Head of Legal & Compliance

About the Role
Our client, a leading international pharmaceutical company, is seeking a Head of Legal & Compliance to elevate the function from a managerial level to a true strategic leadership role. This person will serve as a trusted advisor to the Executive Committee in Mexico, ensuring robust legal oversight, a proactive compliance culture, and strong partnership with global teams.
We are looking for a senior, influential, and solutions‑oriented leader—someone capable of driving strategy, enabling the business, and building a modern, agile Legal & Compliance function.
 
Key Responsibilities
Legal Leadership

• Serve as the primary point of contact for all legal matters in Mexico, liaising closely with global Legal teams in France.
• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial agreements, including distribution, promotion, procurement, and service contracts.
• Provide pragmatic legal advice across Competition Law, Commercial Law, Pharmaceutical Law (including Market Access), IP, New Technologies, and Corporate matters.
• Support product launches, early access programs, and patient support programs, ensuring alignment with local regulations and internal policies.
• Develop and maintain standardized legal processes, templates, and governance frameworks.
• Manage litigation in accordance with internal guidelines and oversee external law firms, ensuring cost efficiency.
• Deliver legal training to internal stakeholders and monitor regulatory changes impacting the business.

• Lead the Compliance function in Mexico, ensuring alignment with global standards and local regulatory requirements.
• Oversee risk assessments, monitoring activities, audits, and remediation plans.
• Develop and implement compliance policies, procedures, and training programs.
• Identify and mitigate compliance risks, ensuring early detection and escalation.
• Partner with business leaders (Commercial, Medical, Finance, HR, Regulatory, Public Affairs) to enable compliant decision‑making.
• Promote a strong ethical culture, setting the right tone at the top and across the organization.
• Support continuous improvement of the compliance framework and operational processes.

• Law degree required; postgraduate studies preferred.
• 8–10 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, with strong exposure to both Legal and Compliance.
• Minimum 4 years leading Compliance activities.
• Experience in multinational environments and matrix reporting structures.
• Strong background in contract negotiation, regulatory matters, product launches, patient support programs, and early access programs.
• Proven ability to manage audits, risk assessments, and monitoring activities.

• Senior presence, strong communication skills, and the ability to influence at all levels.
• Strategic thinker with hands‑on execution capability.
• Ability to manage multiple stakeholders and drive cross‑functional alignment.
• Team‑oriented mindset, collaborative leadership style, and ability to “make things happen.”
• Proactive, solutions‑driven, and comfortable navigating ambiguity.
• Fluent English is mandatory.