Legal Manager, Customer Contracting at Maersk, Mumbai [Full-time; site based]

Maersk is a global leader in integrated logistics and has been an industry pioneer for over a century. A.P. Moller - Maersk is an integrated container logistics company that works to connect and simplify its customers’ supply chains. It operates in 130 countries and employs roughly 100,000 people, offering end-to-end products and digital services to transport goods anywhere in the world.

Maersk is looking for an experienced Legal Manager, Customer Contracting, to lead a team of approximately 5 to 10 legal professionals who support the review and negotiation of customer contracts across its international shipping business.

The team mainly handles agreements relating to international transportation, and also supports contracts covering other logistics and supply chain services. It is a high-volume, fast-paced environment with multiple customers and stakeholders at the same time, and legal considerations across multiple jurisdictions, including the United States and Europe.

This is a hands-on leadership role. The successful candidate will combine strong commercial contracting expertise with people leadership, sound judgment and a practical understanding of the shipping and logistics industry. The manager is expected to advise on more complex contractual matters, develop the team, maintain high standards of quality and consistency, improve ways of working, and use technology and AI to build an increasingly efficient and scalable contracting function.

• Lead, coach and develop the team responsible for customer contract review and negotiation.
• Set clear priorities and expectations and ensure effective allocation of work across the team.
• Provide guidance and escalation support on complex negotiations and contractual issues, while developing the team’s ability to operate independently.
• Establish and maintain high standards for quality, consistency, responsiveness and commercial judgment.
• Help the team build strong capabilities in the effective and responsible use of AI tools, including appropriate human review and validation of AI-supported work.

• Oversee the review, drafting and negotiation of customer contracts, primarily relating to ocean transportation and international logistics services.
• Personally support or lead negotiations involving complex, high-value, strategically important or escalated contracts.
• Ensure adherence to applicable contracting policies, templates, playbooks, approval processes and risk parameters.
• Work closely with commercial, product and other legal teams to resolve contractual issues and support timely conclusion of customer agreements.

• Manage a high-volume contracting environment, balancing turnaround expectations with appropriate legal quality and risk management.
• Continuously improve contracting processes, including workflows, templates, playbooks, escalation mechanisms and standard positions.
• Use data and operational insights to identify recurring negotiation issues, bottlenecks and opportunities for standardization or automation.

The successful candidate must have:

• A law degree and strong professional grounding in commercial and contract law.
• Fluent written and spoken English, with the ability to draft and negotiate sophisticated commercial agreements in English.
• Significant experience in commercial contract drafting, review and negotiation.
• Previous people-management experience, including direct responsibility for managing and developing professionals.
• Strong commercial judgment and the ability to distinguish material legal risks from issues that can reasonably be managed or accepted.
• Ability to operate in a high-volume, fast-moving multinational environment, managing competing priorities without compromising critical legal standards and dealing with contracts or stakeholders across multiple jurisdictions.
• Demonstrated willingness and ability to use AI-enabled tools and technology in day-to-day legal work.
• A strong process and continuous-improvement mindset.

Previous experience in the shipping, transportation or logistics industry is highly desirable, in particular with:

• Ocean carriers
• Freight forwarders and NVOCCs
• Airlines or air-cargo businesses

Candidates from adjacent sectors may also be highly relevant where they have meaningful exposure to international transportation, trade or logistics, for example:

• Marine insurance
• Commodities and international trading
• Conglomerates with substantial international logistics procurement activities
• General logistics and transportation businesses

Candidates without direct industry experience, but with strong commercial contracting expertise and a credible understanding of the shipping and logistics business, are also considered.

• Coaches a team member through a difficult negotiation rather than simply taking over the matter
• Makes sound and pragmatic decisions when legal and commercial considerations compete
• Maintains quality and consistency across a large volume of negotiations
• Recognises which matters need escalation and which the team can resolve
• Communicates effectively with senior stakeholders across cultures and jurisdictions
• Uses technology and AI confidently while maintaining appropriate legal judgment and accountability

• Location: India, Mumbai, 400079
• Work type: Site Based
• Time type: Full time
• Job requisition ID: R199701
• Stipend or salary: not stated on the page
• Application deadline: not stated on the page

Apply through the Maersk careers page for this vacancy, using the Apply button on the listing. Maersk is an equal opportunities employer. Applicants who need special assistance or an accommodation to use the website, apply or perform the job can email accommodationrequests@maersk.com.