Legal Counsel

Boskalis, a global leader in maritime infrastructure and related services, is recruiting a Legal Counsel to join onsite in Papendrecht, Netherlands. The role sits in the company’s Business Legal Department and offers exposure to complex international contracts and high-profile projects across the maritime, offshore energy and infrastructure space. It’s a position that will suit a practical, business-focused lawyer who enjoys working with diverse, cross-functional teams in an international setting.

As a Legal Counsel, you’ll act as a trusted partner to operations, commercial and project teams, delivering practical legal guidance through the full project lifecycle, from tendering and contract negotiations to execution, claims management, dispute resolution and project closure. The role involves working in a global environment on some of the world’s most challenging maritime and infrastructure initiatives, with a clear focus on identifying risks and supporting commercial objectives in a compliant manner. You’ll collaborate closely with colleagues across Boskalis’ divisions, including Dredging, Offshore Energy, Towage & Salvage and Corporate Business Services.

This position is well suited to a commercially minded lawyer who combines legal expertise with strong interpersonal skills and a pragmatic, can-do approach. You should enjoy cross-divisional teamwork and be ready to contribute to continuous improvement initiatives while staying aligned with SHE-Q policies and evolving regulations.

Role And Daily Work As Boskalis Legal Counsel

You will be a practical legal partner to the project teams, providing guidance during tender phases, reviewing prequalification and tender documentation, and drafting or reviewing a wide range of commercial contracts. During project execution, you’ll advise on legal and contractual matters, help mitigate risk by raising contract awareness, and coordinate legal proceedings, including international arbitration and court cases. Your role also involves monitoring changes in national and international legislation, case law, and emerging technologies such as AI, to keep contracts current and compliant. Across all of this, you’ll work with staff departments and commercial teams to assess risks and collaboratively mitigate them, ensuring alignment with commercial goals and regulatory requirements.

In practice, the day-to-day blends contract drafting and review with risk assessment, dispute support and governance. You’ll support contract compliance efforts and contribute to continuous improvements in contract management processes. You’ll be exposed to projects across Boskalis’ divisions, which means coordinating with colleagues across multiple functions to ensure legal issues are understood and addressed early in the lifecycle. The role also includes occasional travel to project sites and, when needed, negotiations conducted abroad to secure favorable, compliant terms.

Ideal Candidate For The Boskalis Legal Counsel Role

• A master’s degree in law from a university located within or officially recognised by the European Union.
• A minimum of 3 years of relevant legal experience, preferably gained within an international law firm or in an international construction or shipping environment.
• Excellent command of English (written and spoken).
• Be willing to occasionally travel, visit project sites, and negotiate contracts abroad.

• Knowledge of international construction and maritime contracts (e.g. FIDIC, LOGIC, NEC, IMCA, BIMCO) is preferred.
• Experience supporting tender phases and cross-divisional contract management in an international setting.
• Interest or experience with emerging technologies and their impact on contract terms, including AI.

We’re looking for a commercially minded legal professional who combines strong legal expertise with interpersonal skills and a pragmatic can-do attitude, ready to contribute across a broad portfolio of projects.

Compensation And Practical Details For This Role

The position offers a competitive salary and a comprehensive benefits package. You’ll also receive a holiday entitlement of 26 days per year (based on a full-time contract), holiday allowance, and several collective days off. The package includes a non-contributory pension scheme, group health insurance, and a leased car. The role is full-time (40 hours per week) and based at the Papendrecht site, with the option to work partly from home in consultation with your manager. Travel is occasional, including international visits to project sites and contract negotiations abroad. You will primarily support one of Boskalis’ divisions, Offshore Energy, Dredging & Inland Infrastructure or Towage & Salvage, and may work across divisions as needed. There is flexibility around where you work, with a blend of office and home-based work arranged in discussion with your manager.

Please note: Boskalis never requests a financial contribution to arrange visas or other documents related to a job vacancy. The posting carries reference LI-RSM. Questions about the position can be directed to Robert Smits, Senior Corporate Recruiter, at +31-786968398.

Please apply before October 22, 2026 by completing the online application form. Interviews are held online or in the office, and once a good match is identified, an offer will be extended and you’ll be welcomed to the team.

Tips For Applicants For The Boskalis Legal Counsel Role

Lead with your EU-law credentials and your three-plus years of relevant experience in international settings. Put your master’s degree and your strongest cross-border contract experiences at the top of your resume, with clear references to tender support, contract drafting and dispute resolution work you’ve handled.

Back up your must-have skills with concrete examples. Describe a project where you reviewed tender documents, helped mitigate risk in a contract, or managed an arbitration or court proceeding. Mention how you partnered with commercial and operations colleagues to balance risk with business goals, and show the outcomes you helped achieve.

Prepare for interviews by outlining how you address contract risk across the full lifecycle. Be ready to discuss how you monitor changes in legislation and technology that affect contracts, and how you would handle coordination across multiple divisions on a single project.

Ask a targeted question about the division you’d be working with and the kinds of cross-divisional projects they normally handle. You could also ask how Boskalis envisions integrating AI considerations into contract management and risk assessment in the near term.

How To Apply For The Boskalis Legal Counsel Position

To apply, complete the online application form before October 22, 2026. Interviews are conducted online or in person at the office. If there’s a strong match, an offer will be made and you’ll be welcomed to the company. For any questions about the role, contact Robert Smits, Senior Corporate Recruiter, at +31-786968398. The reference code for this posting is LI-RSM.