Manager, Labor Rights

Novartis; Selangor; On-site; MYR 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company is seeking a Manager, Labor Rights to support its global labor rights program across the APMA region. The role involves risk assessments, stakeholder engagement, and operationalizing labor rights standards. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in law or human rights and experience in labor rights risk management.

Qualifications

• Experience in labor rights risk management with external partners.
• Familiarity with international labor standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead risk assessments and due diligence on labor rights.
• Deliver capability-building programs for external partners.
• Support implementation of labor rights-related projects.

Skills

Analytical

Communication

Collaboration

Education

Degree in law, human rights, or related fields

Job description

Summary

We are seeking a confident, collaborative, and solutions-focused Manager, Labor Rights to support the execution of Novartis' global labor rights program, focusing on India and the broader Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa (APMA) region.

This role will support labor rights and raw material certification risk assessments and due diligence for external partners; drive mitigation efforts; and contribute to the development of the Labor Rights (LR 2.0) program.

The role will also assist in meeting our corporate responsibility under the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), especially regarding supply chain risks beyond primary Tier 1 partners. This position is execution-focused, requiring strong project management, stakeholder engagement, and hands-on experience in operationalizing labor rights standards within Novartis' value chain.

About The Role

Key Responsibilities

1. Lead risk assessments and due diligence on labor rights and raw material certification for all in-scope external partners, including creating, tracking, and closing mitigation actions and corrective action plans (CAPAs), in line with Novartis' global labor rights risk management protocols and international human rights standards.
2. Deliver capability-building programs for external partners using a maturity model framework.
3. Provide targeted training and guidance to internal stakeholders such as Procurement, Business Owners, Legal, and other relevant functions to embed labor rights due diligence into business processes.
4. Support the deployment of risk tools (e.g., worker voice, grievance mechanisms) to enhance labor rights risk assessments and remediation.
5. Investigate and resolve relevant SpeakUp cases related to external partners.
6. Track and report relevant program KPIs and maintain labor rights data for reporting and continuous improvement.
7. Support implementation of labor rights-related projects and activities identified through CSDDD gap analysis, especially in the APMA region.
8. Contribute to relevant CSDDD workstreams—particularly Assessments, Risk Mitigation, Remedy, and Stakeholder Engagement.
9. Actively support the broader Human Rights team strategy and cross-functional projects.

Qualifications & Experience

1. Degree or equivalent experience in law, human rights, supply chain management, international relations, international development, or related fields.
2. Experience in labor rights risk management, including direct engagement with external partners on compliance with international labor standards.
3. Familiarity with international labor standards (e.g., ILO Core Conventions, UNGPs, OECD Guidelines) and CSDDD.
4. Strong analytical skills to translate data into clear, actionable insights.
5. Fluency in English; additional languages relevant to the APMA region are a plus.

Key Attributes

• Strategic & Analytical: Comfortable interpreting risk data and identifying trends to inform decisions.
• Collaborative: Builds strong partnerships across internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Agile and proactive: Responds quickly to evolving priorities, anticipates issues, and drives practical solutions.
• Effective Communicator: Clear, persuasive, and audience-appropriate communication skills.
• Results-Oriented: Owns deliverables end-to-end and thrives in a fast-paced environment.
• Structured: Manages multiple workstreams with clarity and discipline.
• Commitment to a people-first, risk-based approach that prioritizes worker well-being.

Why Novartis

Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting, and inspiring each other to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together? Learn more.

Benefits and Rewards

Read our handbook to learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally: https://www.novartis.com/careers/benefits-rewards

Commitment To Diversity And Inclusion

Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams that are representative of the patients and communities we serve.

Join our Novartis Network

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