Employment Law Counsel

Are you passionate about employment law and ensuring compliance in a global organization? Do you have experience providing pragmatic legal advice on a broad range of employment matters?

If so, now is your chance to join Ascendis Pharma as our new Employment Law Counsel.

Ascendis Pharma is a global biopharmaceutical company committed to making a meaningful difference in patients’ lives. Guided by our core values of Patients, Science, and Passion, we are applying our innovative TransCon® technology platform to fulfill our mission of developing new therapies that demonstrate best-in-class potential to address unmet medical needs.  

At our headquarters in Hellerup, Denmark, research facilities in Heidelberg, Germany, and additional offices across Europe and the United States, we are advancing programs in our Endocrinology Rare Disease portfolio. We also collaborate with partners on the development of TransCon-based products in other therapeutic areas and markets.  

We are seeking a highly skilled Employment Law Counsel to join our dynamic legal team in Denmark. This role will primarily focus on providing legal support on employment matters across our global operations.

Reporting to our Head of Employment Law, the Employment Law Counsel will support the development and implementation of effective employment practices and policies to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of employment law and the ability to navigate complex legal issues while providing practical solutions that align with our business objectives.

In this position, you will collaborate with various departments, including HR, Compliance, Data Privacy, and Equity Compensation, as well as line of business across the organization. You will proactively manage employment-related risks and resolve issues as they arise. You will also manage relationships with outside counsel and provide guidance on disputes and litigation matters.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide expert legal advice on all matters related to employment law, including but not limited to discrimination, harassment, wage and hour issues, and employee relations.
• In collaboration with HR and other relevant functions, develop, review, and update employment policies, procedures, and practices to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws across Ascendis Pharma's direct markets in Europe and the US.
• Manage and respond to employment-related claims, audits, and inquiries from regulatory agencies.
• Work closely with HR and other relevant functions in handling employee relations issues and employee investigations.
• Stay up to date on changes in employment law and trends in the marketplace to ensure the organization remains compliant and competitive.
• Contribute to the overall strategy and objectives of Group Legal and the Ascendis Pharma organization as a whole.

Qualifications and Skills:

You hold a relevant academic degree, preferably a master's degree from an accredited law school with a strong academic record.

Furthermore, you have:

• 3+ years of experience practicing employment law
• In-depth knowledge of applicable employment laws and regulations
• Experience working collaboratively with HR, Compliance, Data Privacy, Equity Compensation and business units to drive compliance and best practices in employment matters
• A commitment to ethical practices and maintaining confidentiality
• Preferably experience working with employment law across multiple jurisdictions

Key competencies:

You are a strong team player and have a can-do attitude.

You possess an entrepreneurial mindset and can thrive in an informal, open environment where innovation and change are key.  

To succeed in this role, we also expect you to have:

• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills, with the ability to provide practical solutions to complex legal issues.
• Proven ability to effectively manage multiple projects and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact effectively with all levels of the organization.

Travel: 5 days per year.

Office: Denmark, Copenhagen, Tuborg Boulevard 12, 2900 Hellerup 

Apply now.

We evaluate applications when received, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. Please note that we conduct interviews on a rolling basis and reserve the right to remove the job posting at any time.    

To ensure your application is reviewed, please submit it through the specified platform - applications sent by email or other channels will not be evaluated.  

For more details about the position or the company, please contact Anne Koldt, Head of Employment Law, at [email protected], or visit our website at www.ascendispharma.com.

Applications must be submitted in English and will be treated confidentially. 

A note to recruiters:  

We do not allow external search party solicitation.  Presentation of candidates without written permission from the Ascendis Pharma HR team (specifically from: Talent Acquisition Partner or Human Resources Director) is not allowed.  If this occurs, your ownership of these candidates will not be acknowledged.