Senior Director Legal, Ethics, Compliance & Quality

Are you an experienced legal professional with a passion for legal, ethics, compliance & quality in the pharmaceutical industry? Do you have the expertise to partner with business in navigating complex regulatory environments while driving quality and safety initiatives? If you're ready to take on a leadership role that influences the integrity and compliance of our operations, apply today for a rewarding career with Novo Nordisk.

The Position

As the Senior Director of Legal, Ethics, Compliance & Quality at Novo Nordisks Swiss Affiliate, you will oversee and enhance our Legal, Ethics, Compliance, Quality, and Safety (LECQ) functions across the affiliate. You will lead a high-performing multidisciplinary team to partner with business in ensuring adherence to regulatory guidelines, and drive a culture of ethical compliance and safety within the organization. Your leadership will be pivotal laying a strong base of compliance while shaping our business in close partnership with all functions.

This position is based in Zürich, Switzerland.

Your Main Tasks Will Include:

Manage Legal, Ethics & Compliance Across the Affiliate

• Oversee all legal and compliance matters, providing sparring and guidance to the Leadership Team, implementing the Compliance Programme, and conducting internal investigations while staying updated on legal trends to aid in crisis management.

Identify and Manage LECQ Risks and Opportunities

• Identify key risks and opportunities from a legal and compliance perspective, partner with the business in developing corrective actions for risk mitigation. Establish best practices to uphold Novo Nordisk's values.

Manage Resources and Develop People

• Lead and mentor the LECQ team while managing external ressources and budgets. Create an engaging work environment focused on safety and development.

Represent the Affiliate LECQ Function Internally and Externally

• Serve on the Swiss Affiliate Leadership Team, represent the affiliate in the Business areas and region as well as at external events. Provide strategic guidance on dispute resolution and regulatory inspections.

Qualifications

To be considered for this position, you have:

• A law degree, ideally in Swiss Law, with admission to the applicable legal bar/law society.
• A minimum of 10 years of legal experience, including at least 4 years in the pharmaceutical industry.
• Knowledge of Swiss and EU pharmaceutical regulations and business transactions in an affiliate setting.
• Proven work experience in a top-tier law firm (international experience will be an asset).
• Strong leadership capabilities, with a pragmatic and solution-oriented approach.
• Fluency in English and German is required

We seek a dynamic leader with strong cross-functional collaboration skills and a pragmatic, solution-oriented mindset. The ideal candidate will demonstrate independence, drive for change, and the ability to navigate complexity while motivating others. High personal integrity, strategic thinking, and excellent communication skills are essential. A track record of fostering positive relationships and promoting ethical decision-making will set you apart. If you're passionate about advancing legal, ethics, compliance, and quality objectives to enhance business opportunities, we encourage you to apply.

About the department 

Novo Nordisk Swiss Affiliate is a team of 100 highly engaged and competent people with a quest to make Switzerland Healthier by bringing innovative solutions to the people in need, partner with Society for the benefit of the most vulnerable and deliver excellence and innovation in execution.

Working at Novo Nordisk

At Novo Nordisk, we don’t wait for change. We drive it. We’re a dynamic company in an even more dynamic industry, and we know that what got us to where we are today is not necessarily what will make us successful in the future. We embrace the spirit of experimentation, striving for excellence without fixating on perfection. We never shy away from opportunities to develop, we seize them. From research and development, through to manufacturing, marketing and sales – we’re all working to move the needle on patient care.
 

Contact

For further information, please contact Anne Mette Wiis Vogelsang, General Manager - AMWV@novonordisk.com

Deadline

30th October 2025
 
Please note, applications will be reviewed, and interviews will be conducted on an ongoing basis, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. You do not need to attach a cover letter to your application, but please include a few sentences about why you are applying in your resume or CV. To ensure an efficient and fair recruitment process, please refrain from adding a photo in your CV.
 
We commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equality of opportunity for all our job applicants. 

At Novo Nordisk we recognize that it is no longer good enough to aspire to be the best company in the world. We need to aspire to be the best company for the world and we know that this is only possible with talented employees with diverse perspectives, backgrounds and cultures. We are therefore committed to creating an inclusive culture that celebrates the diversity of our employees, the patients we serve and communities we operate in. Together, we’re life changing.