(Senior) Legal Counsel (Employment Law)

at  Bruker

Overview:
Bruker is a leading global manufacturer of analytical measurement systems for the life and material sciences. For more than 60 years, Bruker’s high-performance scientific instruments and analytical and diagnostic solutions have empowered scientists to study living things and substances at the molecular, cellular and microscopic levels. Working closely with its customers, Bruker drives innovation, productivity and customer success in molecular research in life sciences, pharmaceutical applications, microscopy, nano-analysis and industrial applications.
Today, more than 10,500 employees in over 90 locations on all continents are working on solutions to these challenges. Bruker continues to expand its extensive product and solution offerings, its broad installed base and its reputation with customers. As one of the world’s leading analytical instrument companies, Bruker continues to strive to fully meet the needs of its customers and to continue to develop state-of-the-art technologies and innovative solutions for today’s analytical challenges.
Responsibilities:

As a Senior Legal Counsel (Employment Law), you will:

• Advise senior leadership and HR teams on employment law matters in an international setting.
• Draft, review, and negotiate employment contracts, termination agreements, settlement agreements, and Works Council Agreements (Betriebsvereinbarungen).
• Provide legal support and strategic advice on german labor law issues and ensure compliance with applicable regulations.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with works councils, liaise with them regularly, provide legal guidance, and represent our interests in negotiations.
• Manage and resolve complex labor disputes and provide representation in labor court proceedings.
• Advise and participate in employee negotiations, particularly in cases of terminations, warnings, and performance-related issues.
• Conduct legal research and analysis on new labor laws and their implications for the company.
• Develop and update templates and processes for employment contracts, works council agreements, and other labor law documents.
• Provide advice on employment law aspects in compliance investigations.
• Work closely and liaise with the Chief Privacy Officer and Privacy Team to ensure compliance, in the employment context, with the implementing laws of the EU GDPR and related case law.
• Provide legal advice and support to additional Bruker groups, where required, including managing interactions with the respective managements, HR and works councils
• Nice to Have: The candidate may also provide employment law related support for Bruker’s sites in Wissembourg, France, and Fällanden, Switzerland. This would involve knowledge of French and Swiss employment law and require French language skills.
• Work closely with HR and senior management and group presidents.
• Train and support on leadership topics related to employment law, such as handling warnings, conducting terminations, supporting the cultural shift towards a performance-oriented culture.

Qualifications:

SOFT SKILLS:

• Independent working style with strong problem-solving skills
• Resilience and the ability to manage stressful situations
• Strong communication skills and assertiveness
• Ability to work autonomously and proactively
• Excellent organizational and time management skills
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships with works councils and represent company interests effectively
• Experience in participating in employee negotiations and training management on employment law-related topics

• Diplom/ Master’s degree
• Fully qualified German lawyer with approximately 5 years or more of experience specializing in employment law, preferably gained in a law firm before moving in-house
• Expertise / advanced skills in drafting and negotiating employment, service and settlement agreements, as well as works council agreements
• In-depth knowledge of works constitution law and experience dealing with works councils.
• Thorough knowledge of the application of the EU GDPR and German BDSG in the employment context
• Understanting of personal data processing by IT system, especially data regarding productivity that are generated by said IT systems, and service provisions within a group of undertakings.