Sr Legal and Compliance Counsel

Novo Nordisk A/S; Sydney; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

Novo Nordisk Oceania is seeking a Senior Legal and Compliance Counsel for Oceania in North Sydney. You will partner with business units across Finance, Operations, Market Access, Marketing, Sales, and Medical to provide pragmatic legal and compliance guidance in a highly regulated setting.

The role emphasizes balancing commercial objectives with robust governance, codes of conduct, and privacy obligations, while supporting AI-driven efficiency and training initiatives.

Qualifications

• Admitted as Barrister and Solicitor in Australia with a current practising certificate.
• 8+ years' legal experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, life sciences or medical devices.
• Medicines Australia Code of Conduct certification required; Medicines NZ Code certification desirable.

Responsibilities

• Draft, negotiate and manage a broad range of commercial contracts with a practical, business-focused mindset.
• Advise on commercial matters, privacy obligations, and regulatory codes while supporting strategic initiatives.
• Counsel the business on ethics, anti-bribery, sanctions, modern slavery and third-party risk assessments.
• Review and approve promotional materials in line with pharmaceutical laws and codes.
• Monitor regulatory compliance controls, identify risks and maintain templates, policies and intranet content.
• Champion AI and digital tools to drive efficiency in legal operations and support records management improvements.

Skills

Barrister admission

Legal drafting

Negotiation skills

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder management

Risk assessment

Education

Law degree (AU)

Tools

Medicines Australia Code of Conduct

Medicines New Zealand Code

Job description

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Are you a commercially minded lawyer who thrives at the intersection of law, compliance and innovation? Do you want your advice to shape how life-changing medicines reach patients across Australia and New Zealand? Join Novo Nordisk Oceania and become a trusted partner to the business at a defining moment for our company and our patients.

Your new role

As Senior Legal and Compliance Counsel for Oceania, in this North Sydney based role you will provide pragmatic, solutions-focused legal and compliance advice across a broad spectrum of strategic and tactical projects in a highly regulated environment. Reporting to the Director of Legal, Compliance & Quality – Oceania, you will be a go-to advisor for stakeholders across Finance & Operations, People & Organisation, Market Access, Marketing, Sales, Medical and beyond.

Your day-to-day responsibilities will include:

• - Drafting, negotiating and managing a broad range of commercial contracts – including government, third-party services, wholesaler, supply and collaboration agreements – with a practical, business-oriented mindset
• - Advising on commercial matters, privacy obligations, the Medicines Australia and Medicines New Zealand Codes of Conduct, and emerging regulatory frameworks, while contributing to strategic initiatives
• - Counselling the business-on-Business Ethics matters including anti-bribery & corruption, sanctions, modern slavery, gifts & entertainment and HCP transfer of value reporting, and supporting third-party risk assessments and recertification cycles via our Risk Assess platform
• - Reviewing and approving promotional and advertising materials in line with applicable pharmaceutical laws, regulations and Codes of Conduct
• - Monitoring and testing regulatory compliance controls, identifying systemic risks, overseeing corrective actions, and maintaining contract templates, policies, standards and the legal intranet
• - Championing the use of AI and digital technology. Leveraging AI and digital tools to drive efficiency and innovation in legal operations, supporting implementation of records management system and identifying smarter ways of working
• - Designing and delivering legal and compliance training programs and coordinating the annual training cycle plan

Your new department

Within Oceania, you will join the Legal, Compliance & Quality team supporting Novo Nordisk's business across Australia and New Zealand. In this office-based role in North Sydney, is a close-knit, high-performing team that combines deep technical expertise with curiosity, pragmatism and works hand-in-hand with the broader APAC and Global Legal community to enable bold, ethical decisions for the patients we serve.

Your skills & qualifications

We are looking for an energetic and commercially astute lawyer who enjoys partnering with the business to find practical solutions in a fast-paced environment. To succeed in this role, you will likely bring:

• - Admission as a Barrister and Solicitor in any State or Territory in Australia, with a current practising certificate issued by an Australian State or Territory legal society
• - 8+ years' legal experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, life sciences or medical devices, ideally gained through a mix of law firm and in-house roles
• - Medicines Australia Code of Conduct certification (essential); Medicines New Zealand Code of Conduct certification is desirable
• - Proven ability to identify, assess and articulate legal and compliance risks and translate them into practical, commercial solutions, with excellent drafting, negotiation and analytical skills
• - A self-motivated approach to managing competing priorities with discretion and professionalism, paired with strong stakeholder engagement skills at all levels
• - Must have Permanent Residency or Citizenship in Australia or New Zealand

Working at Novo Nordisk

Every day we seek the solutions that defeat serious chronic diseases. To do this, we approach our work with determination, constant curiosity and a commitment to finding better ways forward. For over 100 years, this dedication has driven us to build a company focused on lasting change for long-term health. One where diverse thinking, shared purpose and mutual respect come together to create extraordinary results. When you join us, you're not just starting a job – you're becoming part of a story that spans generations.

What we offer

There is, of course, more on offer here than the uniqueness of our culture and the extraordinary results we produce. Being part of a global healthcare company means opportunities to learn and develop are all around us, while our benefits are designed with your career and life stage in mind.

We commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equality of opportunity for all our job applicants. First Nations people are encouraged to apply.

At Novo Nordisk, we're not chasing quick fixes – we're creating lasting change for long-term health. For over 100 years, we've been driven by a single purpose: to defeat serious chronic diseases and help millions of people live healthier lives. This dedication fuels our constant curiosity and inspires us to push the boundaries of what's possible in healthcare. We embrace diverse perspectives, seek out bold ideas, and build partnerships rooted in shared purpose. Together, we're making healthcare more accessible, treating and preventing diseases, and pioneering solutions that create change spanning generations. When you join us, you become part of something bigger – a legacy of impact that reaches far beyond today.