Head of Legal, Singapore - #1096470

Start your career as a Head of Legal, Singapore at Vopak and be responsible for providing independent, professional legal advice and support across BU Singapore. With a focus on maximizing the value of the Legal function, the position balances deep subject matter expertise with a strong commercial understanding to guide complex, sensitive, and strategic decisions. By integrating diverse perspectives and collaborating closely with project teams, the Head of Legal, Singapore helps shape sound policies and legal frameworks that support Vopak’s objectives while minimizing risk. The role also involves working proactively with other key stakeholders—such as tax, treasury, SHE, HR, and risk management—to ensure a pragmatic, business-oriented approach, while drawing on the expertise of the Group Legal Department to ensure consistent and optimal application of legal knowledge across the organization. Ready to develop yourself and make a positive impact? Improve the world and start as Head of Legal, Singapore at Vopak.

What will you do as a Head of Legal, Singapore?

As a Head of Legal, Singapore, you will act as Legal Counsel with focus on the activities for BU Singapore. You will also independently initiate and ensure professional and effective legal advice, guidance and support in various areas of law as well as strike the right balance between being a subject matter expert and broader understanding of the various business activities.

What do we offer you?

• A market-based salary depending on your experience and knowledge and attractive bonuses

• Various growth opportunities

What do we expect from you as a Head of Legal, Singapore?

• A strong LLB degree from an accredited Law school or equivalent

• Minimum 8 - 10 years of Post Qualified Experience

• Admission to the Singapore bar or from a common law jurisdiction

• Experience gained as in-house corporate counsel at a global multinational is preferred

• Excellent knowledge and familiarity of the Singapore legal system

• Possesses broad legal expertise coupled with in-depth and wide-ranging knowledge on corporate, commercial and contract law, as well as regulatory matters

• Working knowledge of all or some of the following: shipping (bills of lading, shipping operations, casualties), anti-trust, construction and and procurement, Projects (M&A & JVs, project finance, EPC), oil & gas, dispute resolution, compliance (code of conduct, anti-trust, data protection, trade sanctions), insurance, employment

Your core responsibilities are:

• Provide quick, well-founded, pragmatic legal advice and support to stakeholders in BU Singapore especially the business/commercial functions in order to create favorable conditions, minimize adverse risks for Vopak

• Resolving complex or contentious queries and issues and enabling others to take appropriate actions

• Manage relationships with internal clients and act as a business partner to them, building high levels of professional credibility and mutual trust, and managing the deployment of appropriate internal and/or external resources to support in delivering business strategy and plans

• Keep abreast with the relevant legal developments (legislation, regulatory and jurisprudence) and pro-actively make suggestions/recommendations and follow-up on its implementation; compose, carry out and monitor the following through of legal policies and guidelines, including Vopak directives and guidelines, in order to ensure that the operating companies and joint venture companies comply with numerous and complex laws and regulations and to minimize the legal risk for Vopak

• Conduct internal training and seminars on current and topical issues for both management and the business teams. Also to maintain the Vopak Asia Legal Portal and to develop and update standard contract templates for use in AME. Provide ongoing and recurring training of Vopak Code of Conduct, anti-trust, directors’ duties throughout all operating companies and joint venture companies in Asia

• Draft and review various types of documents and contracts, often in cooperation with other stakeholders (commercial, procurement, tax, treasury and control, SHE, human resources and/or risk management). These include storage contracts, Management Services Contracts, Terminal Services Agreements, procurement and supply contracts, RFP and tender documents, construction (FEED and EPC), Joint Venture, Asset and Share Purchase Agreements, Non-Disclosure Agreements, Clean Team Agreements, Memorandum of Understandings and Letters of Intent, Leases, IT contracts, Corporate/Project Finance agreements

• Provide professional legal support in relation to Projects, investments, divestments, project financing, mergers, de-mergers or split-offs, acquisitions, joint ventures and other forms of cooperation in Singapore and taking care of the proper structuring thereof, in order to ensure a legally sound structure with minimal risk. Keeping a bird’s-eye-view on the over-all picture and the (usually conflicting) interests of all stakeholders to creatively advise project-management and third-party stakeholders in the decision-making process. Where required, to draft information memoranda, perform Due Diligence and assess Data-rooms and advise staff for their ‘go’ or ‘no go’ decisions on the basis thereof

• To manage all dispute resolution within BU Singapore ranging from customer claims, litigation, mediation and arbitration, labour and union related disputes including mediation at the employment tribunal

• Advise stakeholders and support all compliance-related investigations arising from breach of code of conduct, trade sanctions, bribery/fraud, regulatory and environmental non-compliance, facilitation payments etc. 

• Be familiar with the group insurance coverage and policies and to work with global insurance on all claims. To get involved with ship-related claims (Allisions, pollution emanating from vessels), dealing with shipping lawyers, P&I Clubs and loss adjusters

• Be responsible for  the selection, direction and supervision of external counsel in Singapore and establish a  network  which will be useful when urgent advice or support is needed particularly in the areas of shipping and compliance

• To support BU Singapore compliance-related matters and where necessary to provide legal advice and other legal support in the area of corporate governance, compliance, risk management and investigations

• Provide corporate secretarial support to BU Singapore, including acting as company secretary for BU Singapore entities and working with corporate secretaries across the JV networks and assisting with the organization and accurate minute taking of AGM and board meetings