Legal Counsel, Labour & Employment (f/m/d), 60-100%

To support our growing business and our cultural and HR transformation projects, we are currently looking for a Legal Counsel, Labour & Employment, for the Alpiq Group. If you are a pro-active, collaborative and tech-savvy lawyer with strong expertise in Swiss labour & employment (L&E) topics and have experience working on L&E matters across other European countries, then this role may be for you. Ideally, you are also familiar with data privacy topics. The position reports directly to Alpiq’s General Counsel and is ideally based in Olten, Switzerland (alternatively, the position could be based in Lausanne, Switzerland).

Your main responsibilities

• Provide expert and practical legal advice and guidance to internal stakeholders on a wide range of labour and employment issues in Switzerland, and where needed liaise with local counsel (in-house or external) for support on L&E issues in other Alpiq countries across Europe
• Advise and support on contracts with external recruitment companies and hiring of interim resources, especially in Switzerland
• Collaborate with HR, management and business leaders to address L&E issues and develop strategies for mitigating risk
• Advise on the company’s strategy for preventing and resolving employment disputes, and oversee employment pre-litigation and litigation cases
• Advise and support on employee disciplinary actions, investigations, and grievances, ensuring timely responses, fair and consistent treatment of employees
• Lead L&E legal advice and support on Alpiq Group projects having an L&E aspect, including HR transformation projects, bonus plans, employee mobility programmes and M&A; this includes acting as single point of contact and managing all Alpiq-wide L&E legal issues, coordinating as necessary with local Alpiq lawyers and/or external lawyers
• Assist in the creation, revision and implementation of L&E strategies and processes, including relevant HR policies, procedures and toolkits
• Support and deputise for Alpiq Group Data Protection Officer

Your qualifications

• Master of Law from a Swiss university and Swiss bar exam
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in a law firm and/or in-house supporting companies on Swiss L&E matters, ideally with exposure to L&E matters across other European countries 
• Personal gravitas and ability to challenge others, ability to find and propose alternative solutions
• Positive mentality and willingness to tackle new and ever-changing business needs
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, ability to inspire trust and promote cross-functional collaboration
• Fluency in English and German, other languages such as French, Italian and/or Spanish of advantage