About IMD

The International Institute for Management Development (IMD) has been pioneering leadership development for nearly 80 years. Founded by business for business, we are an independent university institute with Swiss roots and global reach. Operating from Lausanne with strategic hubs in Singapore, Shenzhen, and Cape Town, IMD works with 19,000+ executives from 120+ countries annually. Our 145,000+ alumni form a powerful global network. Consistently ranked among the world's top business schools, IMD bridges cutting-edge research with real-world application to help leaders solve problems, scale solutions, and drive impact. Real Learning for Real Impact.

To reinforce our team, we are looking for a

Legal Counsel

The Job’s Mission
Our Legal Counsel position is a fantastic opportunity for an ambitious professional to join a Swiss based academic institution with global reach. In this role, you will report to the General Counsel.

Key Activities & Accountabilities
• Report to our General Counsel and work closely with Senior Legal Counsel on various legal and compliance matters, while being an integral part of the legal team
• Lead the design and rollout of IMD’s legal templates, aligning with institutional policies and streamlining of processes, notably supplier onboarding
• Draft, review and negotiate a wide variety of agreements with suppliers and clients, including but not limited to:
-Sales and purchase agreements
-Research collaboration agreements
-Sponsorship and donor agreements
-Consultancy and speaker contracts
• Prepare clear and concise legal memos, guidelines, and internal policies
• Develop, update, and deliver legal and compliance training sessions for staff and faculty
• Support the institution and the legal team on any legal matter

Education
• Bachelor and Master’s degree in Swiss Law
• Swiss Bar admission, a plus (or equivalent european qualification with strong Swiss law experience).

Experience
• 5+ years of experience, including significant commercial experience, preferably in-house (law firm experience will also be considered)
• Experience in procurement and contract management is a plus

Competencies
• Strong commercial/negotiation skills, ability to balance legal risks and business objectives, with high aptitude to engage with various stakeholders, often in a very asymetrical and fast-paced context
• Precision in legal analysis and documentation, with strong organizational skills to manage and maintain accurate legal filing systems
• Proactive, solution-oriented and pragmatic thinking, with a hands-on mentality and the ability to translate complex legal concepts into practical advice
• Comfortable working independently while also being a collaborative and trusted team player in a small legal team within a multicultural institution
• Excellent communication, inter-personal, writing and analytical skills
• Resilient, approachable, and positive, with a "can-do” attitude. Fluent in English and French (spoken and written); other languages are an asset
If your experience is close but doesn’t fulfill all requirements, please apply. We are on a mission to build a special education institution. To achieve our goal, we are focused on hiring colleagues with different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences.

How to apply

If you have the above skills and would like to work in our stimulating environment, please send your complete application file (letter of motivation and resume in English, copies of your work certificates and diplomas).

If you’re a qualified candidate with a disability (such as dyslexia, sight and/or hearing disabilities, etc) and you need a reasonable accommodation in order to apply for this position, please specify it in your application.

A valid Swiss work permit or Swiss or EU-25EFTA citizenship is required for this position.