Head of Legal

Here at The Exploration Company, we are developing, producing, and operating Nyx, a modular and reusable space orbital vehicle that can eventually be refuelled in orbit and that can carry cargo - and potentially humans in the longer run. Key Responsibilities In your capacity as General Counsel, your role will be continuously evolving, but day to day your duties will include: Corporate Governance o Maintain legal compliance of each subsidiary (e.g., GmbH, SARL, LLC, SàRL, SAS) o Manage board resolutions, shareholder agreements, and entity records o Oversee intercompany agreements and cross-border structuring o Coordinate with external counsel for local filing Employment Law & HR Compliance o Draft employment contracts and internal policies per jurisdiction o Ensure compliance with local labor laws (e.g., Betriebsrat, CSE, UAE reforms) o Handle investigations, terminations, and whistleblower cases o Manage union relations and collective bargaining (France, Germany, Italy) Regulatory & Operational Compliance o Monitor legal changes across sectors (e.g., space law, export controls) o Oversee GDPR and data protection (EU, UAE, US) o Lead internal audits and compliance training o Respond to regulatory inquiries and inspections Risk Management & Ethics o Lead internal investigations, whistleblower protocols, and compliance reviews o Design and implement anti-corruption, anti-bribery, and ethical conduct policies o Lead internal investigations and compliance reviews o Advise on reputational risk and crisis response o Promote a culture of integrity and accountability across all business units Commercial Contracts & Transactions o Draft and negotiate supplier, customer, and partnership agreements o Implement milestone-based invoicing and performance clauses o Manage dispute resolution and enforceability across jurisdictions Strategic Legal Advisory o Counsel CEO and executives on legal risks and opportunities o Support international expansion and joint ventures o Align legal strategy with business goals o Translate complex legal frameworks into actionable guidance What we would love to see from you In the role of General Counsel, ideally, you will have the following: · Juris Doctor or equivalent legal degree; admission to practice in at least one jurisdiction · 15+ years of legal experience in multinational environments · Expertise in corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and ethics · Strong command of EU, US, and UAE legal frameworks · Multilingual proficiency and cross-cultural communication skills · Strategic thinker with high emotional intelligence and ethical leadership Why you should join us! What makes us special here at The Exploration Company and why we think you will enjoy working here is: - We’re Agile - we make decisions fast whilst keeping our goals and systems in mind - We’re Open and Collaborative - we are transparent about risks and obstacles, so that we can cooperate to overcome them - We have a lot of Fun - we refuel our energy knowing we are democratising space. It’s a wonderful and rare opportunity, are YOU up for the challenge? We'd love to hear from you if you wish to be a part of our journey. Please submit your CV now for immediate consideration and we will be in touch shortly. The Exploration Company is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status. Relocation assistance is provided for those willing to relocate including visa sponsorship where applicable. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check, which will be subject to the country, role, and project you applied for. By submitting your application, you acknowledge and agree that any offer of employment may be conditional upon successful condition of this check. The Exploration Company partners with Zinc Work Limited located in the UK (Zinc), a third-party provider, to ens