General Counsel & Corporate Secretary

As General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, you will fulfill a key role within Bouwinvest. You are the legal-strategic advisor to the CEO, Executive Board, and Supervisory Board, and you play a direct role in the quality of decision-making within the organization.

The position comprises two roles: General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. The management of the Legal team is part of the General Counsel role.

In the role of General Counsel, you are responsible for legal policy, the management of legal risks, and advising on strategic issues. This includes real estate investments, fund and mandate structures, governance issues, real estate transactions, product development, and other matters with legal, commercial, and/or reputational impact. You advise the Executive Board and other stakeholders not only on what is legally possible but also assist in making well-considered strategic choices.

In the role of General Counsel, you lead the Legal team. You determine the legal course, set priorities where necessary, coach experienced lawyers, act as a substantive sparring partner, and promote collaboration within the team and with other departments. In doing so, you manage the collaboration with external law firms and other specialized advisors, if necessary.

From a legal perspective, you contribute to the implementation of Bouwinvest's digital strategy and ensure the legal prerequisites for the responsible use of technology, including AI. Within the Legal team, you translate this strategy into concrete improvements in the processes and working methods of the legal function. You provide direction to the implementation of digital and AI applications, thereby realizing demonstrable improvements in the efficiency and quality of legal services.

As Corporate Secretary, you safeguard the quality of governance and administrative decision-making. You support and advise the Executive Board, the Supervisory Board and its committees, and from an independent position, you act as an important sparring partner for management, regulators, and shareholders.

Bouwinvest is exploring a new international investment structure with attractive commercial opportunities, but also complex legal and governance risks.

You will map out the risks and points of attention, align with the Legal team and external advisors, assess scenarios, and advise the Investment Committee and the board on the legal preconditions and required decision-making. In this way, you ensure that the board can make well-informed choices and that risks are identified and managed in a timely manner.

You fulfill a key role within Bouwinvest, an international real estate investor with a broad portfolio and diverse legal and governance issues.

What makes this position special is the combination of strategic advising, responsibility for careful governance, and substantive leadership. You operate closely to administrative decision-making without being part of management yourself. This allows you to maintain the independent position required to test decisions critically, objectively, and carefully.

Additionally, you will have the opportunity to further develop the legal function. You play an important role in the further professionalization of the Legal team and legal services, including by sustainably anchoring digitalization and the responsible use of AI in processes and working methods.

You are therefore not only a legal advisor but also a connecting leader who contributes to the quality of decision-making and the further development of the legal function within Bouwinvest.

"You make legal issues understandable, dare to advise critically, and ensure that good governance and commercial ambitions strengthen each other."

• University (WO) working and thinking level and a completed degree in Dutch Law and/or Notarial Law. 

• Extensive experience as General Counsel, senior in-house counsel, or lawyer, preferably within real estate, investment management, and financial services.

• Broad legal expertise, with in-depth knowledge of corporate law, corporate governance, and legal risk management. 

• Experience with strategic advising of management, board, and supervisory bodies.

• Leadership experience and the ability to inspire and further develop a team of legal professionals.

• Experience with legal guidance of digital transformation and realizing efficiency improvements through digitalization, process optimization, and the responsible use of AI.

• An independent and persuasive interlocutor who combines strategic insight with administrative sensitivity, pragmatism, and result-orientation, with excellent command of the Dutch and English languages.