Job Detail

Director, Legal International Counsel

Req ID: 16101
Job Category: Legal

Location: Zurich, Zurich

Posting Date: July 16, 2019

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Legal, International Counsel (Director)

Location: Zürich

Job Summary

This is an International counsel position supporting commercial, medical and regulatory activities relating to certain countries and clusters in Alexion’s International business and in relation to one or more of Alexion’s in-line products and new therapies.  This role is diverse and demanding, requiring a broad range of experience and a desire to provide solutions-oriented legal counsel across a growing and fast-paced organization.

The counsel in this position will:

• Advise senior leaders on advertising and promotion matters, commercial and medical affairs strategies, sales training and compensation, advisory boards, market access, distribution, pricing, patient support services, advocacy organizations, grants, diagnostics, competition law and other matters relevant to the commercialization of biotech and orphan drug products. 


• Guide and counsel key stakeholders on navigating healthcare laws and regulations.


• Review and approve marketing and promotional materials, sales training, field medical content, grants, programs, contracts, scientific publications and other materials.


• Provide strategic guidance to and assist the Global Compliance department and senior leaders to design, implement, maintain and continually improve Alexion’s Global Compliance Program.


• Support cross-functional corporate initiatives focused on designing and improving policies and processes aligned to cultural values, legal & compliance objectives, industry best practices and business efficiencies.


• Manage and advise on litigation in countries of responsibility.


• Draft and negotiate complex agreements and other contractual documents with third party vendors, data providers, lab partners, specialty pharmacies, distributor, payers, medical congresses, institutions and individual providers.


• Have significant opportunity to expand his or her practice within a growing legal department in a global biotech company.

Principal Responsibilities

1. Provide strategic legal guidance to senior business leaders in connection with advertising and promotion matters, commercial and medical affairs strategies and tactics, sales training and compensation, advisory boards, HCP engagements and other matters relevant to the commercialization of biotech and orphan drug products.


2. Guide and counsel key stakeholders on navigating healthcare laws and regulations.
    


3. Provide strategic guidance to and assist the Global Compliance department and senior leaders to design, implement, maintain and continually improve Alexion’s Global Compliance Program.


4. Review, approve and provide guidance on promotional and medical education materials through Alexion’s promotional review committees and processes.


5. Review and approve grants and sponsorships in support of Alexion’s grant committee.


6. Draft, review and negotiate commercial contracts, 3rd party vendor agreements, service agreements, consulting agreements and other corporate agreements.

Qualifications

• 5-10 years experience as a practicing lawyer, with approximately 5 years' experience advising the pharmaceutical/biotech industry.


• The preferred candidate will have worked at a leading law firm or in an in-house counsel position with a leading biotech/pharmaceutical company with significant marketed products.


• Expertise in counseling clients on best practices for Commercial, Medical and Regulatory functions. 


• Established leadership skills, both within business project and process teams and within law departments


• Demonstrated integrity and judgment.


• Strong communications skills, verbal and written.


• Professional fluency in English, other languages a plus.


• Solutions-oriented mindset; ability to influence and persuade.


• Exceptional organizational skills, ability to prioritize and attention to detail.


• Solid track record of building strong working relationships and working with different personality types.


• Strong work ethic; positive outlook; commitment to legal and business teams.


• Collaborative style; team player; ability to work cross functionally.


• Strong academic credentials and a law degree from a recognized university law faculty.


• Qualification to practice law in at least one European country.

Zurich, Switzerland
 

Some opportunities happen only once in a lifetime – like a job where you have the extraordinary opportunity to change lives. At Alexion, such opportunities arise through our unwavering mission to serve patients and families affected by rare diseases. These patients are our guiding star, and we act with integrity, urgency, and discipline because we know their lives are at stake.

Alexion is a global biopharmaceutical company focused on serving patients and families affected by rare diseases through the discovery, development and commercialization of life-changing therapies. As the global leader in complement biology and inhibition for more than 20 years, Alexion has developed and commercializes the first and only approved complement inhibitor to treat patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), and anti-acetylcholine receptor (AchR) antibody-positive generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG). Alexion also has two highly innovative enzyme replacement therapies for patients with life-threatening and ultra-rare metabolic disorders, hypophosphatasia (HPP) and lysosomal acid lipase deficiency (LAL-D). In addition, the company is developing two late-stage therapies, a second complement inhibitor and a copper-binding agent for Wilson disease. Alexion focuses its research efforts on novel molecules and targets in the complement cascade and its development efforts on the core therapeutic areas of hematology, nephrology, neurology, and metabolic disorders. Alexion has been named to the Forbes list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies seven years in a row and is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts’ Innovation District. The company also has offices around the globe and serves patients in more than 50 countries.

Alexion’s aspiration is to be the most rewarding place to work, where people are empowered to make a difference and where diversity of backgrounds and ideas is encouraged. We are looking for talented individuals who share our passion and commitment to change the lives of patients with rare diseases. We hope you will consider joining our team. Further information about Alexion can be found at: www.alexion.com.