Chief Legal Officer (m/w/d) | 100% Voluntary Role, Fully Remote

About Bundesverbraucherhilfe e.V.

Bundesverbraucherhilfe e.V. serves as the independent voice for consumers across Germany. The association is committed to transparency, fairness, and enlightenment, aiming to promote a modern, equitable, and future-oriented consumer environment. It strives to innovate responsibility within business and society, building trust and fostering sustainable positive change with a focus on the public good. Through strategic communication, the organization advocates effectively for consumer-relevant topics in public, economic, and political spheres.

Role Purpose

To strengthen its internal legal framework and meet the increasing legal demands, Bundesverbraucherhilfe e.V. is seeking a committed leader to oversee its legal departments and significantly influence the association’s continued development. The association already works alongside prominent jurists in its committees. Join an organization eager for change and help shape a consumer-friendly and legally secure Germany.

Important Liability Notice

The legal responsibility resides explicitly with the executive board. Since the role is voluntary, professional liability does not apply, excluding personal professional liability.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and strategically develop the legal division, including structuring and expanding a growing team of law students, legal assistants, and fully qualified lawyers, and managing connections with external law firms.
• Establish legally effective organizational structures and resolutions ensuring exclusion of liability risks.
• Provide comprehensive internal legal counsel covering strategic evaluation of all legal matters.
• Support the executive board, department heads, and working groups on employment, contract, association law, bylaws, compliance, governance, and data protection issues.
• Design and implement efficient processes for systematic handling of legal matters.
• Handle and prioritize consumer rights inquiries with expert legal assessment, ensuring robust protection via comprehensive insurance coverage (D&O, liability, legal protection, VSHP insurance).
• Coordinate external legal enforcement, including litigation and legal clarification in consumer and corporate law.
• Manage, review, and legally assess contracts with external partners, service providers, and funding institutions.
• Draft contracts for projects, collaborations, and memberships.
• Submit applications under § 4d UKlaG and § 8 UWG for lists of qualified institutions and develop partnership structures with attorneys and law firms for outsourcing legal disputes.

Candidate Profile

• Fully qualified lawyer with the second state examination completed and strong expertise in civil, consumer, and corporate law.
• Experience leading, building, or advancing legal structures strategically, preferably within a law firm, organization, or legal department at a responsible level.
• Excellent strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities to manage complex legal and organizational challenges and convert them into future-proof solutions.
• Capacity to clearly and pragmatically present complex issues.
• High sense of responsibility, leadership qualities, and organized working style.
• Passion for redefining consumer protection in Germany and advancing sustainable, community-oriented initiatives.
• Willingness to engage voluntarily within a remotely organized association.

Additional Information and Benefits

• Visibility and credibility gained by working within a recognized consumer organization.
• Flexible working hours and scope with remote work options.
• Collaborative environment with executive management and all specialist departments working on equal footing.
• A significant role that creates impact in service of a mission prioritizing responsible innovation.
• Qualified certificate of service/reference letter detailing your responsibilities, accountabilities, and achievements.
• A voluntary role offering professional growth opportunities, responsibility, and recognition in an officially Bundestag-registered lobbying association as part of a democratic organization.
• Potential for a future permanent position, subject to suitability and needs, since affiliated capital companies primarily recruit from the engaged volunteer pool.

Work Culture

We prioritize collaboration over competition. Are you ready to take responsibility, share your ideas, and embrace our vision? We look forward to receiving your application!