Lead Senior Legal Counsel (f/m/d)

We help the world run better

At SAP, we enable you to bring out your best. Our company culture is focused on collaboration and a shared passion to help the world run better. How? We focus every day on building the foundation for tomorrow and creating a workplace that embraces differences, values flexibility, and is aligned to our purpose-driven and future-focused work. We offer a highly collaborative, caring team environment with a strong focus on learning and development, recognition for your individual contributions, and a variety of benefit options for you to choose from.

YOUR FUTURE ROLE

SAP and its customers operate in an increasingly complex global environment—especially in the fast-evolving area of cloud compliance. The Global Regulatory Legal (GRL) team supports SAP’s Cloud Compliance Operating Model (CCOM), an internal framework for managing cloud-related requirements, by advising designated experts responsible for key compliance topics, product development, and stakeholders on complex regulatory requirements and integrating them into SAP’s products, processes, and operations.

As Regulatory Counsel, you will provide legal analysis for vital cloud compliance regulatory projects and topics. Reporting to the Head of GRL, you’ll collaborate with teams across Security, Data Protection & Export Control, Government Relations, Product Development, and Cloud Operations.

This role requires a self-starter with strong internal client focus, critical thinking, excellent communication skills and a solution-oriented mindset. You’ll work both independently and as part of a global supportive, cross-functional team to drive SAP’s cloud compliance efforts—and help simplify the path to compliance for others.

• Provide solid, creative, practical, business-minded legal analysis to cross-functional teams on the impact of new and proposed rules and regulations.
• Act as the primary legal contact for complex regulatory compliance projects, collaborating closely with other lawyers and cross-functional experts. Leverage strong communication and coordination skills to align legal advice across stakeholders, ensuring consistent, business-focused guidance while driving solutions as the project’s main legal point of contact.
• Effectively share knowledge and lessons learned within the GRL team and related teams, including through the creation of resources and trainings.
• Work with related teams, especially Government Affairs, SGS-C, Corporate Legal, Data Privacy and Export Control, Field Legal, and Strategic Business Services, to integrate with existing and emerging compliance practices and tools.
• Advise SAP on working within the law to offer excellent products and services.
• Support stakeholders in the Cloud Compliance Operating Model at SAP, including working with cross-functional teams who identify risk areas and develop systems, policies, and procedures to manage and mitigate them.
Demonstrate openness and develop skill in leveraging technology and compliance tools to support the compliance process, including the effective use of existing tools and applications that facilitate the dissemination of identified legal requirements throughout the relevant business areas.

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YOUR PROFILE

• Demonstrated knowledge of German and European laws relevant to cloud services, such as data protection, cybersecurity, telecom, export control, encryption, and law enforcement access as well as proven ability and motivation to quickly develop subject-matter expertise in additional legal areas as required.
• Understands cloud business models and regulatory frameworks; skilled in analyzing regulations and linking them to product, operations, and compliance needs.
• Excellent writing and interpersonal skills; experienced in drafting policies and effectively aligning diverse stakeholders on regulatory impacts to support successful project outcomes.
• Proven ability to influence and lead cross-functional initiatives without formal authority; effective in diverse, multicultural teams by building strong networks and driving collective results.
• Strong coordination skills with a service-oriented mindset and commitment to internal stakeholder success; collaborates effectively with project managers to help deliver projects to a successful close

WORK EXPERIENCE

• 10+ years working as an attorney or in-house counsel, including 2+ years supporting matters related to regulatory compliance.
• Experience in cloud businesses and/or information security is a plus.

EDUCATION

• Second State Examination (Zweites Staatsexamen), qualifying for full admission to the German legal profession or equivalent law degree from an accredited university.
• Further technical degrees or certifications (e.g., from IAPP) is a plus
• Excellent written and spoken German and English skills are required

Bring out your best

SAP innovations help more than four hundred thousand customers worldwide work together more efficiently and use business insight more effectively. Originally known for leadership in enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, SAP has evolved to become a market leader in end-to-end business application software and related services for database, analytics, intelligent technologies, and experience management. As a cloud company with two hundred million users and more than one hundred thousand employees worldwide, we are purpose-driven and future-focused, with a highly collaborative team ethic and commitment to personal development. Whether connecting global industries, people, or platforms, we help ensure every challenge gets the solution it deserves. At SAP, you can bring out your best.

We win with inclusion

SAP’s culture of inclusion, focus on health and well-being, and flexible working models help ensure that everyone – regardless of background – feels included and can run at their best. At SAP, we believe we are made stronger by the unique capabilities and qualities that each person brings to our company, and we invest in our employees to inspire confidence and help everyone realize their full potential. We ultimately believe in unleashing all talent and creating a better and more equitable world.
SAP is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and is an affirmative action employer. We are committed to the values of Equal Employment Opportunity and provide accessibility accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. If you are interested in applying for employment with SAP and are in need of accommodation or special assistance to navigate our website or to complete your application, please send an e-mail with your request to Recruiting Operations Team: [email protected].
For SAP employees: Only permanent roles are eligible for the SAP Employee Referral Program, according to the eligibility rules set in the SAP Referral Policy. Specific conditions may apply for roles in Vocational Training.

Requisition ID: 430253 | Work Area: Sekretariat / Assistenz | Expected Travel: 0 - 10% | Career Status: Berufserfahren | Employment Type: Vollzeit, unbefristet | Additional Locations: #LI-Hybrid