Senior Legal Counsel

Roche fosters diversity, equity and inclusion, representing the communities we serve. When dealing with healthcare on a global scale, diversity is an essential ingredient to success. We believe that inclusion is key to understanding people’s varied healthcare needs. Together, we embrace individuality and share a passion for exceptional care. Join Roche, where every voice matters.

The Position

Healthcare is changing- radical innovation, increased openness to change, increasing patient empowerment, multiple sources of medical information, and pressure on public spending. As a result of all this, the needs of our stakeholders and how we engage them continue to evolve.

• Work in a dynamic team and be a thought partner to the decision makers
• Make an impact and contribute for better health outcomes for everyone in Australia
• Colloborative, flexible and empowering work environment on offer

We are looking for an experienced Senior Legal Counsel based in our head office in North Ryde and reporting to the Head of Legal & Compliance. The Senior Legal Counsel is responsible for strategically identifying and advising on legal, compliance and ethical risks and evolving requirements, laws and standards, particularly with respect to healthcare and corporate regulations. You design and implement programs that build an ethical culture, support strategic and tactical initiatives across the affiliate, and help our organization to pioneer life changing healthcare for every Australian.

As a Senior Legal Counsel, you will deliver legal expertise and champion an appropriate, holistic, risk-based approach. Being an advisor that enables informed strategic choices within an acceptable legal risk profile, you will manage and mitigate Legal and Compliance issues.

Key Responsibilities include but not limited to:

• Works as a business partner to the affiliate developing a deep understanding of the company objectives and issues to proactively manage legal and compliance issues, provide insights and advice that enable informed decision making and to maintain the compliance and risk framework
• Works as an in-house lawyer to Roche Diagnostics Australia providing high quality, strategic, effective and efficient legal advice and support to the affiliate
• Works as a key liaison and influencer representing the affiliate to regulatory and industry bodies within Australia and identifying, developing and managing key relationships across these bodies
• Plays a lead role in defining, developing and implementing compliance, risk management and audit strategies, plans, objectives and metrics.
• Supports continuous improvement of internal practices consistent with the wider legal and healthcare/diagnostics compliance environment within Roche Diagnostics Australia
• Stays abreast and advises on emerging legal and healthcare/diagnostics compliance matters, practices, issues, and incentives relevant to the legal and compliance environment
• Strategically managing projects and collaborating with different business units across the company in relation to legal and compliance issues.
• Develop and deliver appropriate training and resources to maintain legal and compliance awareness and capability.
• Prepare and review company policies and procedures as assigned and provide legal support to ensure compliance.
• Designs and implements ethics and compliance programs that build an ethical culture, supports the business strategy and meets the standards for an effective ethics and compliance program.
• Key commercial advisor on individual matters, including regulatory change, internal change programs, complaints, issues and incidents.

Who you are

• You are degree qualified in law, an admitted legal practitioner in Australia and have a current legal practicing certificate for New South Wales or have the eligibility to immediately apply for such certification.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience, ideally gained in a top-tier law firm or corporate environment supporting companies in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, consumer goods or healthcare industry 
• Understanding of industry trends and updates to relevant legislation and codes, primarily the Medicines Australia Code, ACCC rulings and The Therapeutic Goods Act (Medical Devices) Regulations, Privacy Act, Competition and Consumer Act, The Poisons Act and WH&S Laws.
• Corporate Secretarial tasks such as General Assemblies, BoD decisions, etc.
• Strong legal drafting and negotiation capabilities
• Previous corporate communications and training experiences are preferred.
• Experience working with systems and other business management software (SAP preferred).
• Understands the broad context for decisions and reflects that context in how decisions are made
• Builds strong collaborative relationships with key stakeholders and speaks directly even on controversial issues
• Strong business acumen: in-depth knowledge of the pharmaceutical/biotechnology or related industry, with the multiple stakeholders involved and the roles each play.
• Strong written negotiation skills: can effectively drive discussions and decisions toward desired outcomes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills: communicates in a concise and clear manner that supports expeditious and effective decision-making.

This role is only open to candidates that have full eligibility to live and work in Australia.

We do not accept any unsolicited resumes or enquiries from recruitment agencies. Roche has a dedicated in-house Talent Acquisition team.

What we offer

Roche offers rewarding growth opportunities, a competitive remuneration package and a collaborative culture where people are united in purpose and will stretch you to be brave, speak up and think differently. Feel empowered to deliver meaningful outcomes, supported by accessible and inspiring leaders. 

Roche encourages a high-performance culture where you are empowered and trusted to make decisions. We strive for excellence and extraordinary results and take a genuine interest in our people and their well-being, and our patients.

Take pride in knowing you can make a difference to millions of patients worldwide in developing diagnostics and treatments for oncology, neuroscience, inflammation, immunology, ophthalmology, rare diseases, respiratory disease and diabetes.

We are committed to providing an inclusive, safe, secure and healthy workplace, and to minimise any such impacts to our employees, customers and the community. We welcome applications from all people and encourage you to advise of any individual circumstances that may require consideration.

Who we are

At Roche, more than 100,000 people across 100 countries are pushing back the frontiers of healthcare. Working together, we’ve become one of the world’s leading research-focused healthcare groups. Our success is built on innovation, curiosity and diversity.