Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Provide expert legal advice and support to drive commercial growth in a dynamic pharma environment.
- Company: Leading pharmaceutical organisation with a focus on innovation and compliance.
- Benefits: Hybrid working, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional development.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with strong emphasis on legal training and process improvement.
- Why this job: Join a high-impact role where your legal expertise shapes the future of healthcare.
- Qualifications: Qualified lawyer with 8-12 years' experience in pharmaceuticals or life sciences.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 £ per year.
Walker Cole International is supporting a leading pharmaceutical organisation in the recruitment of an Associate Director – Legal & Compliance. This is a high-impact, senior in-house role within a fast-paced UK pharma environment, offering broad exposure across commercial, regulatory, and governance matters.
As a key member of a lean UK legal function, you will act as a trusted senior legal adviser to the business, delivering pragmatic, risk-based legal support while enabling commercial growth. You’ll operate closely with leadership teams and global stakeholders, providing hands-on legal leadership across a broad remit.
Key Responsibilities- Act as senior legal counsel to UK business units, delivering commercially focused, pragmatic advice
- Lead drafting, review, and negotiation of complex commercial agreements, including supply, services, consultancy/HCP, PV, and strategic collaboration agreements
- Provide expert guidance on UK pharmaceutical regulation, including ABPI Code, PMCPA matters, and GxP frameworks
- Oversee legal risk management, governance, and policy implementation
- Advise on data protection and privacy matters, including GDPR, DPIAs, and data breach management
- Partner closely with Compliance, Medical, Commercial, and Regulatory teams
- Lead legal training initiatives across contracts, compliance, and data protection
- Manage external counsel and ensure efficient use of legal spend
- Contribute to legal process improvement within a high-growth, dynamic environment
- Qualified lawyer (England & Wales or equivalent)
- Typically 8–12 years’ PQE
- Strong experience within pharmaceuticals or life sciences (essential)
- In-depth knowledge of UK healthcare and medicines regulation
- Proven experience advising on complex commercial contracts
- Comfortable operating at senior stakeholder level in a fast-moving business
- Strong commercial judgement with a pragmatic, solutions-led approach
Senior Legal Counsel in Reading employer: Walker Cole International
Contact Detail:
Walker Cole International Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Legal Counsel in Reading
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the pharmaceutical industry and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a role that’s perfect for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its recent projects. This will help you tailor your answers and show that you’re genuinely interested in their work. Plus, it’ll give you some great talking points!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with the role of Senior Legal Counsel. Highlight your expertise in commercial agreements and regulatory matters to make a strong impression.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of resources to help you land that dream job, and applying directly can sometimes give you an edge over other candidates.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Legal Counsel in Reading
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the role of Senior Legal Counsel. Highlight your experience in pharmaceuticals and any relevant legal qualifications. We want to see how your background aligns with the key responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Be sure to mention your experience with complex commercial agreements and your understanding of UK pharmaceutical regulations, as these are crucial for us.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this is a senior role, we want to see evidence of your leadership abilities. Include examples of how you've led legal initiatives or managed teams in the past. This will help us understand your capacity to operate at a senior stakeholder level.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Walker Cole International
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of UK pharmaceutical regulations and the ABPI Code. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you're not just familiar with the legal landscape but also ready to tackle the challenges in this role.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past roles where you've successfully navigated complex commercial agreements or provided legal advice that enabled business growth. This will help demonstrate your strong commercial judgement and pragmatic approach.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Think about how you can effectively communicate with senior stakeholders. Prepare to discuss how you've partnered with different teams, like Compliance and Medical, to achieve common goals. This shows that you can operate at a senior level and understand the bigger picture.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about the company's legal processes and how they handle compliance and governance matters. This not only shows your interest in the role but also your proactive mindset towards legal risk management and process improvement.