Head of Legal & Regulatory - Senior Manager (All genders welcome)

Head of Legal & Regulatory (all genders welcome)

Join the movement and find new inspiration.

We have an exciting opportunity for you as:

Head of Legal & Regulatory (all genders welcome) within our Legal Department at the Kia Europe Headquarters in Frankfurt/Main, Germany.

Job mission:

As a Senior Manager, you will lead and influence through specialist advisory or commercial roles, as well as by overseeing significant work programs comprising multiple projects. You will be responsible for developing and delivering the medium-term plan, including defining resourcing and KPIs, and determining the team’s role within that plan, with a forward-looking perspective of up to 12 months. You will manage and coach a (project) team, providing clear business direction, motivation, support, and development. In doing so, you will adapt your people management style to suit the needs and personalities of individual team members.

Main responsibilities:

The Head of Legal & Regulatory leads the European Legal & Regulatory department and serves as the primary legal adviser to the General Counsel and regional leadership. The role oversees all legal, regulatory, and compliance aspects across the European organization, including EU competition law, vehicle/type approval and regulatory affairs, ESG regulatory compliance, and third-party due diligence frameworks.

This role requires a fully qualified lawyer with strong leadership capability, excellent judgment, and the ability to manage complex cross-border legal and regulatory issues while providing pragmatic support to business teams. The Head of Legal & Regulatory also represents the organization in dealings with supervisory authorities, regulators, external counsel, and industry bodies.

Department Leadership & Strategic Advisory

• Provide strategic leadership for the Legal & Regulatory function, ensuring that legal priorities align with business objectives and long‑term European strategy.
• Act as a senior adviser to the General Counsel, contributing proactively to strategic decision‑making, risk anticipation, and business planning.
• Lead and develop a high‑performing Legal & Regulatory team, fostering capability growth, engagement, accountability, and a collaborative team culture.
• Set and uphold governance standards, legal frameworks, policies, and processes to ensure legal integrity and consistent decision‑making across the organization.
• Shape the legal department’s roadmap, operating model, and resource planning.
• Manage external counsel strategically, including selection, oversight, cost effectiveness, and quality assurance.
• Strengthen cross‑functional collaboration with key departments such as Compliance, ESG, Finance, P&O, IT/Security and Safety.

Strategic Legal Risk Management

• Identify and assess emerging legal and regulatory risks affecting the business and translate them into actionable strategies.
• Provide strategic guidance on complex and cross‑functional matters, including commercial, corporate, compliance, and regulatory topics.
• Ensure the organization maintains a strong risk posture, including robust internal controls, documentation, and audit readiness.
• Represent the Legal & Regulatory function in strategic forums, leadership committees, and critical business initiatives.

External Engagement & Regulatory Navigation

• Shape and oversee the organization’s approach to interactions with regulators, authorities, and external stakeholders.
• Provide senior guidance on regulatory developments across competition law, vehicle regulatory frameworks, ESG, and due‑diligence‑related legislation.
• Support advocacy positions in relevant industry forums and EU consultations.

Your talents:

• Fully qualified lawyer (e.g., German Volljurist, Syndikusrechtsanwalt Solicitor, Avocat, or equivalent EU qualification).
• Minimum 10 years post-qualification experience in an international corporate environment and/or leading law firm.
• Strong experience in commercial and corporate law, governance, and legal advisory to senior leadership.
• Deep knowledge in antitrust & competition, type approval & vehicle regulatory frameworks, ESG, and due‑diligence‑related legislation.
• Familiarity (inter alia) with EU competition law, regulatory topics, ESG developments, and compliance frameworks.
• Experience in managing teams, stakeholders, and cross-functional initiatives.
• Excellent English skills required; additional languages are an asset.

Who are we?

At Kia, we are a global mobility brand with more than 75 years of experience. Since our founding in 1944, we have grown from manufacturing bicycles, motorcycles and cars to becoming a provider of mobility solutions, always guided by the changing needs of our customers.

Today, we continue to expand our portfolio of electrified and battery electric vehicles while developing new mobility services. Guided by our brand slogan, Movement that Inspires, we are exploring new ways to make mobility more convenient and relevant for people’s everyday lives. Through continuous innovation and a customer-centric approach, we aim to create products and services that inspire new possibilities and meaningful connections.

As the European sales and manufacturing arm of Kia Corporation, we support 39 markets across Europe and the Caucasus from our headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany. Together, we are more than 5,500 colleagues, including around 3,500 team members at our manufacturing facility in Žilina, Slovakia.

At our European headquarters, more than 50 nationalities work side by side, bringing different perspectives, experiences and ideas. This diversity is one of our strengths and contributes to the way we work, learn, and grow together. Every day brings opportunities to collaborate, develop new skills, and contribute to our shared success.

If you are looking for an environment where curiosity, collaboration, and continuous learning are valued, we would love to hear from you. Join us and be part of the movement that inspires.

Should you still have doubts, we also offer:

• A vibrant international atmosphere where our workforce represents 50+ nations.
• Playing a pivotal role in shaping Kia's culture in Europe, actively contributing to its development.
• Exploring new solutions, where your creative input matters significantly.
• Enjoying a competitive compensation package, including a Job ticket, consistent on-the-job training, a complimentary staff restaurant, and engaging company events.

If you’re interested to become part of our Kia team, please apply via our online portal. We are looking forward to getting to know you.