Job Description
Overview
Vertex Pharmaceuticals is seeking an experienced Legal and Compliance professional to join its Office of Business Integrity & Ethics (OBIE). OBIE is responsible for the development, implementation, oversight, and continuous improvement of Vertex’s Compliance program. This includes defining standards via policies and procedures, creating and implementing training and communications, conducting auditing and monitoring and other assurance activities, facilitating internal reporting, discretely and professionally conducting Compliance-related investigations, and keeping the CEO, the Executive Committee, and the Board of Directors informed on Compliance matters. OBIE serves as the go-to experts for Vertex employees and external stakeholders on issues relating to Vertex’s Compliance program and Code of Conduct globally.
OBIE partners closely with its colleagues in Legal across our global organization. This role will be primarily responsible for Compliance but will also provide Legal and Privacy support with respect Vertex’s operations and activities in the Middle East region.
Job Description
The Middle East Business Partner will serve as the primary Legal and Compliance professional supporting Vertex business activities in the Middle East out of Vertex’s offices in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The Middle East Business Partner will be the primary point of contact for strategic and tactical Compliance and Legal guidance for all countries across the region with a focus on Compliance. The person will serve on the country leadership team for KSA and support teams across Vertex portfolio and expansion markets in the Middle East, also collaborating on International and Global Legal & OBIE projects and initiatives.
The Middle East Business Partner will report to the Head of OBIE International, with dotted lines reporting to the regional OBIE Business Partner and the Legal Business Partner for KSA and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and will work closely with other Compliance and Legal Business Partners to ensure consistent support across International. The role also supports the Global OBIE team in further enhancing and implementing our Global Compliance Program and will provide daily support to our business colleagues to ensure effective implementation and understanding.
The Middle East Business Partner must have deep knowledge of pharmaceutical industry regulations, applicable local codes, and anti-bribery/anti-corruption laws across KSA and GCC countries and extensive experience working for biotechnology/pharmaceutical companies on these issues. Additionally, the Middle East Business Partner will work collaboratively and strategically with colleagues in OBIE, Legal, and the business to drive a culture of ethics and integrity and balanced risk taking across Vertex’s global organization.
The successful candidate will be expected to demonstrate a curious and entrepreneurial spirit and high level of autonomy and must identify, develop, and implement integrity and ethics goals and objectives across KSA and GCC. If you thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced, hands-on, and team-oriented environment where you can have a big impact on the organization, we’d love to speak with you!
Key Responsibilities
- Serve on Saudi Arabia Leadership Team and as the point of contact for business colleagues across GCC markets seeking strategic and tactical guidance on matters of Compliance, integrity, and ethics.
- Serve as a trusted thought leader and advisor for GCC teams and colleagues on matters of Compliance, integrity, and ethics.
- Provide Compliance oversight, guidance, and direction for business colleagues and identify areas where Compliance input and attention is required.
- Develop, implement, and continuously improve risk mitigation strategies and tactics across GCC and design data analytics and dashboards in coordination with the Global Assurance team.
- Actively contribute to achieving internal stakeholder’s objectives and long-term strategic goals by effectively and efficiently managing risks and maximizing opportunities
- Review and advise on commercial and medical activities and materials, draft legal documents
- Serve as a member of several cross-functional teams
- Drive and contribute to department and cross-functional governance and process improvement projects
- Deliver internal stakeholders training on key legal issues
- Effectively share information with regional and Global colleagues within OBIE & Legal
- Use external counsel in an efficient and effective manner
- Advise internal business colleagues on broad range of legal matters, understand business drivers and articulate legal concepts and risks simply and clearly
- Maintain a high level of knowledge of current and emerging laws, regulations, codes, and recent enforcement actions and inform and educate business colleagues with tailored communications in collaboration with the Global OBIE and Legal teams.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive fact- and risk-based decision making.
