Director of the Legal Affairs Service

Ref 2581104 | Date: 25 Sept 2026 Emmenegger Compétences Conseils SA An internationally recognized institution of excellence, the Université de Genève brings together nearly 18'200 student·e·s and 6'500 collaborator·trice·s from the academic, scientific, administrative and technical fields. A major player in the development of knowledge for more than 450 years, it embodies a mission of public interest based on research, training and service to society, in a spirit of openness, diversity and responsibility. In order to succeed the current holder who will shortly claim her retirement rights, the Université de Genève offers a position of: Director of the Legal Affairs Service (100%) Directly reporting to the Rectrice, you occupy a strategic function at the heart of the University's governance. As the institution's referent for the entire legal field, you advise the Rectorate and support the university community on complex and sensitive issues, by evaluating legal risks and their institutional implications. You lead the Legal Affairs Service, and are the guarantor of the quality of its services. Member of the Executive Committee (CODIR), you also work within several institutional bodies. Your main responsibilities: * Advise the Rectrice, the Rectorate and the University's bodies on legal and strategic questions, by identifying risks and formulating recommendations adapted to institutional challenges; * Direct the Legal Affairs Service, supervise and mobilize its team and define its priorities in coherence with the strategy and objectives of the University; * Guarantee the quality, coherence and legal security of the files handled by the Service, notably legal opinions, decisions and acts presenting significant stakes for the institution; * Supervise administrative, disciplinary and litigation procedures, whether judicial or non-judicial, and ensure the representation of the University before the authorities and competent bodies; * Supervise institutional inquiries and investigations and ensure the coherence of the regulatory framework; * Negotiate, draft and secure complex agreements, conventions and contracts and represent UNIGE before authorities, institutional partners and other external interlocutor·rices. Your profile and your assets to succeed in this function: Holder of a Master's in law and the bar exam, you have 7 to 10 years of professional experience in a position with comparable responsibilities within a large-scale institution or organization, as well as proven experience in management. You possess recognized expertise in legal and strategic advice, as well as an excellent ability to apprehend complex issues and their institutional stakes. Your experience in negotiation, mediation and crisis management allows you to intervene with confidence in sensitive contexts. Equipped with a strategic vision, excellent interpersonal skills and solid discernment, you combine autonomy, diplomacy and ethical rigor. You know how to operate at the highest level of an organization and integrate the institutional and political dimension into your recommendations. French native speaker, you have a perfect command of English and good fluency in German. Why join UNIGE? A key function at the heart of the governance of an institution of international scale, offering the opportunity to contribute directly to its strategic orientations, to the control of its risks and to the evolution of its institutional framework. Your complete application file must be submitted exclusively online on the [job offers site](< >) of UNIGE. Paper files are not accepted. jpidd95d25ajm jpit0939jm jpiy26jm