Senior Legal Counsel, Digital & AI Network Lead

Job Description Summary

Location: London, UK or Basel, Switzerland

Are you passionate about the intersection of law, technology, and innovation? Do you thrive in a fast-paced environment where you can make an impactful difference? We have an exciting opportunity for you!

At Novartis, we are seeking a highly skilled and motivated individual to join our team as a Senior Legal Counsel, Digital & AI Network Lead. In this role, you will have equal weight (50%/50%) responsibilities in two important areas.

As the Digital / AI Network Lead, you will play a pivotal role in coordinating and providing strategic advice to our global network of digital legal experts. You will be the critical link between our legal, digital, and AI technology initiatives, ensuring seamless integration and collaboration across the enterprise. Your expertise will also contribute to the development of legal frameworks in specific regulatory and technology domains.

Additionally, as the DD&IT Global Procurement Lawyer, you will assume the role of global Senior Legal Counsel, specializing in Data/Digital & IT within Novartis Operations Legal. You will be a key advisor in complex agreements and projects, working closely with our Data, Digital & IT function and Data, Digital & IT Procurement teams. As a legal business partner to our Data/Digital & IT (Procurement) clients on a global level, you will have the opportunity to shape and influence the legal aspects of innovative initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

Digital / AI Network Lead

• Facilitate the design and establish and run Global Network for Legal Digital Experts. Define objectives for the Global Network. Work with the Legal Digital Experts to define and implement the objectives for the Global Network. Act as a catalyst for and promote increased exchange of digital/AI knowledge within S&L.
• Facilitate and act as a communication point for Group wide activities / having overview of legal risks & mitigation strategies/ works on specific AI projects for Legal, and delegates specific digital/AI specific legal project work when necessary.
• Serve as primary Legal point of contact in defined areas and facilitate collaboration with other functions such as ERC or Development that have linked projects or work requirements, enhance interdepartmental cooperation while also coordinating with or delegating to the network members.
• Identify needs for trainings and inspire as well encourage the development of trainings through the network to upskill the S&L team as digital & AI legal advisors.

DD&IT Global Procurement Lawyer

• Manage and provide legal advice to significant global projects and/or strategic key accounts within the Global Procurement, D/D & IT Legal function in relation to digital/AI/IT Security, data protection, IP rights etc. in close alignment with the Head Legal Global Procurement, D/D & IT and in collaboration with the respective departments within Novartis.
• Oversee & lead, advise as well as execute the drafting, review and negotiation of various contracts related to e.g., IT infrastructure, cloud services, software licenses, service level agreements, IT outsourcing, IT projects etc. from third parties and the provision of services to other Novartis companies.
• Provide relevant trainings to clients in Procurement and D/D & IT.

What you’ll bring to the role:

• Law school graduate and bar membership with good understanding of pharmaceutical law, including the use of AI in clinical trials with significant post-bar experience.
• Deep knowledge of global market-standard IT contracts, with a focus on confidentiality, data protection, information security, cybersecurity, intellectual property, and regulatory compliance.
• Ability to develop informed opinions and navigate the social and ethical implications of AI, including an understanding of AI technologies such as machine learning, deep learning, neural networks, algorithms, and basic coding.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with a proven ability to build and maintain relationships, delegate tasks effectively, and inspire teamwork. Additionally, the ability to coordinate and prioritize network activities, work through networks without direct reporting lines, and possess an interest in legislative processes.
• Substantial, relevant experience in leading large and complex legal transactions in Procurement and DD&IT, and managing high caliber disputes independently.
• Proven ability to focus on solutions.
• Strong communication, negotiation and influencing skills, and experience working in cross-functional teams, demonstrating professional and culturally sensitive work ethics.
• Strong experience in handling a high volume of activity involving multiple, often complex projects simultaneously, able to set priorities, and deal positively within tight timelines and demanding clients.

Benefits and rewards:

Read our handbook to learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally:

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.

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