Location: Tokyo, Japan

Thales is a global technology leader trusted by governments, institutions, and enterprises to tackle their most demanding challenges. From quantum applications and artificial intelligence to cybersecurity and 6G innovation, our solutions empower critical decisions rooted in human intelligence. Operating at the forefront of aerospace and space, cybersecurity and digital identity, we're driven by a mission to build a future we can all trust.

Present in Japan since 1970, Thales promotes technological innovation and is an active and recognised partner for the development of Japanese infrastructure. Our strategy focuses on strengthening local partnerships and collaborating with key Japanese industrial players to address global needs as we continuously establish a dynamic and skilled workforce.

The Job Holder will have a key role in supporting the Thales businesses in the Region, working closely and regularly with various competences at senior levels, including without limitation Country Director, Compliance Officer, Key Account Managers, Head of Sales & Marketing, Operations Director, Finance Managers, etc.

Business activities are driven by a dynamic demand characterized by a fast business environment, sharp competition and rapidly growing customers' requirements.

The Job Holder will be a key player in the deployment of the Group's compliance program, and as such, will contribute to the evolution of the Group organization as well as of its way of working, in order to take into consideration the evolutions of its environment, new laws and regulations, and the best ethical and governance practices.

Regular travel in the Region and occasional travel in Singapore and/or France is to be expected.

For the files you will be responsible for, you will be expected to:

During the offer / bid phase:

• Advise operational teams (capture leader, bid manager, sales team…) on a legally relevant contractual structure and solutions contributing to the offer's competitiveness and in line with local regulations;
• Draft and negotiate, or participate in the drafting and negotiation, of contracts with clients, partners, subcontractors, suppliers, etc. while ensuring the consistency of their contractual and financial content with Thales' interests;
• Participate in the risk analysis process and the construction of mitigation plans with the help of operations (possibly estimating financial provisions for risks such as delay, if necessary);
• Prepare and negotiate cooperation agreements, support business development (letter of Intent, memorandum of understanding, consortium agreement, joint venture agreement, etc.);
• Provide support to purchasing department for the definition of contractual clauses to be flowed down in subcontracting contracts, as well as potential support during negotiations; and
• Prepare and present all review documentation related to the offer / bid, in line with the applicable review and approval process, including clear recommendations.

During the project phase:

• Ensure that, from contract signature, the contractual framework is known by the project team, kept up to date, and that deviations are tracked and managed;
• Define with the project team a risk and opportunity management strategy to minimize the impact of any risk occurrence, through requests for waivers or deadline extensions, or to improve the project's financial outcome by generating claims and/or amendments;
• Contribute effectively to the Legal, Contracts & Compliance department's KPIs defined at the Group level; and
• Monitor and manage with the Litigation Department, and by engaging external counsels (as necessary), any disputes arising during project execution (collect relevant data related to the contractual and operational environment and associated evidence).

Other:

• Actively contribute to the (continuous) deployment and implementation of the Group's compliance program actions, notably by assisting the Compliance Officer in implementing all pillars of the program (Anticorruption, Trade Compliance, Anti-trust and Competition laws, Personal Data Protection, and Duty of vigilance);
• On anticorruption,
  • perform, analyze, implement and update the screening and due diligence files of third parties with whom Thales wish to enter into a contractual relationship, in close coordination with the competent compliance officer as well as all the other relevant stakeholders (i.e., business capture leaders, country directors, and all relevant local functions and concerned Thales' business units) in accordance with the applicable Third Parties Integrity Assessment Instruction, and
  • report to the Compliance Officer any identified situations of non-compliance which would require the definition of a corrective action plan and/or a reporting to the Chief Compliance Officer of the Regional Company and, when appropriate, to the Group General Counsel, the Ethic, Integrity and Corporate Responsibility Director, or to the Compliance expert as the case may be;
• Provide country legal and contractual systems intelligence and knowledge to the relevant global, regional, or corporate stakeholders;
• Interface with external counsels for analysis and management of specific legal issues in the framework of complex contractual and/or legal arrangements or claim / litigation procedures in the Region, in compliance with the Group policy;
• Participate in a cross-functional working group for the Legal, Contracts & Compliance Department;
• Contribute to the development and delivery of training to operational teams (compliance, contract management, regulatory…);
• Ensure compliance with the Group's directives as well as with applicable laws and regulations, including anticorruption, trade compliance / export control, antitrust and data protection; and
• Assist in addressing the internal control requirements, the audit reviews, corporate law, governance (including delegation of authority, power of attorney...) and compliance aspects for entities falling within the Region.

KEY KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

To be successful in your role, you will have demonstrated and/or acquired the following knowledge and experience:

• Undergraduate LLB or post-graduate JD.
• Eight (8) or more years of combined significant and successful professional experience in a law firm and/or in-house legal department at a global company providing support to business in an international environment.
• Good understanding and practice of international contracts and compliance issues including those related to corruption, trade compliance, competition, and privacy and data protection.
• Strong command of relevant industry laws, regulations, guidance, codes, and enforcement trends including those related to the defense industry and digital environment.
• Expertise in drafting, redlining, and negotiating a wide variety of commercial agreements, including service agreements and data processing agreements.
• Experience in managing and advising on commercial disputes.
• Ability to demonstrate flexibility, creativity and the ability to work effectively with all levels of the organization.
• Team player with the ability to apply innovative / pragmatic problem-solving skills and practical business judgment.
• Good and effective communication skills as well as good interpersonal and inter-cultural awareness and interest in working in diverse teams.
• Fluent verbal and written communication skills in English, and native-level Japanese proficiency.  Additional fluency in other languages (e.g., French, Korean) a plus.
• Highest degree of professional ethics and personal integrity.
• Strong stakeholders' engagement skills, analytical and strategic thinking skills, strong organizational and time management skills.
• Thrive under pressure and can handle multi-tasks efficiently to cope with urgent and competing demands. Ability to work effectively and pragmatically in a fast-paced commercial environment within a matrix organization.
• Exceptional and demonstrated written and verbal communication skills and interpersonal skills in both one-on-one and group settings.
• Autonomous, self-motivated, self-confident, accountable and positive attitude.
• Enjoy sharing your experiences and best practices, with a collective and collaborative mindset.
• Proficient with the use of software tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint…) and all types of data exchange platforms.

At Thales, we're committed to fostering a workplace where respect, trust, collaboration, and passion drive everything we do. Here, you'll feel empowered to bring your best self, thrive in a supportive culture, and love the work you do. Join us, and be part of a team reimagining technology to create solutions that truly make a difference – for a safer, greener, and more inclusive world.

---