About the Job 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 BCI’s UK entity compliance, including charity law, UK GDPR requirements, regulatory filings, and governance obligations. In addition, the Legal Associate contributes to ensuring the organisation’s adherence to Swiss legal requirements, reflecting Better Cotton’s registration, operational activities based in Switzerland. As such, the position requires strong working knowledge and practical experience of both Swiss law and UK law, 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, UK, 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.
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 (50%) 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.
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.
UK & Swiss Law Compliance & Regulatory Support (30%) Supports compliance for Better Cotton’s UK entity, including UK charity law, regulatory filings, reporting requirements, UK GDPR & Data Protection obligations.
Experience Master's degree in both Swiss law and UK law with qualification or demonstrated working expertise in both Swiss law and UK law, reflecting the role’s cross‑jurisdictional responsibilities.
4-6 years of experience as legal associate, preferably in an international, NGO setting or law firm, including experience in contract drafting, procurement support, data protection, or trademark/IP matters.
Experience working across multiple jurisdictions and engaging with diverse internal stakeholders.
Experience in legal research, administrative legal support and legal compliance activities.
Data‑Driven Decision‑Making: Uses analytics to optimise workflows and improve efficiency.
Collaborative Working: Partners across functions and geographies to deliver results.
Process Improvement: Identifies gaps and implements solutions that enhance performance.
Fluent in French.
Other language is an asset.
What we offer Hybrid working – Two to three days/week in the Geneva office.
The opportunity to work from anywhere in the world for up to one month per year.
Flexible working, with core hours from 10 am to 4 pm local time.
Continuous learning and development.
A generous annual leave package, including paid holiday, public holidays, additional paid days off during the festive season, study and exam days, and extra discretionary leave for life events such as family weddings or moving home.
Enhanced parental benefits.
The opportunity to make your mark and make a difference.
Working arrangements The position is full‑time (40 hours per week) and will be based Geneva. Better Cotton Initiative offers flexible working, with core hours being 10 am – 4 pm. The position will require limited international travel.
About our Values Trustworthy (including honest, transparent, credible).
Integrity (including responsible, authentic).
Positive (including problem‑solving, pragmatic).
Engaging (including adaptable, inclusive, holistic).
Daring (including courageous, innovative, game‑changing).
Better Cotton Initiative is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to good practice and transparency in the management of natural, human, and financial resources.
We have a zero‑tolerance approach to any attitudes or behaviours that put children or adults at risk of harm. Safeguarding incidents are acts of serious misconduct and are grounds for disciplinary action, up to and including, dismissal and referral to relevant authorities for criminal prosecution. Therefore, all offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks.
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