Senior Counsel

AstraZeneca is a global, science-led, patient-focused biopharmaceutical company that focuses on the discovery, development and commercialisation of prescription medicines for some of the world’s most serious diseases. A core function of the business, we are valued partners who are trusted to do the right thing. We believe it’s not just about getting the best solution, it’s also about doing it the right way – ethics, compliance and transparency are front and centre of everything we do.

The Senior Counsel is responsible for providing legal support and advice to the AstraZeneca UK marketing company (AZ UKMC). Reporting to the Legal Director, the role holder will be the subject matter expert for AI and data privacy for the AZ UKMC. In addition, the role holder will provide a broad range of legal advice related to the commercialisation of AstraZeneca’s medicines in the UK, working closely with business colleagues across the marketing company including the leadership teams for Innovation and Business Strategy on key projects.

The role holder will liaise with members of the biopharmaceuticals and oncology business units including the strategy and innovation teams, commercial operations, market access & corporate affairs functions. The role holder will also act as deputy data protection officer for the UKMC. The Senior Counsel manages high level risk by making complex judgements, developing innovative solutions and process improvements and applying a comprehensive cross‑functional and industry understanding.

A key objective of the role is to enable the delivery of the AZ UKMC strategic objectives for the use of AI (including AI30) and other digital and data initiatives (including relating to legal owned processes and contracting). As a senior member of the legal team within AZUK, the role will also assist with other important matters enterprise wide and for both the Biopharmaceutical and Oncology Business Units within AZUK as and when required, as well as support the global legal function on occasion.

Typical Accountabilities

• Provide comprehensive legal support including advice on a variety of commercial matters with a strong focus on digital, data and AI solutions.
• AZUK Legal point of contact for the AZ Privacy global network.
• Draft, review, negotiate and finalise a wide range of contracts, policies, and other legal documents, with solid commercial contracts experience.
• Lead legal and compliance reviews for AI initiatives, ensuring alignment with internal controls, IT architecture, regulatory obligations, and risk classification and ensure legally compliant documentation, including records of processing, training data documentation, traceability logs, and technical files are in place.
• Support legal incident response for AI‑related issues (bias, hallucinations, data leaks, model failures) and support monitoring and audits.
• Provide legal advice across the full AI lifecycle, covering data usage, model training, transparency, fairness, explainability, and deployment considerations.
• Review and negotiate AI‑related contracts, including SaaS, IT agreements, DPAs, AI‑specific clauses, IP protections, data rights, and liability frameworks.
• Support development and roll out of internal AI usage policies, acceptable‑use rules, and employee guardrails aligned with data governance and IT security.
• Ensure the digital vision of the AZ UKMC aligns with all regulations and legislation.
• Keeping abreast of legal and market developments in the UK and EU relating to AI, data and privacy, assessing their impact on the AZ UKMC business, and advising on risks and opportunities.
• Legal know‑how and training responsibilities.
• Representing the company in dealings with external entities where appropriate.
• Lead and deliver legal support for UKMC on projects assigned by the Legal Director.
• Ensure the AZ UKMC operations are aligned with the highest legal and ethical standards.
• Sign off / approval of matters on behalf of the Legal function within limits and for assigned areas.
• Closely aligns with Legal Director and key business stakeholders.
• Represent the legal issues associated with the assigned areas up to and including business unit director level.
• Focuses on delivering the appropriate level of service, from internal and external resources, at the lowest possible cost.
• Personally handles complex contentious and non‑contentious legal matters and innovative business arrangements with reference to and alignment with the Legal Director.
• Develop knowledge of specialist and technical legal issues and areas that impact the pharma industry, including but not limited to matters impacting the Biopharmaceuticals and Oncology Business Units, (including AI, privacy and data use) and either provides advice or obtains appropriate advice from other internal or external resources.
• Collaborates with other Legal resources and personnel, whether internal or external, to ensure a seamless service to stakeholders.
• Manage external service providers, quality assurance and cost.
• Ensure awareness of relevant administrative procedures across the Legal function.
• Be responsible for the Quality Assurance (QA) of the legal processes, including internal and external QA.
• Lead innovation and drive improvement of legal owned processes (such as improved automation in contacting) to increase quality, efficiency and consistency, and to reduce cost and manage risk.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to more junior members of the legal team and provide training to key staff on legal and regulatory matters in this area.
• Legal representative on External Collaborations and Compliance Teams (ExCite and Ex’ceed) from time to time if required.

Essential

• Technically excellent lawyer with solid experience at a reputable organisation or law firm with a focus on doing business with ethics and integrity.
• Experience in digital, IT, AI and privacy law ideally within the pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical devices industries.
• Expertise in data protection, privacy impact assessments, and cross‑functional privacy governance (DPIA, data governance reviews).
• Knowledge of AI‑related laws and regulations, including GDPR, EU AI Act, data privacy frameworks, and emerging global AI standards.
• Experience of creating, drafting and implementing policies and processes.
• Experience drafting and negotiating complex commercial agreements.
• Experience managing senior stakeholders across a wide variety of functions and environments.
• Strong and effective communication skills (in English) with excellent collaboration skills, capable of interacting meaningfully with and across internal and external stakeholders.
• Capability and experience working with senior executive stakeholders.
• Continuous learning mindset, with the ability to monitor, interpret, and operationalize fast‑evolving AI laws, standards, and case law.
• Flexible and curious mindset willing to take on a variety of legal responsibilities across the AZ UKMC as required.
• Qualified solicitor or equivalent.

Desirable

• Experience in the pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device or other life science industry.
• Experience managing external service providers (including providers of data analytics) and setting up collaborative arrangements.
• Experience in developing and implementing the use of digital innovation (including AI driven tools) in the life science industry.

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life‑changing medicines. In‑person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

Why AstraZeneca: Join a company where bold ideas meet real‑world impact—where storytellers and scientists sit together to spark fresh thinking, move fast, and deliver for patients. You will tap into a global network that shares knowledge freely, harness modern digital tools to make sharper decisions, and shape conversations that matter across the enterprise. We back ambition with support, valuing kindness alongside high performance, and we invest in your growth so you can stretch your craft, learn from diverse experts, and see your work shape perception, policy, and progress.

Are you ready to play a valued and central role in powering the global enterprise? Are you ready to play a role in powering AstraZeneca and helping all of us to fulfil our ambitions? If so, apply today!

Date Posted: 20-May-2026

Closing Date: 04-Jun-2026

Our mission is to build an inclusive and equitable environment. We want people to feel they belong at AstraZeneca and Alexion, starting with our recruitment process. We welcome and consider applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of characteristics. We offer reasonable adjustments/accommodations to help all candidates to perform at their best. If you have a need for any adjustments/accommodations, please complete the section in the application form.