Associate Director, Legal - Saudi Arabia

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Job Description

Gilead is seeking an Associate Legal Director reporting to the Legal and Compliance Director, Middle East, who is responsible for legal and compliance in the Middle East countries. The role has high exposure at the Saudi affiliate level and Middle East, with potential exposure to ICR level for the right candidate. This is an operational and strategic role with accountability for delivering expert legal and compliance advice and counselling to Gilead’s Saudi affiliates and providing legal and compliance support in the remaining Middle East countries, on a broad array of strategic and tactical projects which will require a responsive, sound, hands-on mentality and approach. The ideal candidate will have prior experience counselling prescription pharmaceutical companies in KSA.

A key responsibility of the Associate Legal Director, KSA is to be a legal and compliance advisor and business partner to the General Manager (GM) of the Gilead Affiliate in Saudi, the Leadership Team members in KSA and commercial and medical teams in Middle East. The Associate Legal Director, KSA will also be part of the Saudi Leadership team.

• Knowledge, Experience and Skills

• Experienced Associate Director legal and compliance counsel, ideally from the biotech and/or pharmaceutical industry, with proven experience in a senior legal and compliance role in Saudi Arabia.

• Experience at an operational level such as Country/Affiliate General Counsel in KSA, working within a multinational organization.

• Fluency in Arabic and English.

• Demonstrated high ethical standards and extensive compliance experience.

• Strong knowledge of corporate law, healthcare regulatory laws, public procurement law, competition law, data privacy law and commercial contracts law, along with understanding of the Saudi 2030 Vision Strategic Framework and its current application

• Capability to scrutinize and provide advice concerning pricing and reimbursement decision-making processes, with experience managing litigation and investigations.

• Demonstrated ability to liaise and work effectively with Saudi governmental entities and related dependencies.

• Job Duties include:

1. Attend and actively contribute to discussions and decisions at the Saudi Leadership Team meetings, providing sound, responsive legal and business partner support.

2. Ensure robust governance of the legal entities in KSA, and extensive support of business in that country (including relevant therapy areas), with a high number of local events/projects, and providing legal and compliance support in the ME (including KSA).

3. Lead and manage the Legal and Compliance function in the Saudi affiliates and be an advisor to the business in other Middle East countries.

4. Be a wise counsel bringing good judgement and common sense and offering practical legal solutions to challenges Gilead may face in KSA.

5. Provide oversight and be accountable for day-to-day activities of Gilead KSA Affiliates and business in the ME, ensuring interactions with HCPs, patient groups and other stakeholders comply with Gilead’s policies and applicable laws, regulations and codes, meeting transparency obligations regarding payments made to HCPs and HCOs, FCPA compliance, and appropriate monitoring to identify and address any potential healthcare compliance risks.

6. Support all Gilead KSA Affiliates’ Business Units, Market Access team, Commercial Operations and functional departments (Medical, Regulatory, Finance, Comm Ops, Government and Public Affairs and HR) on all legal and compliance matters, with an analytical approach, strong attention to detail, excellent drafting, negotiation and communication skills.

7. Represent the company as a credible leader in meetings with key Government Departments/Health authorities in Saudi when required.

8. Oversee and support management of distributors in KSA and other ME countries, including drafting and negotiating contracts.

9. Champion transparency across all activities and drive strong business partnership to align legal strategy with business objectives.

10. Assist local teams in the leadership of quarterly compliance meetings, compliance communications and fostering “tone from the top”;

11. Drafting, review and negotiating of various types of agreements, legal and corporate documents as well as non-contractual documents, such as local strategic business plans and other plans of action;

12. Develop and update contract templates to be used locally, including templates that can be utilized on a self-service basis by the business with appropriate monitoring;

13. Obtain information on the latest trends and developments of pharmaceutical laws and regulations, and provide legal advice and training to employees;

14. Create and deliver training on local legal and compliance topics, e.g., trainings on pharmaceutical law, anti-bribery and corruption, privacy, market access, business conduct, compliance codes, competition & antitrust law and dawn raids etc.;

15. Conduct periodic business conduct risk assessments and to share best practices and learnings within Middle East or with global expert teams as required;

16. Design and implement legal and compliance training and other guidance materials for employees and business partners in the region;

17. Ensure effective oversight of due diligence of local third parties;

18. Implement country completion of corrective actions arising out of local audits internally and for local vendors or business partners, distributors; and

19. Retain and supervise outside counsel, including effectively manage legal expenses/budget.

• Detailed Requirements include:

• A Juris Doctorate or fully qualified legal credentials, fully admitted to practice law in the respective country or jurisdiction.

• Extensive (8+ years) professional experience in biotech, pharmaceuticals or other highly regulated industries or law firms advising in relevant areas of practice, with significant in-house experience and particular emphasis on Saudi legal and compliance matters and other ME countries.

• Strong communicator verbally and in writing, in both Arabic and English.

• Ability to operate with a high degree of autonomy and lead competently in a high performing business environment.

• Strong business partnering attitude; the maturity and awareness to strike a balance between facilitating, enabling and challenging the business.

• Proven ability to partner with other departments to achieve company goals that cross multiple functions.

• Unwavering commitment to the highest ethical standards and integrity.

• Conversant with procedures and protocols of dealing with Saudi government and its dependencies.

• Proven track record in championing transparency initiatives and compliance programs.

• Personal Competencies/Behaviors

• Self-starter and life-long learner with a strong work ethic and excellent interpersonal skills who enjoys working collaboratively and cross-functionally on teams, as well as independently.

• Collaborative team player that leads by example.

• Operationally excellent with an organized and systematic approach to prioritization in tight deadlines.

• Excellent influencing, interpersonal and communication skills.

• Demonstrated ability to network, engage and partner with other functions.

• Strong business judgment with proven ability to identify and address customer needs.

• Strong organizational and project management skills and proven analytical skills and sound judgment.

• Practical approach to problem-solving.

• Consistently demonstrate and adhere to Gilead’s Core Values and Leadership

Commitments and create and inspire a team culture committed to the same.

For Current Gilead Employees and Contractors:

Please apply via the Internal Career Opportunities portal in Workday.