Legal Counsel (all genders welcome) – Kia Europe GmbH, Frankfurt, Germany

Job Overview

Kia Europe GmbH is recruiting a Legal Counsel for its European headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. The position sits inside the company’s Legal Department and is advertised as a full-time, mid-level opening open to applicants of all genders.

The successful candidate will advise an automotive manufacturer’s European head office across a broad mix of legal subjects, from regulatory compliance and contracting through to risk management and the coordination of external law firms. The work is explicitly cross-border: the legal team supports Kia’s European subsidiaries and liaises with the group’s headquarters in Korea.

This listing is published on Kia Europe’s own recruitment portal. EUJOBHUB summarises the vacancy for jobseekers searching for legal roles in Germany; all applications are handled by the employer.

About the Role

The Legal Department at Kia Europe GmbH acts as the in-house advisory function for the European arm of an automotive OEM. Its remit covers the legal questions that arise from distributing and selling vehicles across European markets, the contracts that underpin those operations, and the internal policies that keep the business inside the rules it is subject to.

According to the employer, the role carries a project-delivery dimension as well as an advisory one. The description refers to managing and delivering projects against short-term objectives, planning on a horizon of roughly six to twelve months, and — where a team is involved — coordinating and coaching colleagues and matching people and resources to the work in hand.

Job Summary

Key Responsibilities

• Advise Kia Europe GmbH on the legal questions generated by the day-to-day business of an automotive manufacturer and distributor.
• Keep the company aligned with local, regional and international rules governing vehicle distribution and sales.
• Draft, review and negotiate agreements with suppliers and business partners — among them IT vendors, creative agencies, mobility-solution providers and market research firms.
• Build pan-European template documents, such as consumer-facing terms and data protection notices as well as distributorship agreements, that local subsidiaries can adapt to their own national law.
• Spot legal risk in business operations and propose practical ways to reduce it.
• Contribute to internal legal policies and guidelines that reflect both legal duty and industry practice.
• Handle the legal complexity of cross-border transactions and international operations.
• Work closely with local legal counsel in Kia’s European subsidiaries so that pan-European projects land consistently.
• Deliver internal training so colleagues across the business have the legal knowledge their roles require.
• Administer the company’s contract management system, including user training, day-to-day queries and liaison with the system provider.
• Coordinate and supervise work carried out by external law firms.
• Support the internal operations, processes and organisation of the Legal Department.

Candidate Requirements

Education

• Qualified German lawyer, having passed both the first and second Staatsexamen.

Professional Experience

• At least five years of post-qualification practice, gained in a law firm or in the legal or compliance function of a multinational company.
• An automotive focus is preferred by the employer.
• Prior experience supporting local subsidiaries and coordinating with a global headquarters counts as an advantage.

Technical Skills

• Sound grasp of risk assessment, internal control and compliance concepts.
• Strong analytical ability, particularly in judging whether internal controls and compliance measures actually work.
• Commercial judgement — the capacity to turn legal requirements into workable business answers.

Language Skills

• Fluent written and spoken English is required; further relevant languages are viewed as an advantage.

Other Qualifications

• An international outlook suited to a global company, with international mobility described as ideal.
• Professional ethics, teamwork, multitasking, communication and presentation skills.

Salary

Not publicly specified by the employer.

International Candidates

Candidates should independently verify work authorization, visa, and relocation requirements with the employer.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through Kia Europe’s own online recruitment portal, where the employer also offers the option of applying via LinkedIn. The advertisement notes that candidates interested in joining the Kia team should apply online. Open the original vacancy page here: Legal Counsel (all genders welcome) – Kia Europe GmbH.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is this Legal Counsel position based?

At Kia Europe’s headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

How much experience does Kia Europe expect?

A minimum of five years of post-qualification experience, either in private practice or in a multinational company’s legal or compliance department, with automotive exposure preferred.

Do I need German legal qualifications?

Yes. The listing asks for a German qualified lawyer who has completed the first and second Staatsexamen.

Is German required for the role?

The employer states fluent English in writing and speech as the language requirement, adding that further suitable languages are an advantage.

What benefits does the employer mention?

The advert refers to a competitive compensation package that includes a Job ticket, ongoing on-the-job training, a free staff restaurant and company events, alongside an international working environment.

Is a salary figure published?

No. The employer does not publish a salary for this vacancy.

EUJOBHUB Disclaimer

EUJOBHUB is an independent jobs website. We are not a recruitment agency and we are not affiliated with, nor do we represent, Kia Europe GmbH. This article is an original editorial summary of a vacancy published by Kia Europe GmbH on its own careers portal. All hiring decisions, application processing and candidate communication are handled solely by the employer. Details such as closing dates and role requirements may change or be withdrawn without notice, so please confirm everything on the employer’s official listing before applying.