LEGAL & COMPLIANCE DIRECTOR
Industry: Multinational Pharmaceutical Company
Department: Legal & Compliance
Reports to: General Manager / Managing Director
Location: Country / Regional Office
1. Job Purpose
The Legal & Compliance Director provides strategic legal counsel and leadership on ethics and compliance matters to protect the organization, enable responsible business growth, and safeguard its reputation. The role ensures that business activities are conducted in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, industry codes, and internal policies.
The Director serves as a trusted advisor to the General Manager and local leadership team, translating complex legal and regulatory requirements into practical guidance, managing legal and compliance risks, and fostering a strong culture of integrity across the organization.
2. Key Responsibilities
A. Legal Strategy & Business Advisory
- Lead the development and execution of the local legal strategy in alignment with broader organizational priorities.
- Provide timely, practical, and commercially aware legal advice to the General Manager and all business functions.
- Advise on corporate governance, company secretarial matters, delegated authorities, board matters, and legal entity obligations, as applicable.
- Review, draft, negotiate, and approve commercial agreements, including distribution, supply, service, consultancy, licensing, collaboration, and other business contracts.
- Manage external counsel and legal service providers, including budgets, performance, and matter strategy.
- Oversee litigation, disputes, investigations, and other legal proceedings, coordinating with external counsel where required.
B. Ethics & Compliance Programme
- Lead the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of an effective ethics and compliance programme.
- Ensure compliance with applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws, competition laws, data protection requirements, and relevant pharmaceutical industry codes.
- Oversee compliance policies, procedures, controls, risk assessments, and monitoring activities.
- Provide guidance on interactions with healthcare professionals, healthcare organizations, government officials, patient organizations, and third parties.
- Oversee compliance due diligence and risk-based controls for distributors, vendors, consultants, agents, and other business partners.
- Promote a speak-up culture and ensure employees understand reporting channels and protection against retaliation.
C. Pharmaceutical Regulatory & Industry Compliance
- Monitor changes in laws, regulations, and industry standards relevant to the pharmaceutical sector and assess their business impact.
- Partner with Regulatory Affairs, Medical, Market Access, Commercial, and Quality teams to support compliant business practices.
- Advise on promotional and non-promotional activities, product communications, scientific exchange, sponsorships, grants, donations, and patient support initiatives.
- Support the implementation of applicable transparency, disclosure, and reporting obligations.
- Provide legal and compliance input into product launches, business initiatives, and new operating models.
D. Risk Management, Investigations & Internal Controls
- Identify, assess, and report material legal and compliance risks to senior management.
- Lead or oversee internal investigations into potential misconduct, policy breaches, and compliance concerns, ensuring independence, confidentiality, and appropriate escalation.
- Coordinate remediation plans and monitor completion of corrective and preventive actions.
- Work with Internal Audit, Finance, HR, and other control functions to strengthen the control environment.
- Prepare clear risk updates and management reports, escalating significant matters through established governance channels.
E. Training, Awareness & Culture
- Develop and deliver role-based legal and compliance training for employees, managers, and relevant third parties.
- Advise leaders on ethical decision-making and embed compliance considerations into business planning and daily operations.
- Communicate policy updates and emerging risks in a clear, practical, and accessible manner.
- Assess training effectiveness and identify opportunities to strengthen awareness and accountability.
F. Data Privacy, Digital & Intellectual Property
- Oversee legal guidance on privacy, personal data processing, records management, and data-sharing arrangements in coordination with relevant specialists.
- Advise on cybersecurity incidents and data breaches, including legal notification and response obligations.
- Provide legal oversight on intellectual property, trademarks, licensing, confidentiality, and protection of organizational assets.
- Support the responsible adoption of digital tools, technology, and data-driven business initiatives.
G. Leadership & Governance
- Act as a member of the local leadership team and a trusted advisor to the General Manager.
- Lead, coach, and develop the Legal & Compliance team, setting clear objectives and building strong functional capabilities.
- Establish effective governance, reporting, and escalation mechanisms.
- Maintain strong working relationships with relevant senior stakeholders and functional counterparts.
- Model the highest standards of integrity, independence, sound judgment, and accountability.
3. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Effectiveness and maturity of the legal and compliance programme.
- Timely identification, escalation, and mitigation of material legal and compliance risks.
- Completion and effectiveness of mandatory and role-based compliance training.
- Quality and timeliness of legal advice and contract review, balanced with appropriate risk management.
- Effectiveness of investigations, remediation plans, and corrective actions.
- Third-party due diligence completion and ongoing risk oversight.
- Audit and monitoring outcomes, including timely closure of agreed actions.
- Leadership team confidence, stakeholder feedback, and strength of the speak-up culture.
4. Qualifications & Experience
- Law degree (LLB or equivalent) from a recognized university; admission to the local bar or legal professional body where required.
- Postgraduate qualification in business law, compliance, corporate governance, or a related discipline is an advantage.
- Typically 12–15+ years of relevant legal and/or compliance experience, preferably in the pharmaceutical, healthcare, or another highly regulated industry.
- Substantial experience leading legal matters and/or an ethics and compliance programme in a multinational environment.
- Strong knowledge of commercial contracting, corporate law, anti-bribery and corruption, competition law, data privacy, and relevant pharmaceutical industry requirements.
- Demonstrated experience managing investigations, disputes, external counsel, and senior stakeholders.
- Fluent business English; local language proficiency as required by the market.
5. Core Competencies
- Strategic thinking and strong business acumen.
- High ethical standards, integrity, and professional independence.
- Sound legal judgment and pragmatic risk-based decision-making.
- Executive presence and ability to influence senior stakeholders.
- Strong communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
- Investigation, problem-solving, and crisis-management capabilities.
- Ability to simplify complex legal and regulatory topics.
- Cross-functional collaboration and cultural awareness.
- People leadership, coaching, and talent development.
6. Key Internal & External Relationships
Internal
- General Manager / Managing Director and Local Leadership Team.
- Commercial and Marketing.
- Medical Affairs.
- Market Access.
- Regulatory Affairs and Quality.
- Human Resources.
- Finance.
- Procurement.
- IT and Information Security.
- Internal Audit.
- Relevant regional and global functional counterparts.
External
- External legal counsel, regulators, and relevant government authorities.
- Industry associations and pharmaceutical compliance bodies.
- Business partners, distributors, vendors, consultants, and other third parties.
- Courts, arbitration bodies, and other relevant institutions, as required.
7. Leadership Expectations
The Legal & Compliance Director is expected to act as an independent and trusted advisor to the General Manager and leadership team, enabling sustainable business performance while protecting the organization from legal, regulatory, and ethical risks.
The role requires the confidence to challenge decisions when necessary, the judgment to distinguish material risks from manageable ones, and the ability to build a culture in which integrity and compliance are embedded in everyday business decisions.
8. Role Scope & Governance
The exact scope of this position should be aligned with the organization's operating model. The role should preserve appropriate compliance independence, direct escalation routes, and functional reporting arrangements in accordance with applicable corporate governance requirements.
