Head - Legal & Compliance

Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India is the largest research and development center of the Mercedes-Benz Group AG outside Germany. Since its establishment in 1996, MBRDI has been at the forefront of engineering innovation across mobility, software-defined vehicles, and next-generation automotive technologies.

The Head of Legal & Compliance will serve as the chief legal advisor to the Managing Director and executive leadership team, responsible for safeguarding the organization’s legal, regulatory, and governance framework.

This role will lead the legal function for one of the largest global engineering centers within the Mercedes-Benz ecosystem, supporting strategic business initiatives, enabling innovation in automotive technologies, and ensuring the organization operates with the highest standards of compliance, ethics, and corporate governance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Legal & Compliance function for MBRDI and act as the principal legal advisor to senior leadership.
• Provide strategic legal guidance on business expansion, partnerships, and global engineering collaborations.
• Ensure compliance with applicable Indian laws and regulations, including corporate, labor, competition, and technology regulations.
• Drive corporate governance frameworks aligned with global Mercedes-Benz Group standards.
• Lead internal compliance programs including ethics, anti-corruption, and regulatory reporting.
• Advise on software development and licensing, automotive technology partnerships, data platforms, digital services, AI, and emerging technologies.
• Oversee drafting, negotiation, and execution of technology development agreements, vendor and supplier contracts, strategic partnerships, joint innovation agreements, and intellectual property licensing arrangements.
• Advise engineering teams on intellectual property protection, patents, technology transfer, and IP licensing.
• Partner with HR on employment law, workforce policies, disciplinary actions, workplace investigations, and employee relations.
• Manage litigation, arbitration, and regulatory matters involving the organization.
• Identify legal risks and develop preventive risk management frameworks.
• Collaborate with global legal teams and represent MBRDI in global legal forums and governance councils.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from a reputed university.
• Master of Laws (LLM) preferred.
• 15–20 years of progressive experience in corporate legal roles.
• Experience in multinational corporations, technology companies, or the automotive industry preferred.
• Prior experience leading legal teams and managing complex global legal matters.
• Expertise in corporate and commercial law, technology and intellectual property law, regulatory compliance, corporate governance, employment and labor law, contract negotiations, and risk management.

Benefits

Benefits may include employee discounts, health benefits, mobile phone support, meal discounts, company retirement benefits, hybrid work, mobility offers, employee events, coaching, flextime, near-site childcare, parking, canteen and café access, good public transport, a barrier-free workplace, and an in-house doctor.

Mercedes-Benz Research and Development India is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace.