General Counsel & Compliance Officer

Company Overview:

Daimler India Commercial Vehicles Pvt. Ltd. (DICV) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daimler Truck AG, Germany. Operating under the BharatBenz brand, the company manufactures and exports a comprehensive range of premium commercial vehicles, including trucks and buses, tailored for the Indian market and over 60 export destinations. Headquartered in Oragadam, Chennai, DICV integrates cutting-edge German engineering with deep local market insights to drive innovation in the logistics and transportation sector. The organization fosters a culture of excellence, precision, and global collaboration, maintaining a significant footprint in the automotive manufacturing landscape.

Role Overview:

The General Counsel & Company Secretary serves as a strategic legal advisor and governance lead, ensuring the organization operates within the highest standards of regulatory compliance and corporate integrity. This role involves managing the full spectrum of corporate secretarial functions, legal risk mitigation, and contract lifecycle management. You will work closely with the Board of Directors, senior leadership, and cross-functional departments to navigate complex legal frameworks, facilitate board meetings, and provide counsel on commercial transactions. By safeguarding the company's legal interests and ensuring seamless corporate governance, you directly contribute to the stability and sustainable growth of DICV's operations in India.

Key Responsibilities:

- Oversee all corporate secretarial functions, including the preparation of board agendas, minutes, and statutory filings to ensure strict adherence to the Companies Act and other relevant regulations.

- Draft, review, and negotiate complex commercial contracts, including supply chain agreements, joint ventures, and service level agreements, to protect the company's commercial interests.

- Provide proactive legal counsel to senior management on regulatory compliance, corporate governance, and risk management strategies to prevent legal exposure.

- Manage litigation and dispute resolution processes by coordinating with external legal counsel and representing the company's interests in various forums.

- Ensure compliance with local and international laws, including competition law, data privacy, and labor regulations, to maintain the company's ethical and legal standing.

- Facilitate seamless communication between the Board of Directors and executive management to ensure alignment on strategic corporate governance initiatives.

Required Skillset:

- Demonstrated expertise in corporate law, the Companies Act, and SEBI regulations, with a strong ability to interpret and apply complex legal statutes to business scenarios.

- Proven capability in managing board-level governance and secretarial functions with high attention to detail and accuracy.

- Exceptional negotiation and drafting skills, with the ability to translate complex legal requirements into clear, actionable business advice.

- Strong interpersonal skills to effectively influence stakeholders and collaborate across diverse, cross-functional teams in a multinational environment.

- Qualified Company Secretary (ICSI) with an additional degree in Law (LLB/LLM) from a reputed institution.

- Ability to work effectively in an on-site environment at the Chennai facility, maintaining high standards of professional integrity and confidentiality.

- Minimum 6 - 10 years of post-qualification experience in a legal or secretarial role, preferably within the automotive, manufacturing, or large-scale industrial sector.