Country Legal & Compliance Counsel DACH

Laboratoires Pierre Fabre employs more than 10 000 people in 41 countries.
The company's products can be found in all areas of the healthcare sector,
from prescription drugs and over-the-counter medicines to dermo-cosmetics.

Your mission

About the Role

We are looking for a Country Legal & Compliance Counsel to join our Group Legal Direction, supporting our business operations across Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Acting as a trusted business partner, you will deploy the global legal strategy locally, support sustainable growth, protect innovation, and uphold the highest standards of business ethics by providing pragmatic, solution-oriented advice. You will be responsible for legal, ethics, and compliance activities at country level within a highly regulated environment (Pharma & Cosmetics).

Key Responsibilities

As a Legal Counsel:

• Provide legal advice and support to country management and business functions on corporate governance, commercial operations, strategic projects, compliance, disputes, and litigation risks
• Act as legal partner for the country organization, ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, Group policies, and strategic objectives
• Assess and manage legal risks relating to strategic, complex, high-value, or sensitive matters, providing risk-based recommendations
• Draft, review, negotiate, and manage a wide range of commercial and operational agreements
• Identify, assess, and mitigate legal risks, escalating key issues to the Line Manager
• Manage disputes and litigation matters, coordinating with Group Legal Direction and external counsel
• Support selection and management of external legal counsels; contribute to local legal budget management
• Monitor legal/case-law developments and advise the business on their impact
• Promote legal awareness through training and guidance across the organization
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of the Legal function, harmonizing practices and tools

As a Compliance Counsel:

• Support, maintain, and continuously improve the local Ethics & Compliance Program
• Identify, assess, and monitor compliance risks; develop and implement corrective action plans
• Coordinate with key stakeholders (Legal, HR, Internal Audit, Internal Control, Risk Management, Group Compliance)
• Ensure compliance issues are appropriately evaluated, investigated, and resolved
• Lead or coordinate investigations into alleged violations of laws, regulations, or internal policies
• Monitor the effectiveness of the compliance program and recommend enhancements
• Develop and deliver compliance communications, awareness initiatives, and training programs
• Provide regular reporting and strategic advice to senior management on compliance matters

Requirements

• A postgraduate degree in business law (equivalent to a Master's 2 degree or German Staatsexamen 2nd)
• At least 4-7 years’ experience in a legal department and/or having practiced at a law firm or company, ideally in the pharmaceutical or cosmetics sectors.

• Knowledge of healthcare compliance and business law (antitrust, anti-corruption, advertising, pharma self-regulation, IP, commercial law, civil law, distribution law, data privacy)
• Proven experience in risk management and compliance
• Strong prioritization, organization, and decision-making skills
• Strong stakeholder communication and negotiation skills
• Ability to handle complex matters with autonomy and teamwork
• Solid business acumen and pragmatic problem-solving approach
• Digital proficiency and project management capabilities

• Fluent German and English required
• Knowledge of French is an advantage

Benefits

• An attractive and secure role at a forward-thinking pharmaceutical company based on the Pierre Fabre Foundation
• Two days of remote working per week, if desired
• An attractive range of additional benefits (Jobrad, a pension scheme that goes well beyond a 15 % employer contribution, staff shop for our dermo-cosmetic products, free skin screenings etc.)
• High-quality work equipment, including height-adjustable desks in an open-plan office
• Ongoing support through targeted coaching and training programmes
• A dynamic team in which trust, enjoyment of work and a spirit of camaraderie play a major role

We are convinced that diversity is a source of fulfillment, social balance and complementarity for our employees, which is why our offers are open to all, without restriction.

Pierre Fabre Laboratories is the world’s second-largest dermo-cosmetics company and one of Europe’s leading pharmaceutical laboratories. Our Dermo-cosmetics & Personal Care portfolio includes international brands such as Eau Thermale Avène, Ducray, Klorane, A-Derma, René Furterer, Même Cosmetics, Darrow and Elgydium. The Medical Care activity covers 5 main therapeutic fields: oncology, dermatology, rare diseases, primary care and family health care.

By choosing Pierre Fabre Laboratories, you will join a company where the human dimension is essential, where excellence and innovation are valued, within passionate teams united by common values, committed to pushing the boundaries of science to unite health and beauty for the benefit of all, because every time we care for a single person, we make the whole world better.