of education and research.

Working at SURF means working for a unique and open organization. This is evident in everything: the structure of the organization, the setup of the project teams, the culture in our offices, and the atmosphere among colleagues. SURF offers excellent terms of employment and a flexible approach to work/life balance. Employees enjoy working independently. In addition, everyone is given the space and freedom to use and develop their talents as effectively and broadly as possible.

The team you will join

You will become part of SURF’s Legal team, consisting of nine senior legal counsel led by the Head of Legal. Together, you will advise the organization on a wide range of legal issues, including IT law, intellectual property, privacy, cybersecurity, procurement law, AI, and contract law. The team develops policies, legal frameworks, and templates, thereby playing a key role in shaping SURF’s legal strategy and decision-making.

Within the team, you will be the subject matter expert on relevant European digitalization legislation. You will closely monitor new developments, translate them into SURF’s practical context, and independently advise the board, management, and the business on the legal implications and opportunities.

In addition, you ensure that SURF can translate new European laws and regulations into organizational practice in a structured manner. You help further shape and streamline the process - from identifying issues and conducting impact analyses to decision-making and implementation. This ensures clarity regarding which regulations are relevant, what their impact is, what actions are needed, and where responsibilities lie within the organization.

You will have your own area of expertise but will work closely with your fellow legal professionals and other experts within SURF. You will have ample opportunity to apply your expertise and help shape how SURF addresses new European regulations.

What you will do

As a Senior Legal Counsel for EU Digitalization, you will translate new European digitalization legislation into practical applications for SURF. You will analyze which laws and regulations are relevant to SURF and its members, identify the legal implications, risks, and opportunities, and translate these into concrete recommendations, policies, legal frameworks, and contracts.

You will work on legal issues whose practical application is often not yet fully defined. This requires sharp legal analysis, strategic insight, and the ability to translate complex regulations into a workable approach. You will advise the board, management, and colleagues on the decisions SURF must make in this regard and serve as a substantive sounding board for complex issues.

An important part of your role is ensuring that new laws and regulations are addressed in a structured manner within SURF. You help further shape and streamline the process - from identifying issues and conducting impact analyses to decision-making and implementation. You clarify what new regulations mean for SURF, what actions are needed, where responsibilities lie, and ensure that the right stakeholders are involved in a timely manner.

Other Responsibilities

• You will provide advice on European digitalization legislation, such as the AI Act, Data Act, Digital Services Act, Cyber Resilience Act, and NIS2.
• You will translate new laws and regulations into policies, legal frameworks, and practical implementation within SURF.
• You will advise on and negotiate contracts with clients, suppliers, and international technology partners.
• You will develop and maintain contract templates, legal models, and guidelines for the organization.
• You will identify legal risks and opportunities and proactively advise the executive board and management on these matters.
• You will work closely with fellow legal professionals and other specialists to comprehensively resolve complex legal issues.

Your skills and experience

You are a senior legal counsel who thrives on new and complex legal issues at the intersection of law and technology. You enjoy delving into laws and regulations that are still evolving and know how to combine legal depth with a pragmatic approach. In doing so, you look beyond mere legal analysis: you understand what new regulations mean for the organization and know how to translate this into concrete actions and a workable approach.

You switch easily between strategy and execution, bring structure to complex issues, and get others on board with what needs to be done. You communicate clearly with both legal and non-legal professionals and enjoy collaborating with different disciplines and stakeholders within the organization.

In addition, you have:

• a master's degree in law from a university;
• at least five years of relevant work experience as a lawyer, for example in a law firm, as in-house legal counsel, or in the public sector;
• demonstrable knowledge of and experience with European digitalization legislation, such as the AI Act, Data Act, Digital Services Act, Cyber Resilience Act, and/or NIS2;
• extensive experience with IT contracts and legal issues related to digital services;
• strong analytical skills and the ability to translate complex legal matters into clear, practical advice;
• the ability to bring structure to the process and engage various stakeholders in the implementation of new laws and regulations;
• excellent verbal and written communication skills in both Dutch and English.

The following are considered a plus:

• experience with privacy law;
• an affinity for technology and IT processes;
• experience developing and implementing legal policies;
• experience conducting workshops, training sessions, or other forms of knowledge sharing.

Prior to starting this job, a VOG must be presented.

SURF takes pleasure in doing its recruitment itself; acquisition is therefore not appreciated.

Location Moreelsepark, 48, 3511 EP, Utrecht, Netherlands Degree Master of Science (MSc) Employment Fixed term with permanent employment intention Salary €5450 - €7786 Hours per week 32 to 40 hours Deadline 18 October 2026 Substantive questions Ninwa Alan
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• 36 holidays per year (based on a 40-hour working week)
• An NS Business Card 1st class
• Home working allowance