The Legal Associate supports the Senior Legal Manager in the effective management of BCI's global legal and compliance matters, ensuring that contractual, procurement, data protection, trademark and certification mark activities comply with applicable regulations. The role plays an important part in safeguarding BCI's legal position by independently managing contract and procurement workflows, supporting GDPR and broader data protection compliance, and contributing to the maintenance and protection of the organisation's global trademark portfolio.
The role also provides essential support for managing contract workflows, supporting compliance processes, and ensuring alignment with applicable Swiss legal and regulatory requirements.
As such, the position requires strong working knowledge and practical experience on Swiss law and applicable regulatory requirements enabling the role holder to navigate cross-jurisdictional legal matters effectively.
The Legal Associate contributes to a robust organisational compliance framework by monitoring relevant Swiss, EU and international legal developments, supporting their implementation, and ensuring consistent documentation and governance processes. Working closely with the Senior Legal Manager and internal stakeholders across multiple functions, the role ensures that legal matters are managed in a consistent, timely, and well-documented manner. Through this support, the Legal Associate strengthens contractual, procurement, trademark obligations enhance compliance with Swiss legal obligations, and contributes to the smooth, reliable, and efficient operation of Better Cotton's global legal department.
The Challenge
Looking ahead to 2030, we are targeting reducing GHG emissions from cotton production by half, big cuts in synthetic pesticide use, improve soil health across our network, improve farm income and support women's empowerment among farmers and farm workers.
Responsibilities
In this role, you will be responsible for:
Contracts & Procurement (60%)
* Acts as the first point of contact for contract-related questions from procurement and internal teams, providing clear, practical guidance on supplier and partner agreements.
* Supports procurement processes by reviewing supplier terms, assessing contractual risks, ensuring that tendering and vendor selection documentation meets legal, operational, and compliance requirements.
* Drafts, reviews, and negotiates a wide range of agreements, including donor and grant agreements, procurement and supplier contracts, programme and partnership agreements, and other contracts, ensuring alignment with BCI policies and global legal standards.
Trademark Portfolio Management (25%)
* Support the management Better Cotton's global trademark portfolio, including new trademark and certification mark (as relevant) filings for the new BCI and BCI Cotton names and logos, as applicable, including effective renewals, oppositions for use and the prosecution of trademark applications as relevant.
* Monitoring and recording trademark registrations and related information and the preparation of a system for global evidence of use, including a plan of how to gather and record the evidence internally ensuring we are in a strong position to enforce our rights as required.
Swiss Law Compliance & Regulatory Support (15%)
* Supports compliance for Better Cotton's with applicable regulatory requirements
* Assists with Swiss compliance obligations, including Swiss legal requirements applicable to Better Cotton's operations and internal documentation standards.
Experience
the following skills, knowledge, and experience:
Essential
* Master's degree in Swiss law (or equivalent).
* Demonstrated working expertise in Swiss law and others jurisdictions, reflecting the role's cross-jurisdictional responsibilities.
* 4-6 years of experience as legal associate or lawyer preferably in an international, NGO setting or law firm.
* Experience in contract drafting negotiating, procurement support, data protection, or trademark/IP matters.
* Experience with diverse internal stakeholders.
* Experience managing legal tools and systems.
* Experience in legal research, administrative legal support and legal compliance activities.
* Fluent or native in English (mandatory).
* Fluent in French (mandatory).
Desirable
* Other language is an asset
For complete job description and to apply, visit:
https://ats.rippling.com/en-GB/better-cotton-careers/jobs/af522536-51ba-41ad-9577-840e96387ef2
HOW TO APPLY:
Send us your CV (2 pages maximum) and a brief cover letter (1-page maximum) by or before 02.07.2026 via the application link.
In your cover letter, please include an explanation of why your experience is specifically relevant to this role at Better Cotton Initiative. We want to see your personal style – what makes you tick and why you think your next opportunity is here with us.