Summary
Location: Bucharest Romania
Relocation Support: Novartis is unable to offer relocation support, please only apply if location is accessible.
At Novartis, we are committed to reimagining medicine to improve and extend people’s lives. To support this mission, we are seeking a highly experienced Head of Legal to lead all legal activities for our Romanian legal entity and contribute as a member of the Country Leadership Team.
This role provides end to end responsibility for legal oversight, combining strategic advisory work with operational excellence, governance, and people leadership in a complex and highly regulated environment.
About the Role
Legal Leadership
- Provide timely, accurate, and cost‑effective legal advice across commercial, medical, marketing, IP, employment, and litigation matters
- Draft, review, and approve contracts and agreements supporting core business functions
- Manage legal proceedings involving the local legal entity
- Protect Novartis’ interests, including enforcement of promotional and regulatory standards
Integrity, Compliance & Governance
- Contribute to the development and implementation of legal policies, procedures, and guidelines
- Support the company’s compliance framework and ethical standards
- Ensure adherence to Novartis policies, quality requirements, and patient safety obligations
External Counsel & Cost Management
- Select, manage, and oversee external legal counsel
- Ensure high‑quality legal support with effective cost control
People & Collaboration
- Work closely with regional and global legal colleagues to share best practices
- Act as a role model for inclusive leadership and integrity
Required Experience
- A university degree in Law
- Relevant legal accreditation (e.g. Bar membership) with significant post‑qualification experience
- Extensive experience gained within a pharmaceutical organisation and/or in legal practice advising pharmaceutical clients
- Experience in the FMCG sector may also be considered
- Strong commercial and business acumen, with the ability to translate complex legal matters into clear, pragmatic business solutions
- Demonstrated leadership capability, with proven influencing and negotiation skills
- Full professional fluency in English and Romanian, both written and spoken
Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:
We are committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities we serve.
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!
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
Benefits and Rewards: Learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally.
Read our handbook (PDF 30 MB)
VIDEO
Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams' representative of the patients and communities we serve.
