Head of Legal & CS

Location: Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
Department: Legal

Role Type: Individual Contributor
Reporting To: Region India Head Legal and matrix to Division Legal Head Position: Company Secretary and Head Legal

Role Summary:

This role is responsible for managing company secretarial duties, legal advisory, and internal compliance activities at the manufacturing site located in a Special Economic Zone. The position is hands-on and independent, focused on supporting business operations, governance, and internal controls, with limited regulatory engagement.

Key Responsibilities:

Company Secretary:

• Manage all Company Secretarial responsibilities in compliance with the Companies Act, 2013, along with applicable rules, regulations, standards, and other relevant corporate laws.
• Independently manage Board, Shareholders and Committee meetings, prepare agendas, circulate notices, draft minutes, and ensure procedural compliance.
• Maintain secretarial records and support internal reporting requirements.
• Maintain and update compliance management software to monitor legal and regulatory obligations across departments.

Legal:

• Draft, review, and negotiate a variety of legal documents including commercial contracts, NDAs, MoUs, engagement letters, legal notices, CSR-related documentation, and other legal documents as assigned.
• Provide legal advice and support to business and support functions on a wide range of operational matters including but not limited to SEZ-related issues, labor and employment laws, FDI policy, CSR projects, Fiscal incentives and documentation for expansion initiatives.
• Collaborate with internal teams to develop and review company policies, ensuring alignment with legal standards and risk mitigation.
• Prepare legal representations to SEZ authorities, SIPCOT, and other relevant bodies, as needed on matters affecting operations and compliance.
• Drive best practices and create and provide training on legal issues to the stakeholders.
• Update senior management on high-risk legal issues, including litigation, regulatory changes, and contract disputes.
• Monitor legislative and regulatory changes, assess their impact on the organization, and advise relevant teams on required compliance actions.
• Where external counsel is appointed, manage those appointments in accordance with ZF Group Outside Counsel Management System, overseeing the quality of work and managing external legal costs.
• Provide coaching to any member within the Legal team to enable them to be highly engaged and perform to their potential.

Compliance:

• Support Compliance investigator in conducting impartial confidential investigations of reported incidents and preparation of required documents, reports.
• Ensure implementation of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment policy, conduct awareness sessions, and manage the Internal Complaints Committee processes.
• Promote ethical practices and support compliance awareness initiatives across the site.

Qualifications

• Associate/Fellow Member of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI).
• Bachelor of Law from a recognized university.

Experience

815 years of experience in legal, company secretarial, and compliance roles, preferably in a manufacturing or SEZ unit.

Skills

• Strong understanding of corporate laws.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently in a global matrix environment.
• Proficiency in English; Tamil language skills are a plus but not mandatory.