Legal Counsel & Contract Manager

Thales is a global technology leader trusted by governments, institutions, and enterprises to tackle their most demanding challenges. From quantum applications and artificial intelligence to cybersecurity and 6G innovation, our solutions empower critical decisions rooted in human intelligence. Operating at the forefront of aerospace and space, cybersecurity and digital identity, we’re driven by a mission to build a future we can all trust.

WHO ARE WE?

The Job Holder will be part of the Legal, Contract and Compliance Department of Thales international division (DGDI) for Southeast Asia, supporting all Thales businesses in Southeast Asia and Taiwan (“the Region”).

Within DGDI, you report hierarchically to the Legal, Contract and Compliance Director for Southeast Asia.

Thales has been present and has grown from strength to strength in the Asian region for over 50 years, providing state-of-the-art solutions for customers in the avionics, secure communications and information systems, defense mission systems and strategy, research and technology, and digital security domains. The position particularly covers IBS Business Line (Identity and Biometrics Solutions) activities in the Region.

The IBS Business Line offers Identity and Biometrics Solutions to governments, public authorities, police forces, and private entities in the field of civil identity, with more than 200 programs deployed worldwide: secure documents (biometric passports, electronic ID cards, driving licenses, other documents), management of sovereign identity, trusted digital infrastructures, border crossing management solutions, biometric solutions for criminal investigations. This is a rapidly growing activity for several years.

WHO ARE YOU?

• You hold an advanced academic background in Law, Contract Management, Business, or related field, equivalent to a Master’s degree level qualification (EU/UK/SG/US or other comparable higher education systems) including a Specialization in Law,

• You have 10 years of demonstrated experience as a legal counsel working in an international context, as part of the legal department of a multinational company,

• Endowed with analytical and synthesis skills, you assess situations accurately and can easily propose pragmatic solutions,

• You understand the stakes associated with a major international Group’s compliance program,

• You master the techniques related to third-party review (third-party screening) and are able to conduct compliance analyses,

• During your experience, you have developed strong proactivity towards stakeholders and good ability to manage priorities,

• You enjoy sharing your experiences and best practices, with a collective and collaborative mindset,

• You also have good listening and communication skills,

• You are keen to work in diverse teams and have inter-cultural awareness and interest,

• You have full mastery of IT tools, all types of data exchange platforms, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint,

• You can travel on regular basis over the Region (once a month) and from time-to-time to Europe (once a year).

WHAT WE CAN ACHIEVE TOGEHTHER?

The position particularly covers IBS Business Line (Identity and Biometrics Solutions) activities in the Region. It also covers transversal activities in the Region for dedicated countries like Philippines and Thailand. On both sides, it covers a wide range of activities, mainly on export markets. The role includes managing performance, ensuring contractual compliance, setting standards and processes, and ensuring timely and effective execution across the contract lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities:

-Own contract lifecycle delivery for the perimeter

-Lead negotiation strategy and provide commercial/legal recommendations

-Manage contract risks and ensure governance processes are followed

-Maintain auditable contract documentation and reporting

1. Contractual Support for Tender, Offers, Variations & Extensions

• Recommend contractual structures that enhance competitiveness while respecting applicable regulations and internal governance

• Draft, revise, and negotiate contractual documents with customers, partners, and subcontractors

• Contribute to internal risk reviews, financial exposure assessments, and mitigation plans

• Ability to identify opportunities to protect or improve projects’ financial performance

• Support the capture and preparation of variations, extensions, new phases or related offers connected to existing program

• Prepare and present contractual sections of internal approval documentation, including clear recommendations to management

• Participate in the risk analysis process and the construction of mitigation plans with the help of operations (possibly estimating financial provisions for risks such as delay, if necessary),

2. Contract Management Throughout Project Execution

• Establish, manage, and continuously update the contractual baseline from contract signature to project closure

• Ensure full contractual awareness across the project team, enabling correct application of obligations, rights, deadlines, and deliverables

• Anticipate deviations and manage them proactively through contractual notices, waivers, amendments, claims, clarification requests, and other contractual instruments

• Anticipate and drive projects’ risk and opportunity strategy, in close collaboration with project leadership, including claim preparation, defensive measures, and value‑protection initiatives, proposing defensible, practical solutions

• Oversee all incoming and outgoing contractual communications with the customer, ensuring consistency, traceability, and strategic alignment

• Coordinate with the Litigation Department when disputes arise, including fact‑finding, documentation, evidence management, and support to legal strategy

• Handle contractual aspects of key subcontractors and suppliers or coordinate with dedicated contract management teams where applicable

3. Compliance, Governance, Leadership & Coordination

• Act as the reference point for all contractual matters within the perimeter

• Provide strategic and operational legal and contractual advice to internal stakeholders in particular by providing country legal intelligence and knowledge to the relevant global, regional, or corporate stakeholders

• Support relevant compliance processes for the tenders and projects (e.g., third‑party screenings) in coordination with the Compliance Officer (Antitrust, Anticorruption, Personal Data Protection (incl. GDPR), Trade compliance & Duty of vigilance), in particular:

  • Escalate any potential non‑compliance issues where required

• Interface with external counsels for analysis and management of specific legal issues in the framework of complex contractual and/or legal arrangements or claim/litigation procedures in the Region on a need-basis

• Participate in departmental initiatives such as

  • improving templates, tools, and best practices, contributing to expertise linked to complex project execution

  • cross-functional working group for Legal, Contract and Compliance Department (contract management, IP, standard contracts, insurance…)

  • Contribute to the development and delivery of training to operational teams (compliance, contract management, …)

WHAT WE OFFER

• High impact, visibility, and autonomy within the organization

• Exposure to senior internal stakeholders and cross‑functional teams

• A collaborative and international working environment

At Thales, we’re committed to fostering a workplace where respect, trust, collaboration, and passion drive everything we do. Here, you’ll feel empowered to bring your best self, thrive in a supportive culture, and love the work you do. Join us, and be part of a team reimagining technology to create solutions that truly make a difference – for a safer, greener, and more inclusive world.