Assoc. Dir., Legal & Compliance (m/f/d)

MSD; München; Hybrid; EUR 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Job summary

MSD seeks an Associate Director Legal & Compliance (m/f/d) to serve as a senior legal advisor and compliance SME for the DACH cluster. The role leads complex matters and provides pragmatic advice, shaping the local compliance program with cross-functional collaboration.

You are a fully qualified German lawyer with pharma/healthcare experience, fluent in German and English, and skilled in contracts, regulatory matters, risk management, and cross-border teamwork. Hybrid work is offered.

Qualifications

• Fully qualified lawyer with German qualification.
• Experience in pharmaceutical, vaccines or life sciences sectors.
• Strong knowledge of German and EU pharmaceutical and contract law.
• Experience with compliance management systems and enterprise risk management.
• Excellent written and spoken German and English.

Responsibilities

• Independently manage complex legal and compliance matters with actionable recommendations.
• Identify and mitigate legal, compliance and reputational risks across business units.
• Provide legal advice on pharmaceutical, reimbursement, advertising, data privacy, competition and IP matters.
• Draft, review and negotiate contracts and templates for HCP engagements and collaborations.
• Lead investigations and support disputes, litigation, and product liability matters.
• Coordinate with international legal teams and external counsel.

Skills

German law knowledge

EU pharma law

Compliance management

Risk assessment

Investigation

Contract drafting

Contract negotiation

Legal opinion writing

Cross-functional collaboration

Multinational experience

English proficiency

Education

Second state examination (Germany)

Equivalent qualification to practice law in Germany

Job description

Job Description The Associate Director Legal & Compliance (m/f/d) serves as an experienced legal advisor, Compliance subject matter expert and strategic partner to defined business areas across the DACH cluster. The role provides pragmatic, business-oriented advice on complex legal matters and contributes to the oversight and continuous improvement of the local compliance system. It leads assigned matters & projects, enabling timely, informed decision-making while balancing legal, compliance, business and reputational considerations in line with Company standards.

Main Responsibilities:

• Independently manage complex legal and compliance matters and deliver clear, actionable recommendations.
• Proactively identify, assess and manage matter‑specific legal, compliance or reputational risks; support informed business decisions and timely mitigation; and amplify material, cross‑cutting or strategic issues as appropriate.
• Assess compliance matters, including anti‑corruption and external stakeholder engagements, under applicable laws, Company policies and industry codes.
• Serve as a subject matter expert for Compliance and key contact for the local Business Practices team; contribute to the oversight and continuous improvement of the local compliance system, including related policies, procedures, guidance, training and processes.
• Act as an investigator for local compliance cases, conducting objective and thorough investigations in accordance with Company policies and applicable procedures.

Legal Advice

• Provide advice across all relevant legal areas, including pharmaceutical, reimbursement, advertising, data privacy, competition and antitrust law, as well as corporate, medical device, intellectual property, employment and product liability law.
• Advise on key projects and activities, including product launches, commercial initiatives, promotional and non‑promotional materials, pricing negotiations, reimbursement matters, digital projects and new business models.
• Draft, review and negotiate contracts and templates, ranging from standard HCP engagements to complex clinical, commercial and collaboration agreements.
• Support transactions, distribution models, partnerships and product transfers.
• Lead and support disputes, litigation, product liability and insurance matters.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Partner with business units, enabling functions, committees, councils and leadership teams across the DACH cluster.
• Build trusted‑advisor relationships through expertise, responsiveness, sound judgment and pragmatic, solution‑oriented advice.
• Support engagement with relevant local industry associations and external forums.
• Coordinate effectively with international legal teams, authorities and external counsel on assigned matters.

Leadership Contribution

• Lead assigned legal matters, projects, negotiations and cross‑functional workstreams with accountability for timely, high‑quality outcomes.
• Contribute to knowledge sharing, regional working groups, the development of guidance and continuous improvement across the Legal & Compliance function.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Fully qualified lawyer, with the second state examination or an equivalent qualification to practice law in Germany.
• Several years of relevant post‑qualification experience, preferably gained in the pharmaceutical, vaccines, or life sciences sector, or at a leading law firm advising clients in these industries.
• Strong knowledge of German and EU pharmaceutical, healthcare, anti‑corruption, anti‑trust, commercial and contract law as well as local industry codes.
• Practical experience with compliance management systems, corporate policies and enterprise risk management.
• Demonstrated experience advising business stakeholders in a multinational environment and collaborating with international legal teams.
• Excellent proficiency in written and spoken German and English, including legal and business terminology.

Skills and Competencies:

• Excellent analytical skills, sound judgment and the ability to translate complex issues into structured risk assessments and pragmatic solutions.
• Strong business acumen and a results‑oriented mindset, with the ability to prioritize effectively, quickly navigate complex matters, develop pragmatic solutions and drive them to timely resolution based on sound, well‑reasoned decisions.
• Genuine passion for compliance and risk management.
• Clear, concise and business‑oriented communication, with the ability to explain complex legal concepts to non‑legal stakeholders.
• Ability to build trusted working relationships with key business stakeholders based on credibility, respect and collaboration.
• High integrity, professionalism and attention to detail, with a strong commitment to the highest standards of ethical business conduct.

Additional location(s) Compensation Information:

Required Skills:

• Administrative Law
• Cite Checking
• Confidentiality
• Contract Administration
• Cross‑Functional Teamwork
• Detail‑Oriented
• Intellectual Property Law
• Legal Documents Preparation
• Legal Research
• Litigation
• Negotiation
• Pharmaceutical Regulatory Compliance
• Regulatory Compliance
• Regulatory Reporting
• Trial Preparation

Preferred Skills:

• Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully 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 in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.

• Employee Status: Regular
• Relocation: No relocation
• VISA Sponsorship: No
• Travel Requirements: No Travel Required
• Flexible Work Arrangements: Hybrid
• Shift: Not Indicated
• Valid Driving License: No
• Hazardous Material(s): N/A

Job Posting End Date: 11/17/2026

We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when diverse ideas come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.

We are an equal opportunity employer, committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. People with severe disabilities and their equals are given preference if they are equally qualified.

Our company is a global health care leader with a diversified portfolio of prescription medicines, vaccines and animal health products. The difference between potential and achievement lies in the spark that fuels innovation and inventiveness; this is the space where we have codified our legacy for over a century. Our success is backed by ethical integrity, forward momentum, and an inspiring mission to achieve new milestones in global healthcare.