Associate Vice President, Legal in England

About the Function:

We are legal experts, understanding the sophisticated laws that surround our business and our much-loved brands. Our Legal team is responsible for a range of legal challenges, from Corporate and Intellectual Property to Merger & Acquisitions and Compliance. We are always seeking new and creative ways to take on the evolving challenges that today’s commercial world presents. Our talented colleagues around the world are not just outstanding lawyers but also brilliant communicators and advisors. Whatever your skill as a lawyer, your distinct and valuable perspective will be celebrated and nurtured in our inclusive culture.

About the Team:

• Reports To: Senior Counsel, Global Business Operations
• Department: Legal
• Team Leadership: Member of the DBS extended leadership team.
• Supervises one in-house counsel and has oversight of a small team of procurement-focused legal professionals for legal shared services tower.

About the Role:

We are looking for experienced Senior In-House Counsel to lead the legal function for Diageo's largest shared services hub in India (two offices between Bangalore and Gurgaon). This varied role combines responsibilities as legal advisor, Data Protection Officer (DPO), and Company Secretary, while also providing oversight on procurement contracting, investigations, and regulatory compliance. The successful candidate will play a key role in handling a legal support team, engaging directly with senior collaborators, and delivering strategic, risk-aware legal solutions.

Role and Responsibilities:

• Legal & Contractual Oversight: Provide experienced legal counsel to DBSI functions including procurement, HR, finance, IT, compliance, CSR, facilities, and operations. Lead and supervise the negotiation, review, and execution of sophisticated commercial agreements, including outsourcing arrangements, vendor contracts, service-level agreements, SaaS and technology deals, real estate projects, settlement agreements. Supervise a team of procurement legal professionals to ensure quality, timely, and compliant contract support to internal clients. Provide legal support on all HR, tax and regulatory related matters. Dispute resolution and litigation management with support of external counsel.
• Leadership: Supervise and mentor a junior in-house lawyer and a team of legal professionals supporting global procurement operations. Lead a high-performing, service-oriented legal team within DBS. Implement best practices, knowledge sharing, and professional development initiatives across the team. Ownership of Diageo legal policies (Anti-bribery, AML, etc).
• Data Protection Officer (DPO): Serve as the DPO for India operations, ensuring compliance with India's DPDP Act, GDPR, other relevant privacy regulations and Diageo's data privacy policies. Conduct data privacy risk assessments, DPIAs, and compliance audits. Liaise with global privacy teams, government authorities, and internal stakeholders on data protection matters.
• Company Secretarial Responsibilities: Act as Company Secretary for the India legal entity (as required), ensuring full compliance with Companies Act and related statutory obligations. Support board meetings, filings with the Registrar of Companies (RoC), and maintenance of statutory registers and records. Collaborate with external secretarial consultants and advisors when necessary.
• Investigation & Risk Support: Provide legal oversight in internal investigations, including employee misconduct, whistleblower complaints, fraud, and compliance breaches. Collaborate with HR, Business Integrity, and Audit teams to ensure fair, well-documented investigations and appropriate legal responses. Advise on POSH requirements.
• Customer Engagement & Governance: Work closely with senior leaders and business heads across functions, providing commercially sound legal advice aligned with strategic priorities. Support internal policy development, risk mitigation initiatives, and compliance frameworks. Build strong working relationships with internal and external partners, including regulators, vendors, and legal advisors.

Qualifications & Experience:

Indian-qualified lawyer with several years of post-qualification experience, preferably with a combination of law firm and in-house roles in a multinational company. Experience in leading legal support for shared services or centralized legal functions is preferred but other relevant experience will be considered. Proven expertise in contract negotiation, corporate governance, data privacy, and regulatory compliance.

Flexibility is key to our success. Talk to us about what flexibility means to you so that you’re supported to handle your wellbeing and balance your priorities from day one.

Diversity statement: Our purpose is to celebrate life, every day, everywhere. Crafting an inclusive culture, where everyone feels valued and that they can belong, is a crucial part of this. We accept diversity in the broadest possible sense. This means that you’ll be encouraged and celebrated for who you are just by being you. You’ll be part of and help build and champion an inclusive culture that celebrates people of different gender, ethnicity, ability, age, sexual orientation, social class, educational backgrounds, experiences, mindsets, and more.

Our ambition is to create the best performing, most trusted and respected consumer products companies in the world. Join us and help transform our business as we take our brands to the next level and build new ones as part of crafting the next generation of celebrations for consumers around the world.

Feel inspired? Then this may be the opportunity for you.