Your Role
The role is responsible for providing comprehensive legal, compliance, and data privacy support to all countries in the Asia Pacific excluding China (APeC) and regional management across the three Business Sectors: Healthcare, Life Sciences, and Electronics. This position reports to the LE-LT member in charge of the respective region and manages the regional and local LE Teams (Legal, Compliance Officers, and Data Privacy Officers) in APeC, while also being a member of the APeC Leadership Teams. Close alignment with the Chief Compliance and Group Data Privacy Officer, as well as the Compliance and Data Privacy Center of Expertise, is essential for effective company compliance.
Key responsibilities include:
- Providing legal, compliance, and data privacy-related counseling and advice to the three business sectors, regional and country leadership, as well as Merck Group Functions in the APeC region.
- Supporting contracting (including commercial, research, and procurement-related contracts), market access, and commercial, medical, and research activities in the region, along with digital initiatives and projects.
- Collaborating closely with colleagues in the LE Team and the LE Leadership Team, fostering collaboration across sectors and regions.
- Orchestrating all LE domain areas, including legal, compliance, and data privacy, in a cross-sectoral manner.
- Coordinating, aligning, and being accountable with all Sector General Counsels and the Chief Compliance & Group Data Privacy Officer on relevant strategic issues for each respective domain.
- Ensuring oversight and adequate implementation of the global company compliance and data privacy management systems (CMS and DPMS) and related programs in line with external regulations. Raising awareness and promoting an active compliance culture and ethical behaviors while supporting global assurance and certification activities of CMS and DPMS.
- Proactively identifying and managing legal, compliance, and data privacy risks in the region, in collaboration with relevant global teams, as well as handling claims and litigations.
- Leading ad hoc projects as assigned.
- Developing and leading local teams, with a focus on talent retention.
- Managing the regional budget for legal expenditures in alignment with Global External Spend project guidance.
- Supporting and facilitating activities with GES LE.
Strategic Impact
- Focus on risk assessment and management of legal, compliance, and data privacy topics related to the company's operations in close collaboration with regional business leaders.
- Complex problem-solving and crisis management.
Scope of People Responsibility
Management of the regional team in APeC, comprising lawyers, compliance officers, and data privacy officers.
Who You Are
Education / Work Experience
- Legal degree and admission to practice law, with a minimum of 12 years of experience in the Healthcare, Life Sciences, or Electronics sector, preferably in a large law firm or the legal/compliance department of an international company.
- Familiarity with multinational corporate compliance and data privacy culture knowledge of anti-bribery, anti-corruption, and data privacy laws and regulations.
- Proven management skills with the ability to lead and develop a team.
- Experience in an international environment and the ability to work across different cultures.
- Comfortable working and interacting with all levels of management, including senior management.
- Well-balanced business counsel and influencer.
- Strong change and process management skills.
- Open, energetic, self-starter with a pragmatic approach and ability to act under pressure.
- Excellent organizational, collaboration, and communication skills.
- Proficient in oral and written English.
