Legal Head, International Strategy and Commercial Business

Job Description Summary

Please note closing dates for applications: COB GMT 3rd February
Relocation Support: This role is based in London United Kingdom Novartis is unable to offer relocation support: please only apply if accessible and you have full right to work status
Office Location: London (The Westworks), United Kingdom
#LI-Hybrid Hybrid (12 days per month on-site)
Step into a pivotal leadership role at Novartis, where your expertise will shape strategic legal direction across our International Business. Reporting directly to the Head of Legal, International, this is a rare opportunity to influence sensitive, high impact projects and partner closely with senior leaders across our global organisation.
As a key advisor within the International Leadership Team and a core member of the International Legal Leadership Team, you will guide strategic decision making, lead a high performing team, and provide senior legal leadership across all commercial market brands and partnerships in every Novartis market outside of the United States.
If you’re energised by complexity, driven by purpose, and ready to lead in a dynamic, matrixed global environment—this role places you at the heart of one of Novartis’ most critical and fast moving legal portfolios.

 

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategic Partnership

• Serve as an active, influential member of relevant business leadership teams within the International Commercial Launch Excellence (CLS) organisation—providing legal insight and strategic guidance.
• Contribute thought leadership, counsel, and mentorship as a senior member of the International Legal Leadership Team.
• Support the Head of Legal, International in driving sensitive, complex cross‑functional projects across both the International Legal team and the broader International Leadership Team.

Commercial & Partnership Legal Oversight

• Lead a central legal team and guide a large matrixed legal community supporting all in‑market commercial brands across international markets (ex‑US).
• Oversee legal strategy and execution for commercial partnerships and partnership agreements across the International Business.
• Provide direction and senior leadership on a broad range of significant legal matters—including IP and brand protection, public tenders, distribution structures, organisational design and integration, technology‑enabled promotional initiatives, medical affairs support, value and access considerations, alliance management and broader commercial activities.

Enterprise Collaboration & Risk Management

• Foster strong cross‑enterprise collaboration to align with senior stakeholders, proactively identify and mitigate risk, and support responsible and strategic business decisions.
• Maintain a highly engaged team of lawyers, role‑modelling the Novartis S&L function FITT Commitment.
• Lead effective dispute management and work closely with Ethics, Risk and Compliance (ERC) and corporate functions to ensure integrity and ethical decision‑making across all commercial activities.

Required Experience

Essential

• Extensive post‑qualification experience, ideally within the healthcare or pharmaceutical industry, or alternatively within a top‑tier law firm advising clients in these sectors.
• Demonstrated ability to identify, triage and navigate complex legal issues with clarity and sound judgement.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with proven influence, negotiation capability, and ability to partner with senior stakeholders.
• A resilient, collaborative, culturally sensitive approach—comfortable working under time pressure and managing demanding business needs.
• Significant experience managing high‑volume workloads and multiple complex projects simultaneously.

Desirable

• Global pharmaceutical business and product brand experience .

Why Novartis:
Our purpose is to reimagine medicine to improve and extend people’s lives and our vision is to become the most valued and trusted medicines company in the world. How can we achieve this? With our people. It is our associates that drive us each day to reach our ambitions. Be a part of this mission and join us! Learn more here: https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture

You’ll receive:

You can find everything you need to know about our benefits and rewards in the Novartis Life Handbook.

https://www.novartis.com/careers/benefits-rewards

Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:

Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams’ representative of the patients and communities we serve.

Join our Novartis Network:

If this role is not suitable to your experience or career goals but you wish to stay connected to hear more about Novartis and our career opportunities, join the Novartis Network here: https://talentnetwork.novartis.com/network

 

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