Head of Legal & Corporate Affairs

Overview

Location: Germany (Bremen preferred) - Hybrid work model possible

Languages: German (native or near-native) required and English (professional fluency) required

About the Organization

We are a university network operating across Germany and internationally, comprising several nonprofit and commercial entities in the field of education. The group includes Constructor University Bremen, a fully accredited private university with campus operations and nonprofit status, as well as affiliated education, research, and service entities.

The network combines academic excellence with entrepreneurial initiatives, international partnerships, and innovative educational models. Legal oversight spans public-law and private-law issues, nonprofit governance, regulated higher education activities, employment law, real estate, and commercial operations.

The Role

The Head of Legal & Corporate Affairs will serve as the senior legal leader for the university network, overseeing all legal, regulatory, and governance matters across nonprofit and commercial entities. This role reports to executive leadership and works closely with university management, academic leadership, finance, HR, compliance, and external advisors.

This is a hands-on role suited for a pragmatic, business-minded legal leader with deep familiarity with the German higher education and nonprofit landscape.

Legal Leadership & Strategy

• Act as the primary legal advisor to executive leadership, university management, and boards
• Develop and implement the group’s legal and governance strategy
• Identify legal risks and provide clear, actionable guidance aligned with institutional goals

University & Higher Education Law

• Oversee compliance with German higher education regulations (Hochschulrecht), accreditation requirements, and ministry oversight
• Support interactions with education authorities, accreditation bodies, and regulators
• Advise on academic governance matters, statutes, examination regulations, faculty appointments, and student-related legal issues

Nonprofit & Corporate Governance

• Manage legal matters relating to nonprofit status (Gemeinnützigkeit), charitable law, and tax-exempt activities
• Ensure compliant governance structures across foundations, associations, and commercial subsidiaries
• Support board and committee governance, including preparation of resolutions, minutes, and statutory changes

Corporate & Commercial Matters

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of contracts, including:
• Academic partnerships and international cooperation agreements
• Research collaborations and funding agreements
• Commercial and service contracts
• Licensing, IP, and technology agreements
• Oversee corporate housekeeping for all group entities

Employment & Labor Law

• Advise on German employment and labor law matters, including:
• Academic and non-academic staff employment
• Faculty appointments, tenure-related issues, and collective agreements
• Works council matters (Betriebsrat), restructurings, and HR policies

Real Estate & Campus Operations

• Oversee legal matters related to campus operations, including:
• Real estate, leases, construction, and facilities
• Zoning, permits, and regulatory compliance
• Campus safety and liability matters

Compliance, Data Protection & Risk

• Oversee GDPR compliance and data protection matters
• Manage compliance frameworks, internal policies, and investigations as needed
• Coordinate with external counsel on litigation, regulatory matters, and specialized issues

External Counsel & Stakeholder Management

• Select, instruct, and manage external law firms and advisors
• Serve as legal point of contact for regulators, ministries, partners, and counter parties

• Fully qualified lawyer in Germany (Volljurist/in with two State Exams)
• Minimum 8–12 years of relevant legal experience, ideally including:
• Higher education or research institutions
• Nonprofit or foundation structures
• Regulated environments
• Strong expertise in:
• German higher education law
• Nonprofit and corporate law
• Employment and labor law
• Native-level German and excellent English drafting and negotiation skills
• Proven ability to operate independently in a complex, multi-entity organization

• Prior experience as in-house counsel or head of legal at:
• A private university, research institution, or educational nonprofit
• A foundation-backed or internationally operating organization
• Familiarity with international academic partnerships and cross-border structures
• Experience working with boards, academic leadership, and public authorities

• Pragmatic, solution-oriented legal thinker
• Comfortable balancing academic values with commercial realities
• Strong judgment, discretion, and stakeholder management skills
• Ability to translate complex legal issues into clear guidance for non-lawyers
• High integrity and commitment to institutional mission

• A senior leadership role within a unique and international educational environment
• Broad responsibility and direct access to decision-makers
• The…