Director Legal & Compliance GLE (Gulf, Libya and Egypt)

Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp; Dubai; On-site; AED 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp seeks an in-house legal and compliance leader to guide GLE Cluster activities, ensure regulatory alignment, and manage external counsel. You will support privacy, anti-corruption, trade practices, and commercial agreements while advising on procurement, tenders, sponsorships, and employment matters.

You will collaborate with BPOs and stakeholders, monitor regulatory developments, and lead training, investigations, and remediation actions to uphold governance standards

Qualifications

• In-house legal and compliance experience in a large multinational organization.
• Commercial practice experience in a top-tier law firm.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal and compliance guidance to ensure alignment with regional and local requirements.
• Advise on commercial, corporate and employment matters; negotiate with external parties as needed.
• Oversee external counsel, budget, and cost-efficiency; monitor regulatory developments.
• Support regulatory interactions, product licenses, marketing compliance, and IP matters.

Skills

Business Law

Corporate Law

Contract Law

Negotiation

Regulatory Compliance

Stakeholder Management

Governance

Legal Compliance

Education

Law degree

Job description

Responsibilities

Provide legal and compliance guidance to GLE Cluster business activities ensuring alignment with corporate regional and local legal and regulatory requirements Partner with Business Practice Officers BPOs and other divisional stakeholders to support compliance oversight and related business activities Participate in cluster and country leadership meetings and co-lead compliance committee meetings with the Managing Director and BPOs as needed Manage engagement with external legal counsel ensuring services are timely effective and cost-efficient Oversee the external legal budget in accordance with regional and international Legal amp Compliance guidance Deliver practical high-quality legal advice and compliance support to business stakeholders across a wide range of matters including privacy anti-corruption anti-bribery fair competition and trade practices Advise on commercial and contractual matters including procurement tenders distribution co-promotion co-marketing sponsorships grants donations patient programs and marketing initiatives Review draft and negotiate agreements and supporting materials for business development and other commercial activities Provide legal advice on commercial corporate and employment matters and negotiate with external parties where appropriate Advise on innovative business solutions including patient programs digital initiatives technology projects and data analytics activities Monitor legal and regulatory developments and advise management on potential impacts and appropriate strategies Support applications for and maintenance of authorizations permits and licenses required for local operations Provide legal support on matters relating to importation product listing pricing reimbursement marketing clinical trials adverse events and product recalls Support interactions with regulatory and government agencies on legal and compliance matters Provide or oversee legal review of promotional materials in accordance with local laws company policies and internal review processes Collaborate with medical and business stakeholders on regulatory or competitor challenges related to promotional practices Develop and implement compliance and risk management processes including annual certifications and cluster country compliance scorecards Support business operations in non-footprint markets and countries subject to U S sanctions where applicable Deliver legal and compliance training and help resolve compliance issues through collaboration with local management and BPOs Support investigations in collaboration with Global Investigations Human Resources Global Security Corporate Audit Finance and local management Assist with remediation actions following investigations or compliance reviews Support litigation disputes settlements and other legal actions arising from company operations Coordinate with regional headquarters and other legal colleagues on contractual IP compliance and regulatory disputes and claims Support global IP attorneys with local trademark and patent filings and the collection and sharing of intellectual property information Advise on local IP infringement enforcement strategies and related countermeasures Advise on sensitive personnel matters and prepare and review related legal documentation Contribute to compliance remediation efforts and provide legal perspective on corrective actions Interpret corporate policies standards and procedures and help ensure compliance across local subsidiaries Keep local management informed of significant legal regulatory and corporate developments Review external communications and materials for government agencies industry associations patients consumers and the public Support corporate strategy implementation including entity planning and restructuring initiatives Perform additional responsibilities and projects as assigned by the Regional Managing Counsel

Required Experience

The following experience is required In-house legal and compliance experience in a large multinational organization and or Commercial practice experience in a top-tier law firm

Preferred Experience

The following experience is preferred In-house legal and compliance experience with a multinational pharmaceutical or medical device company Private practice experience in advising the pharmaceutical industry Private practice experience providing general commercial regulatory competition marketing compliance and or intellectual property advice Some experience in commercial litigation and general employment law is desirable Familiarity with the U S FCPA the UK Bribery Act and pharmaceutical industry codes would be advantageous Strong working knowledge of privacy and employment legislation is highly desirable

Required Skills

Business Corporate Law Business Decisions Contract Law Corporate Ethics Corporate Governance Government Regulation Industry Regulation Influencing Skills Legal Compliance Legal Systems Negotiation Proactive Thinking Regulatory Compliance Stakeholder Management Stakeholder Negotiations Standards Compliance

Company

Merck & Co Inc Rahway NJ USA also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC Rahway NJ USA does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are place introductions are position specific.

Employee Status & Benefits

Employee Status Regular Relocation VISA Sponsorship Travel Requirements Flexible Work Arrangements Not Applicable Shift Valid Driving License Hazardous Materials Job Posting End Date 10 7 2026 A job posting is effective until 11 59 59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date

Qualifications & Requirements

A degree or equivalent in law. Candidates admitted to practice law in one of the jurisdictions within the GLE cluster will be given priority. Admission to other Arabic-speaking jurisdictions may also be considered. 10 or more years of post-admission experience. Strong language proficiency in Arabic and English. Ability to identify key issues and consistently demonstrate integrity, professionalism, legal knowledge and expertise, and sound business ethics. Ability to provide practical, commercially focused, and value-added legal & compliance advice. Strong drafting and negotiation skills. Ability and interest to critically review and advise on business programs and procedures in accordance with legal & compliance requirements and corporate policies and standards. Highly developed technical and research skills, strong attention to detail, and the ability to conduct investigations and interviews effectively. Enterprise mindset: Ability to think broadly with the best interest of the entire organization in mind. Very strong English communication skills, both verbal and written. Ability to work independently and prioritize work under pressure. Ability to work autonomously as well as within a team environment. Ability to deal with a broad range of stakeholders across all levels. Ability to persuasively influence cross-functional teams and senior management in the business. Proactive and responsive. Practical approach with a can-do attitude.