Executive Legal Director

Mission

This role is newly created to support Almirall´s business globally. You will report directly to the Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel and will have exposure to and partner with various internal stakeholders at all levels of the organization. You will display strong commitment to a culture of high performance. You will show routinely your ability to develop and direct your team to develop and apply practical solutions to complex problems. You will lead your team to deliver sophisticated legal advice, to enable the company´s strategic priorities while guiding the organization in maintaining high standards in legal and regulatory compliance. 

Tasks and Responsibilities

Leading a team of in-house counsels based in the company´s headquarters in Barcelona and partnering with external counsels retained in different geographies, you will advance Almirall´s global business developed and executed in Spain, affiliates in Europe and in the USA and through partnerships in other regions of the world. 

• Through leadership and business-oriented advice, you will ensure compliance with Spanish, EU, US and international laws and regulations and help drive a culture of strong pursue of business goals while protecting the company´s reputation.
• Lead and develop a high performing legal team.
• Serve as a key advisor to senior management and the executive team, offering and leading your team to provide strategic legal guidance on complex projects delivering on the company's priorities, including licensing transactions, M&A deals, strategic product launches and complex finance projects, providing legal insights and implementing key risk management strategies.
• Oversee the strategic legal advice related to relevant alliance partnerships, joint ventures, and other collaborative initiatives.
• Serve as a key legal advisor to investors relations ensuring adherence to Spanish regulatory requirements and facilitating communication with stakeholders for strategic engagement on related governance matters.
• Oversee legal aspects of the company's operations, including regulatory compliance, data privacy, contracting and dispute resolution strategy.
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including regulatory bodies, and industry partners.
• Directly and through leadership of team, draft, review, and negotiate a variety of strategic legal documents, including agreements, and policies.
• Collaborate with others in the global general counsel team to ensure consistency and alignment with the company's legal strategy and standards.
• Manage and coordinate litigation matters, working with external counsels when necessary, and ensuring effective resolution.
• Lead the development and delivery of a training plan to internal teams on management of enterprise level risks, legal compliance matters and offer best practices.
• Work closely and manage relationships with legal service providers to ensure that the best services are provided to the company at reasonable cost.
• Conduct legal research to stay current on evolving applicable laws in Spain, other European countries and the USA, including the pharmaceutical industry best practices. Share the acquired knowledge to increase organizational awareness of governance and legal obligations. 
• Represent the company at legal and pharmaceutical industry events, conferences and meetings to share knowledge and promote the company´s brand and reputation.
• Monitor market trends, competitive landscape, and regulatory changes to inform strategic decision-making.

Education and Experience

• University and master’s degrees in law and active bar membership in Spain.
• Minimum 15 years of experience in legal counselling positions of increased responsibility within the Spanish legal system.
• In-depth knowledge of and ability to provide business-oriented advice regarding Spanish and EU laws and regulations applicable to the company business profile and priorities. Proven experience in legal leadership roles in the pharmaceutical industry. Long-term strategic planning capabilities.

Preferred Skills and Competencies

• Strong people management skills in leading and developing legal teams. 
• Strong managerial experience leading cross-functional teams without functional authority.
• High level influencing and communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to effectively counsel senior management in a regulated business environment. Ability to quickly gain trust at all levels of the organization and across geographies and cultures. 
• Proven ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams to instil and provide meaningful contribution to innovative solutions.
• Detail-oriented with excellent drafting and reviewing skills for legal documents.
• Ability to adapt to a dynamic and fast-paced corporate environment and sponsor agile and educated decision making.
• Enthusiastic business builder with strategic vision and strong ability to generate followership.
• Proactive, self-starter, able to work both autonomously as well as to be a strong team player. 
• Fluent level of English and Spanish both oral and written with the capacity to communicate with conviction

Values

Our strong values: Care, Courage, Innovation and Simplicity, are incorporated into everything we do, and they are behind our mission and vision which guide us today and lead us to the future.