Legal and Compliance Director (Zurich, Switzerland Zurich, CH) presso Novo Nordisk

Are you ready to shape the future of healthcare in a purpose-driven, global organization? Novo Nordisk is seeking a strategic and business-oriented legal expert to lead compliance initiatives and provide trusted counsel, by joining global Rare Disease Legal, Compliance, and Quality team.

Bring your legal acumen, leadership mindset, and passion for making a difference. At Novo Nordisk, your impact goes beyond the law—it helps improve lives.

Your new role

As Legal and Compliance Director, you will play a key role in managing legal and compliance risks. Your responsibilities will include:

• Providing proactive, pragmatic advice in cross-functional teams and on key strategic Rare Disease projects to ensure legal and compliance by design and default.
• Identifying and assessing ethics and compliance risks, performing gap analyses, and creating risk mitigation plans related to global activities.
• Reviewing and advising on product communications, including promotional material and scientific activities.
• Act as a trusted partner for Privacy, AI, and Digital legal and compliance advice.
• Drafting and negotiating contracts for innovative and complex projects, including partnership contracts.
• Developing legal and compliance guidance, tools, and best practice materials.

You will collaborate with diverse business stakeholders within Rare Disease Medical Affairs, Commercial, Communications, and Public Affairs, as well as colleagues across the global Legal and Compliance organisation. Additionally, you will engage with external counsel and third parties.

Based in Zurich, Switzerland, this role offers the opportunity for international travel to attend congresses and meetings with Novo Nordisk Legal & Compliance colleagues worldwide. This is a unique chance to gain valuable insights into Novo Nordisk’s global operations and explore future career development opportunities within the company.

Your new department

You will join a small but mighty team of five legal, compliance, and quality professionals based in Zurich, Denmark, and Bangalore, India. The team is part of the Rare Disease business unit, which is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, with hubs in Denmark, Turkey, India, and the US.

The Rare Disease business unit is dedicated to improving the lives of people with serious chronic rare diseases. Patients are at the centre of everything we do. Our vision is to be a leader in rare blood disorders and rare endocrine disorders. We operate in an entrepreneurial and fast-paced environment, and our team values curiosity, generosity, and ambition. If this spirit resonates with you, we would love to welcome you to our team.

Your skills and qualifications

On a personal level, you are curious, and have a solution-oriented, positive attitude that enables you to establish strong professional relationships internally and externally. You have a genuine passion for supporting Novo Nordisk’s efforts to help patients, as well as interest in understanding Novo Nordisk’s business and where Legal & Compliance can support the company’s agenda.

In addition, you have:

• University degree in law coupled with 8+ years’ experience advising business stakeholders in a regulated industry or in a global commercial pharma setting.
• Strong experience with Pharma Law, Privacy, and AI compliance will be considered an advantage.
• Holistic approach to risk management.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and ability to effectively interact with senior management and external partners.
• Proficiency in English both written and spoken, with the ability to communicate complex matters in a simple and compelling way.
• Attention to detail combined with the ability to prioritize, multi-task, and meet tight deadlines.

Working at Novo Nordisk

At Novo Nordisk, collaboration and innovation drive everything we do. Every day we work to find solutions that defeat serious chronic diseases. For over 100 years, this unordinary mindset has seen us build a company like no other—where mutual respect, curiosity, and determination make extraordinary results possible.

What we offer

In addition to a unique and supportive culture, Novo Nordisk offers strong learning and development opportunities tailored to your career and life stage. Our benefits reflect our commitment to empowering employees to reach their full potential while achieving work-life balance.

Deadline 
21st October 2025. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible. 

Disclaimer

Novo Nordisk is currently in the process of adjusting job titles globally. Please note that the job title listed in this advertisement may be subject to change. More detailed information will be provided during the recruitment process.

Novo Nordisk is not your typical healthcare company. In a modern world of quick fixes, we focus on solutions to defeat serious chronic diseases and promote long-term health. Our unordinary mindset is at the heart of everything we do. We seek out new ideas and put people first as we push the boundaries of science, make healthcare more accessible, and treat, prevent, and even cure diseases that affect millions of lives. Because it takes an unordinary approach to drive real, lasting change in health.