Head Europe, Operations Legal

Job Description Summary

Location: Barcelona, Spain, Ljubljana, Slovenia, or Czech Republic Prague

#LI-Hybrid

• Closing date for applications 2 weeks from posting date

“We’re a team of dedicated and smart people united by a drive to achieve together”

Are you ready to shape the future of legal operations across Europe?

Novartis is seeking a dynamic leader to head our Legal Operations team for Europe. In this pivotal role, you’ll set the strategic direction, inspire and manage a talented team of professionals, and play an active part in our operational success.

As a key member of the Operations Legal Leadership Team, you’ll collaborate across functions, drive impactful initiatives, and help ensure our legal operations deliver excellence throughout the region.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage the Europe Operations Legal team, fostering a collaborative and high-performing environment.
• Oversee legal support for European manufacturing plants, ensuring compliance and operational excellence.
• Supervise legal activities related to the Prague-based service centre, providing guidance and oversight as required.
• Serve as a key contact for stakeholders across the European Technical Operations area, covering both small and large molecule operations.
• Facilitate effective collaboration with other legal teams, including Operations Transactions, REFFs, and International Legal, to ensure seamless cross-functional cooperation.

What We’re Looking For

Essential

• Extensive post-law qualification experience, ideally with time served working in a regulated pharmaceutical industry environment.
• Strong knowledge of pharmaceutical regulations within the EU
• Hands-on experience with GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) principles, gained through experience in a pharma-relevant environment
• Solid background in contract law and general contract management
• Basic understanding of labor law
• Experience supporting procurement processes and organizing related activities

Desirable

• Proven ability to handle litigation and contract disputes
• Exposure to business development transactions and complex contracting, ideally including competition law
• Real estate legal experience (buy/sell, maintenance, construction)

Why Novartis: Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together? https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture

Join our Novartis Network: Not the right Novartis role for you? Sign up to our talent community to stay connected and learn about suitable career opportunities as soon as they come up: https://talentnetwork.novartis.com/network

Benefits and Rewards: Read our handbook to learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally: https://www.novartis.com/careers/benefits-rewards

Skills Desired

Business Partners, Customer Service, Diversity And Inclusion, Employee Recruitment, Human Resources (HR), Human Resources Management, Law (Legal System), Leadership, Legal Advice, Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), Microsoft Office, Negotiation Skills, Property Law, Senior Management

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