- Help to establish standards and implement procedures to ensure the Compliance program effectiveness.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships and collaborate frequently with Human Resources, Internal Audit, and colleagues in other functional areas across International, and the Global organization.
- Support continuous improvement of the Global Compliance program.
Skills/Abilities/Competencies
- Self-starter with demonstrated leadership skills and ability to meet goals with minimal supervision; able to exercise sound judgment in balancing risks in ambiguous and complex situations and escalating matters appropriately.
- Strong influencing ability and skills and high level of confidence to navigate global matrix organization.
- Demonstrated experience identifying and understanding risk and providing timely, actionable mitigation guidance.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to collaborate cross-functionally proactively and pragmatically.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Consummate team player with excellent judgment and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to communicate effectively with all levels of management and employees.
- Demonstrated superior ability to identify areas for improvement in controls, systems, and processes and implement effective solutions.
- Ability to work with large amounts of data to analyze information while still seeing the “big picture”.
- Confidence and professionalism to handle difficult conversations with discretion on sensitive matters.
- Experience executing and improving Compliance operations, including policies, procedures, stakeholder engagements, and external funding.
- Experience leading and supporting cross-functional project teams.
- Understanding of other control functions, such as Legal, Privacy, Internal Audit, and Assurance.
Minimum Qualifications
- Qualified lawyer with experience in GCC countries in biotechnology/pharmaceutical Compliance focused on healthcare fraud and abuse, including in-house legal and compliance experience.
- Strong experience working in cross-border and cross-cultural environments, preferably with a US-based multi-national company.
- Demonstrated experience in identifying and mitigating Compliance risk.
- Extensive knowledge of laws, regulations, and codes relating to healthcare fraud and abuse and regulated pharmaceutical products, specifically including anti-bribery/anti-corruption laws and pharmaceutical regulations and guidance as well as laws and Codes relating to the promotion of medicinal products.
- Proven successful experience in leading Compliance program implementation and execution across Middle East, with exposure to global Compliance concepts and requirements.
- Demonstrated strong commitment to Compliance, integrity, ethics, and accountability.
- highest ethical standards, very good legal judgment.
- Flexibility to work in a fast paced and dynamic work environment with a strong work ethic and positive attitude.
- Ability to travel approximately 25% of the time.
- Proficiency in MS Office (especially PPT).
- Fluent in English and Arabic.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Minimum of 5 years' post-qualification experience advising on legal matters in a life sciences space, whether in-house or in a reputable law firm, ideally both.
- Compliance professional certifications and experience at a global pharmaceutical or biotechnology company preferred.
Company Information
Vertex is a global biotechnology company that aims to discover, develop, and commercialize innovative medicines so people with serious diseases can lead better lives. In addition to our clinical development programs focused on cystic fibrosis and Hematology, Vertex has more than a dozen ongoing research programs aimed at other serious and life-threatening diseases.
Founded in 1989 in Cambridge, Mass., Vertex today has research and development sites and commercial offices in the United States, Europe, Canada, and Australia. For five years in a row, Science magazine has named Vertex one of its Top Employers in the life sciences. For additional information and the latest updates from the company, please visit www.vrtx.com.
Vertex is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, gender, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, or any characteristic protected under applicable law. Vertex will make reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.
Flex Designation:
Hybrid-Eligible Or On-Site Eligible
Flex Eligibility Status:
In this Hybrid-Eligible role, you can choose to be designated as:
1. Hybrid: work remotely up to two days per week; or select
2. On-Site: work five days per week on-site with ad hoc flexibility.
Note: The Flex status for this position is subject to Vertex’s Policy on Flex @ Vertex Program and may be changed at any time.
Company Information
Vertex is a global biotechnology company that invests in scientific innovation.
Vertex is committed to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, or any characteristic protected under applicable law. Vertex is an E-Verify Employer in the United States. Vertex will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.
Any applicant requiring an accommodation in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should make a request to the recruiter or hiring manager, or contact Talent Acquisition at
