ESG Legal Counsel

Join us and play a key role in shaping MAN’s sustainability journey by embedding ESG legal requirements across the global automotive value chain.

About Us

MAN Truck & Bus, a leading European commercial vehicle manufacturer and part of the TRATON Group, is launching a new Global Business Services (GBS) organization structured around three core pillars: Operations, Global Process Ownership, and Strategy & Performance Management.

Your role

We are looking for an ESG Legal Counsel to support and further develop our ESG and sustainability agenda across the value chain. As part of the MAN Legal team, you will advise the business on ESG‑related legal requirements with a strong focus on the automotive value chain. The role combines regulatory work, operational support and close cooperation with internal functions such as Procurement, Sustainability, Compliance and Operations with mid-term potentially responsibility for the whole TRATON Group.

Your responsibilities

• Act as the key legal advisor on ESG, sustainability and governance matters across MAN’s automotive value chain, supporting management in ESG and sustainability‑related strategic decision‑making.
• Ensure compliance with EU and international ESG regulations, including CSRD, EU Taxonomy, CSDDD, LkSG, product compliance and supply‑chain due diligence requirements, ensuring the ability to interpret and apply new and evolving legal frameworks.
• Monitor regulatory developments and assess their impact on the business, proactively following news and updates across TRATON and MAN, and tracking cross‑country legal trends, particularly in Germany and other relevant jurisdictions.
• Translate ESG legal requirements into effective Group‑wide processes, policies and procedures in close collaboration with Legal and business functions, such as Sales, Production, Procurement, Sustainability, Compliance and Engineering.
• Provide legal support on ESG‑related contracts, reporting, governance frameworks and risk management, including investigations and remediation.
• Support sustainability reporting, disclosures and ESG governance frameworks, ensuring the company is prepared for new regulatory expectations.
• Support investigations of potential ESG breaches or incidents and advise on responses.
• Support internal awareness and training initiatives on ESG obligations, helping teams understand and implement evolving obligations.
• Operate autonomously from Lisbon, influencing stakeholders and driving legally required change in a complex international environment.

Your profile

Education & Experience:

• Fully qualified lawyer (e.g. German Volljurist, Attorney-at-Law, Solicitor or equivalent).
• 3-5 years of professional experience as an in-house counsel or in a law firm, ideally with exposure to the automotive or industrial sector.
• Solid background in compliance, regulatory, corporate or sustainability law, with hands‑on experience advising on regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to deep dive into new legal and regulatory frameworks, analyze their implications and translate them into practical business measures.
• Good understanding of supply chains, manufacturing processes and international business environments.

Skills & Competencies:

• Strong analytical skills and business-oriented mindset, being pragmatic and structured in analyzing legal requirements and balancing them with operational and strategic realities.
• Proven ability to work cross‑functionally with stakeholders from different business areas and backgrounds.
• Autonomy and self‑confidence in day‑to‑day work, including the ability to operate effectively under uncertainty and in a fast‑evolving regulatory environment.
• Influence internal stakeholders regarding the need for change.
• Fluent in English; German is required or highly preferred; additional languages are an asset.

Why join us?

• Be part of a new GBS organization, with real opportunity to shape processes from the ground up
• Work at the intersection of sustainability, digitalization, and process excellence
• Hybrid work model: 2-3 days home office per week
• Health Insurance (extended to family members at no extra cost)
• Life Insurance
• Extra days off on your birthday, Christmas Eve, and New Year’s Eve

Ready to make a difference? Apply now and help translate ESG regulation into real, sustainable impact at MAN.