Head of Legal, Risk & Compliance

Kaiseraugst, Switzerland

The Head of Legal & Compliance EssCo* is the senior legal leader and strategic business partner for EssCo, operating at executive level within a finance led leadership structure.

The role provides strategic legal leadership across transactions, corporate (re-)structuring, governance, and compliance, ensuring that legal and risk frameworks are pragmatic, proportionate, and business enabling, particularly in periods of transformation, separation, or portfolio change.

Success in this role is measured primarily by strategic impact, executive business partnering, and effective build out of a fit for purpose legal and compliance function, rather than volume driven legal delivery.

*This position is part of the Essential Products business (Essco) within Animal Nutrition & Health (ANH). This is one of the two standalone entities to be created from ANH, as part of the divestment to CVC Capital. It is and will be an operations‑driven, manufacturing‑focused ingredient company, bringing together large‑scale, high‑quality production capabilities to deliver essential nutritional and aroma ingredients for global food, feed, and fragrance value chains.

Your key responsibilities

• Shape and Deliver Strategic Partnerships
  You will design and negotiate joint ventures and strategic partnerships, including governance models, shareholder agreements, and exit mechanisms—ensuring long-term value creation.
• Enable Commercial Decisions in Complex Environments
  You will act as a proactive business partner—helping leadership navigate ambiguity, frame options clearly, and move decisively. Your mindset: not just identifying risks, but enabling outcomes.
• Partner with Executive Leadership & the Board
  As a trusted advisor to the CEO, CFO, and Executive Committee, you will provide clear, pragmatic guidance that balances legal risk with business ambition.
• Lead Through Transformation and Change
  You will play a key role in periods of organizational change—supporting restructuring efforts, influencing senior stakeholders, and ensuring legal alignment during uncertain and fast-moving situations.
• Establish a Pragmatic Global Compliance Framework
  You will design and oversee a fit-for-purpose compliance and ethics framework, focusing on real business risks across areas such as anti-bribery, competition law, sanctions, and ESG.
• Strengthening Governance and Integrity
  You will ensure robust governance structures, lead investigations and whistleblowing processes, and embed a strong culture of ethics and accountability across the organization.
• Build a Lean, High-Performing Legal Function
  You will shape and lead a modern global legal organization—optimizing internal capabilities, managing external counsel effectively, and driving cost discipline while developing and retaining top talent.

We Bring

• Executive level role which reports into the CFO and with high exposure to the EssCo leadership team.
• A position that has primary focus on strategic impact, risk leadership, and organizational enablement rather than day to day legal execution.
• Opportunity to operate with a high degree of autonomy, accountability, and influence. 
• Collaborative teams that celebrate wins, learn fast and support each other’s growth; because together, we make it possible!
• A culture where every voice matters—and your leadership sets the tone.
• A workplace where you can make a real difference for millions, every day.

You Bring

• Senior legal leadership experience with a strong track record in restructuring, complex transactions, carve outs, or corporate transformations.
• Demonstrated ability to operate as an executive level legal business partner within a finance driven leadership and decision-making model.
• Strong judgment, pragmatism, and governance credibility in international and cross border environments.
• Ability to balance legal rigor with commercial reality, enabling the business while protecting enterprise value.
• A hands-on, outcome-driven mindset with the ability to operate in ambiguity
• Demonstrated success in building or transforming high-performing legal teams

Our application process 
Interested in this position? Please apply online by uploading your resume in English via our career portal (www.dsm-firmenich.com/careers). For further information, please contact David van der Velden, Talent Acquisition, david.velden-van@dsm-firmenich.com.

About Animal Nutrition & Health
ANH, in the process of separating from dsm-firmenich, is a global leader in animal nutrition and health, as well as vitamins, carotenoids, and aroma ingredients - driven by its strong purpose: feeding the planet without costing the earth. Together, we make it possible. www.dsm-firmenich.com/ANH

Inclusion, belonging and equal opportunity statement
At dsm-firmenich, we believe being a force for good starts with the way we treat each other. When people feel supported, included, and free to be themselves, they do their best work – and that’s exactly the kind of culture we’re building. A place where opportunity is truly equal, authenticity is celebrated, and everyone has the chance to grow, contribute, and feel they belong.
 
We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we’re serious about making our hiring process as fair and inclusive as possible. From inclusive language and diverse interview panels to thoughtful sourcing, we’re committed to reflecting the world we serve.
 
We welcome candidates from all backgrounds — no matter your gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or anything else that makes you, you.
 
And if you have a disability or need any support through the application process, we’re here to help – just let us know what you need, and we’ll do everything we can to make it work.