Senior Legal Officer

This role will take full ownership of manufacturing compliance, strategic labor relations, and government audit management to ensure uninterrupted operations and 100% adherence to Vietnamese law. Beyond plant-level operations, the position provides comprehensive advisory on commercial contracts, corporate governance, and risk mitigation to safeguard the company’s brand and long-term business objectives.

1. MANUFACTURING & PLANT OPERATIONS (INDUSTRIAL LEGAL OWNERSHIP)

- Ownership of Plant Compliance: Take full ownership of the legal and regulatory framework governing Ford’s Hai Duong Plant. Ensure the facility maintains all necessary permits for manufacturing, quality, and technical safety to avoid interuption to production.

- Land, Construction & Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) Responsibility: Oversee legal matters for land use, expansions, and construction, partnering with EHS to ensure full environmental compliance and long-term operational sustainability.

- Operational Sensitivity: Provide timely, actionable legal advice that respects production schedules and the requirements of the manufacturing environment.

2. HUMAN RESOURCES & LABOR RELATIONS (STRATEGIC PEOPLE PARTNER)

- Ownership of the Employment Lifecycle: Manage the legal compliance of all labor processes, ensuring recruitment, contracts, and terminations align with the Vietnam Labor Code and global HR policies.

- Industrial Harmony at Hai Duong: Act as the legal lead for labor relations at the plant. Support HR in managing the Work Rules, HR & Employment policies, Trade Union relationship and Collective Labor Agreements (CLA) with a commitment to maintaining a stable, dispute-free workforce.

- Disciplinary & Dispute Strategy: Lead the legal strategy for labor discipline and grievance handling. Take ownership of resolving disputes internally and represent the company in labor-related mediation or litigation when necessary.

3. AUDIT MANAGEMENT & AUTHORITY LIAISON (DEFENSE & RESOLUTION)

- Strategic Audit Lead: Maintain the company’s “audit-ready” status by coordinating with Tax, HR, and Finance to ensure all documentation is organized and legally sound.

- Authority Management (Tax, HR, Labor): Act as the primary legal point of contact during regular and ad-hoc audits by government bodies (labor inspectors, tax authorities, etc.), managing inspections to safeguard the company’s interests.

- Post-Audit Rectification: Manage the post-audit rectification process by resolving findings, improving internal procedures, and drafting precise official responses to authorities.

4. LEGAL COUNSEL & ADVISORY

- Regulatory & Strategic Advice: Monitor and interpret evolving laws to provide strategic compliance guidance across all company functions.

- Business-Aligned Support: Deliver commercially focused legal advice that supports business objectives and aligns with strategic decisions.

- Risk Management: Conduct legal impact assessments on company programs to proactively identify and mitigate potential risks.

- Brand Protection: Review marketing materials and public communications to protect the company’s reputation and ensure legal compliance.

5. REVIEW AND CONTRACT MANAGEMENT & NEGOTIATION (SUPPORT PURCHASING)

- Review Contract: Partner with the Purchasing team to review and draft contracts, agreements, and MOUs that support plant operations.

- Negotiation Ownership: Draft, review, and negotiate complex commercial agreements to secure favorable terms and ensure effective risk management.

6. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE & LICENSING FOR PLANT OPERATION

- Corporate Governance: Draft and review internal policies and corporate decisions to ensure legal soundness and uphold high governance standards.

- Licensing Management: Manage the full lifecycle of corporate licenses (Investment Registration Certificate and Enterprises Registration Certificate, Import/Export, and production certificates) to ensure continuous legal operation and timely renewals.

- Dealer Advisory: Provide legal guidance to dealers on licensing and regulatory requirements to ensure the compliant execution of new programs.

7. DISPUTE RESOLUTION & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

- Dispute Resolution Commitment: Strategically manage and provide legal support for all forms of disputes (contractual, customer, supplier, product liability) while overseeing litigation and arbitration to ensure favorable resolutions.

- IP Asset Management: Work with team to support the protection of the company’s IP portfolio, managing renewals and legal documentation (POA) to safeguard critical company assets and ensure their long-term value, especially when we need to work with local authorities in Hai Phong.

8. COMPLIANCE, ADMINISTRATION & SUPPORT

- Champion of Integrity: Promote Ford’s Code of Conduct and Anti-Bribery policies, fostering a culture of integrity and compliance throughout the organization.

- Legal Training: Develop and deliver specialized training programs—such as Labor Law and Audit Readiness—to enhance organizational adherence to legal requirements.

- Operational Excellence: Support Office of General Counsel efficiency by managing internal administration, reporting, and providing high-quality English-Vietnamese legal translations.

9. OTHER DUTIES

- Perform any other tasks as assigned, embodying the Ford OS behaviors of Ownership, Responsibility, and Commitment to Outcomes to contribute to the overall success of the Office of General Counsel.

Education and Credentials: Bachelor of Laws (LLB) is required; a Master of Laws (LLM) or a relevant post-graduate degree is preferred. Possession of a Lawyer’s Practicing Certificate (Vietnam Bar admission) is required.

Experience: Minimum 7-10 years of professional legal experience. This should include a proven track record within an international law firm, a top-tier domestic firm, or a senior in-house legal role within a Multinational Corporation (MNC).

Prefer:

- Prior experience working in the automotive sector is preferred.

- Regulatory Knowledge: A deep understanding of the Vietnamese regulatory landscape, particularly concerning labor laws, manufacturing standards, and tax compliance.

- Audit Management: Experience in managing and defending company positions during external audits or regulatory inspections is a significant advantage.

- Experience in building and maintaining relationships with Government officials.

- Good understanding about Government policies and strategy in the automotive industry.

Technical Skills & Communication:

- Linguistic Proficiency: Excellent command of English (written and verbal) with the ability to draft complex legal documents and conduct negotiations in a professional environment.

- Digital Literacy: Mastery of the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, One Drive, Teams) for high-quality reporting, data analysis, and presentations.

- Professional Communication: Superior interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to translate complex legal concepts into actionable advice for diverse stakeholders.

- Core Competencies & Ford OS Behaviors:

+ Business Mindset: Provide legal solutions that drive business results.

+ Decisive Risk Management: Analyze complex scenarios and make sound, independent decisions.

+ Integrity & Ownership: Lead with high ethical standards and take full accountability for outcomes.

+ Agility: Stay focused and maintain high standards in a fast-paced environment.

- Execution: Manage multiple priorities and meet tight deadlines under pressure.