Senior Legal Counsel – Global Trademark & Intellectual Property (m-f-d)

The Scope

The Senior Legal Counsel – Global Trademark & Intellectual Property is FSC’s global authority on trademark and IP matters. The role leads the development, governance, and enforcement of FSC’s global trademark and intellectual property framework, ensuring the protection and responsible use of one of the world’s most recognized sustainability brands.
As the organization’s subject matter expert, the position oversees trademark governance, licensing, and international enforcement strategies, while providing strategic legal guidance on complex cross-border IP issues. The role advises senior leadership on matters with significant legal, reputational, and commercial impact and ensures consistent protection of FSC’s global trademark portfolio.
Working closely with FSC International, Network Partners, Certification Bodies, external counsel, regulators, customs authorities, and other stakeholders, the role provides functional leadership across the FSC system and ensures alignment of IP governance and enforcement activities with FSC’s strategic objectives.

Main Roles & Responsibilities

• Own and drive FSC’s global Trademark & Intellectual Property strategy and governance framework.
• Develop and maintain global trademark policies, standards, and best practices.
• Serve as process owner for FSC’s Trademark Governance Framework and operating procedures.
• Ensure consistent application of trademark requirements across FSC International, Network Partners, and Certification Bodies.
• Provide strategic legal advice to senior leadership on high-impact IP and brand protection matters.
• Monitor global legal, regulatory, sustainability, digital, e-commerce, and AI developments affecting IP.
• Lead FSC’s global trademark enforcement program, including litigation and enforcement strategies.
• Oversee investigations into infringement, misuse, fraud, counterfeiting, and unauthorized trademark use.
• Direct negotiations and coordinate actions with external counsel, regulators, customs authorities, and enforcement agencies.
• Advise on trademark licensing, copyright, domain names, internet, e-commerce, unfair competition, and commercial trademark use.
• Lead trademark-related risk assessments, mitigation measures, and enterprise-wide brand protection initiatives.
• Represent FSC externally and act as the organization’s global IP expert, providing leadership, training, and stakeholder guidance.

Your profile

• Law degree (LL.B., LL.M., Juris Doctor, or equivalent) with specialization in Trademark Law and Intellectual Property.
• Minimum 8 years’ experience in Intellectual Property Law.
• Experience in international law firms, global in-house legal teams, international IP practices, or brand protection organizations.
• Extensive experience leading international trademark portfolios.
• Demonstrated experience developing global governance frameworks.
• Proven experience leading international trademark enforcement programmes.
• Experience defining litigation and enforcement strategies.
• Experience negotiating complex licensing and commercial agreements.
• Extensive experience advising senior executives on strategic legal matters.
• Experience operating across multiple jurisdictions and regulatory environments.

Skills & Competencies

• Recognized expertise in Trademark and Intellectual Property Law.
• Strong strategic, commercial, and risk-based mindset.
• Excellent analytical, legal drafting, and problem-solving skills.
• Proven experience in governance, policy development, and implementation.
• Strong stakeholder management, influencing, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to lead and drive outcomes through expertise without formal authority.
• Excellent negotiation and conflict-resolution capabilities.
• Strong executive-level communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to translate complex legal and regulatory developments into practical business decisions.
• Fluency in English; additional proficiency in German, Spanish, French, Brazilian Portuguese, or Chinese is an advantage.

Why us?

• Be part of a globally respected organization shaping the future of sustainable forestry.
• Work with a diverse international team representing 60+ nationalities.
• Join a global FSC community of over 400 forest stewards.
• Enjoy meaningful professional development opportunities and continuous learning.
• Live and work in Bonn, Germany — a vibrant international city and UN hub close to nature.
• Benefit from 30 days of annual leave, flexible work arrangements, and a healthy work-life balance.
• Relocation support available, if applicable

The Fine Print

• Location: Bonn, Germany.

• Working Hours: Full time - 40 hours per week.

• Duration of Employment: Temporary contract - 2 years (extension possible, subject to satisfactory performance)

• Starting Date: As soon as possible.
  
  

How to Apply
Ready to make a difference? Join FSC and help shape a sustainable future. Don't delay - apply now!

• Please apply via our website by submitting your CV in English.
• Please do not send any photos of yourself.
• Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
  
  

For FSC, inclusiveness and diversity are important values. As such, we welcome and encourage applications from all backgrounds and are entirely committed to consider all qualified applicants regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age and disability.

We will confirm receipt of your application. Should you not receive a confirmation of receipt please check your spam filter and if you cannot find it there contact us at careers@fsc.org

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We are looking forward to your application!

About us

Welcome to FSC!

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a globally recognized non-profit organization at the forefront of promoting sustainable forestry. With over 150 million hectares of certified forests and a trusted reputation among NGOs, consumers, and businesses, FSC is leading the way in ensuring the long-term health and resilience of the world’s forests.