Legal Counsel

ISCC – the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification

Legal Counsel managing legal matters for ISCC; focus on sustainability certifications based in Cologne. Actively involved in contract negotiations and compliance support for organizational processes.

Posted 6/8/2026full-timeKöln • 🇩🇪 GermanyMid-LevelSenior💰 €70,000 - €80,000 per yearWebsite

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Acting as the first internal point of contact for legal matters, providing practical and business-oriented legal advice
Identifying, assessing, and mitigating legal, contractual, and operational risks across the organization
Reviewing, drafting, negotiating, and managing NDAs, T&Cs, supplier contracts, MoUs, and other legal documents
Managing and maintaining contract documentation, templates, and the central contract repository
Supporting governance, risk & compliance (GRC) processes and contributing to the continuous development of legal frameworks and policies
Providing legal support in compliance matters, internal investigations, and remediation activities
Advising on data protection and privacy topics in close collaboration with the DPO/CISO
Coordinating and managing external legal advisors
Supporting legal aspects of HR-related matters and internal policies
Developing and implementing standardized legal processes, templates, and documentation standards across the organization
Ensuring consistency, transparency, and legal quality across all contractual documentation
Supporting trademark and insurance-related legal matters where required

Requirements

What you’ll need

Second state examination in law (German)
At least 3-5 years of professional legal experience, ideally with at least 3 years in an in-house legal department
Solid experience in contract law, commercial law, and corporate legal matters
Strong knowledge of governance, compliance, and risk management frameworks (GRC)
Practical experience in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating commercial contracts (e.g. NDAs, supplier agreements)
Familiarity with data protection and privacy topics is a strong advantage
Experience in digital services, procurement, or certification-related environments is a plus
High level of integrity, confidentiality, and reliability when handling sensitive matters
Excellent communication skills and ability to advise stakeholders in a business-oriented manner
Excellent English and German language skills (C1-C2, written and spoken)

Benefits

Comp & perks

Great Team Environment
Various team events throughout the year (Celebrating Diversity, Summer Team Event, Christmas Party)
Close collaboration with sister companies
Opportunity to work independently and shape processes
Individual learning and development plan
Professional onboarding
Frequent feedback sessions
Free language classes
Access to trainings and specific technical courses
Work-Life Balance
4 weeks remote work at a place of choice (after probation)
Flexible working hours and trust based working time
30 vacation days and 3 additional vacation days (Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve, Carnival Monday)
Sabbatical options
Generous pension scheme (bAV)
JobTicket/Deutschlandticket
Annual bonus scheme based on performance
Wellness Programs
Subsidized Urban Sports Club
Health weeks promoting healthy habits in personal and professional life

ATS Keywords

✓ Tailor your resume

Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools

contract lawcommercial lawcorporate legal mattersdrafting contractsreviewing contractsnegotiating contractsgovernance frameworkscompliance frameworksrisk management frameworksdata protection

Soft Skills

integrityconfidentialityreliabilitycommunication skillsstakeholder advisingbusiness-oriented advice

Certifications

Second state examination in law (German)