Legal Operations Associate (CH)

WatersEdge Solutions; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 1,781,000 - 2,573,000; Full time

Job summary

WatersEdge Solutions is seeking a hands-on Legal Operations Associate (CH) to join its Swiss legal team. You will act as the first point of contact for employment law queries and support Swiss compliance as Responsible Person under SECO rules, with interaction across EU jurisdictions.

You don’t need to be a qualified attorney, but you should have a solid grounding in employment law, strong research skills, and the motivation to own and learn quickly in a fast-growing HR tech environment.

Qualifications

• Solid grounding in employment law
• Ability to translate legislation into practical guidance
• Experience supporting contract drafting and policy queries
• Strong research and communication skills

Responsibilities

• Act as the first point of contact for day-to-day employment law queries
• Support drafting and review of standard contracts and letters
• Maintain compliance documentation under Swiss law and SECO requirements
• Coordinate with external counsel for specialist input
• Act as Responsible Person for the Swiss entity under SECO law
• Liaise with employees and clients on legal and compliance matters

Skills

Legal research

Contract drafting support

Policy queries

Communication with employees

Attention to detail

Organisational skills

Team collaboration

Ambiguity handling

Education

Law degree with employment law focus

Paralegal experience

Job description

Location: Switzerland | Switzerland-Based
Employment Type: Full-Time
Industry: Legal Operations | Employment Law | HR Tech

WatersEdge Solutions is partnering with a fast-growing global HR technology business to find an organised and driven Legal Operations Associate (CH) to join its legal team in Switzerland. This is a hands-on opportunity for someone with a solid grounding in employment law who wants to broaden their experience across Swiss and wider European employment law and compliance.

The role combines day-to-day legal operations with an important Swiss compliance responsibility. The successful candidate does not need to be a qualified attorney or admitted to the Swiss Bar, but must be motivated to learn quickly, comfortable taking ownership and genuinely hands-on.

About the Role

You’ll act as a first point of contact for legal queries coming into the business, supporting clients and internal teams with routine employment law and compliance matters across multiple European jurisdictions.

You won’t be expected to know all aspects of Swiss or wider EU employment law from day one. What matters is having a good legal foundation, the confidence to research unfamiliar areas, and the motivation to learn and upskill quickly.

Alongside supporting the legal team on an ongoing basis, you’ll take on the responsibilities of the named “Responsible Person” for the Swiss entity under Swiss labour-leasing (SECO) law. This is a fixed and non-negotiable part of the position and includes the associated compliance and administrative responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the first point of contact for day-to-day employment law and compliance queries from clients and internal teams.

• Provide ongoing operational support to the legal team across multiple EU jurisdictions.

• Support the drafting and review of standard employment contracts, offer letters and mutual separation agreements under guidance.

• Provide first-line support on routine employment matters, including terms and conditions and policy-related queries, escalating complex or high-risk matters where appropriate.

• Research Swiss and wider EU employment legislation and translate legal requirements into clear, practical guidance.

• Support disciplinary processes through the preparation of standard documentation under supervision and in line with applicable local legislation.

• Liaise directly with employees and clients on legal and compliance matters, handling sensitive information professionally.

• Help coordinate ad hoc legal matters with external counsel where specialist input is required.

• Act as the named Responsible Person for the Swiss entity under Swiss labour-leasing law.

• Support compliance with Swiss labour-leasing legislation, Swiss employment law and applicable staffing industry GAV requirements, including minimum wages and equal treatment.

• Maintain the documentation required for SECO and cantonal audits and inspections.

• Act as the primary Swiss contact for SECO and relevant cantonal authorities.

What You’ll Bring

• Around 3 years’ experience in a legal environment.

• Practical exposure to employment law, which could have been gained through a law degree with an employment law focus, paralegal or junior legal position, in-house legal support role, or employment law internship.

• Some experience supporting contract drafting, routine employment terms or policy queries, and disciplinary-process documentation.

• Strong legal research skills and the ability to turn legislation into practical, easy-to-understand guidance.

• Confidence communicating directly with employees and clients while handling sensitive legal information appropriately.

• Strong attention to detail and the ability to manage process-driven compliance work, documentation, tickets and filing.

• Excellent communication, interpersonal, administrative and organisational skills.

• A proactive, self-starting approach and the confidence to ask questions or elevate matters when necessary.

• Comfort working with ambiguity and developing knowledge across different jurisdictions.

• Must be based in Switzerland to credibly fulfil the Responsible Person requirements.

Nice to Have

• German and/or French language skills.

• Exposure to employment law across multiple jurisdictions.

• Experience within a legal operations or HR technology environment.

• Exposure to Swiss payroll and HR operations, including payroll inputs, personnel records and employee payroll queries.

What’s On Offer

This is an opportunity to develop broader European legal operations experience while taking meaningful ownership of Swiss compliance responsibilities. You’ll work across jurisdictions, support a busy legal function and gain exposure to employment law issues in an international, fast-moving environment.

The role offers particularly strong development potential for someone early in their legal career who wants practical, commercially relevant experience rather than a purely theoretical legal position.

Company Culture

The business operates with a global outlook and a strong focus on continuous improvement, collaboration, accountability and high standards. It values people who are comfortable questioning the status quo, taking ownership of outcomes and working collaboratively across borders.

It is a fast-changing environment suited to someone who enjoys solving complex problems, learning continuously and contributing to a growing international business.

PLEASE NOTE: If you have not been contacted within 10 working days, consider your application unsuccessful.