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Human Rights & Sustainability Counsel

ABB • Netherlands • Added on Jul 26, 2026
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This dual-purpose legal role serves as the central authority for human rights strategy and ESG regulatory compliance within ABB’s global divisions. You will lead the human rights workstream, defining the governance frameworks that ensure operations respect international standards while providing high-level legal counsel on evolving sustainability laws. By translating complex regulations into practical business processes, you ensure the organization remains both ethically sound and legally robust.

Working at the intersection of law and social impact, you will directly influence how a global industrial leader manages its social footprint across vast supply chains. The role is critical in strengthening human rights due diligence and ensuring the company adheres to the United Nations Guiding Principles. Your work transforms abstract commitments into lived corporate reality, mitigating risks that could affect workers worldwide.

This suits someone who is a legally trained strategist with over a decade of experience, capable of navigating the tension between high-level policy setting and pragmatic, business-oriented legal implementation.

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

The primary mission involves senior strategic leadership for the global Human Rights workstream, where you will define priorities and establish governance frameworks. You will be responsible for reviewing and enhancing the Human Rights Policy and Due Diligence Frameworks to remain aligned with the UNGPs. On the legal side, you will provide expert guidance on sustainability-related regulatory requirements, translating emerging laws like CSRD and CSDDD into actionable mandates. This includes assessing grievance mechanisms and managing remedy processes to ensure social accountability. Additionally, you will design training materials to embed these principles within the organizational culture, ensuring that both commercial and operational teams understand their obligations under evolving global ESG legislation.

Key learning opportunities for this job

You will gain unparalleled exposure to the practical application of sustainability law in a heavy industry context, seeing firsthand how global manufacturing hubs transition to meet modern transparency requirements. The role offers a deep dive into international human rights standards beyond mere theory. Working within a highly matrixed multinational like ABB, you will learn to navigate cross-functional legal and integrity structures. This environment provides a unique opportunity to become a recognized expert in the niche overlap of corporate law, integrity, and social ethics.

How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?

The ideal candidate is a legal professional with a Master’s degree in Law and at least 10 years of experience, preferably within a global corporate environment or a top-tier law firm. A background in management consulting is explicitly noted as a significant advantage. Excellent advocacy and influencing skills are essential, as you will need to convince diverse stakeholders of the necessity of human rights rigour. Fluency in English and a proactive, self-motivated approach are non-negotiable for succeeding in this autonomous role.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, demonstrate a clear track record of integrating social standards into supply chain or commercial contracts rather than just discussing policy. ABB values a business-oriented approach, so highlight instances where you successfully balanced ethical requirements with commercial realities. Preparation should include a solid perspective on how emerging EU regulations will affect industrial automation. Tailor your narrative to show you are not just a legal advisor, but a strategic partner capable of driving cultural and process change.

What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?

This role is the cornerstone of the Social pillar within the company's ESG framework. It focuses intensely on human rights due diligence, ensuring that the company's supply chain and operations do not infringe on individual rights or labor standards. You will also focus on regulatory compliance related to environmental and social disclosures. This involves monitoring global trends and ensuring the business is prepared for stricter transparency demands from investors and NGOs regarding its ethical governance.

What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?

A major challenge will be harmonizing diverse global standards across jurisdictions with varying levels of human rights maturity. Balancing HQ expectations with the operational realities of local divisions requires significant diplomatic skill. Furthermore, the rapidly changing regulatory landscape means you must stay ahead of legislative shifts to prevent the company from becoming reactive. Maintaining the momentum of human rights initiatives in a profit-driven industrial environment requires constant advocacy.

How could a typical day look like for someone in this position?

A typical day might begin with a strategic briefing with the Sustainability Council to discuss policy updates. You might then shift to providing specific legal advice to a divisional counsel regarding a complex contract involving supply chain risks. Afternoons could be spent designing training curricula for internal teams or meeting with stakeholders to discuss the efficacy of the company’s grievance mechanisms. The role involves a constant mix of high-level policy work and granular legal problem-solving.

What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role?

The role offers significant potential for vertical movement into high-level executive positions within Legal, Integrity, or Sustainability departments. Given its global scope, you are positioned for visibility at the highest levels of corporate leadership. There are also opportunities for lateral development into strategic business roles, as the expertise gained in navigating global ESG regulations is highly transferable. Leading a global workstream serves as a powerful platform for professional recognition.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

You will interact frequently with Division General Counsels and the Global Head of Sustainability to align legal safeguarding with social goals. Functional collaboration with the Integrity team is also a core part of the role. External engagement is equally critical, involving NGOs and investors who seek transparency on performance. You will also work closely with procurement teams to ensure that sustainability standards are effectively embedded into third-party relationships.

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