Brief Position Description:

The Legal Counsel position is a position responsible for legal and compliance activities within Novotech reporting to an Associate Director – Legal within a global team.

Minimum Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor of Laws from an accredited tertiary institution.
• Unrestricted practising certificate.
• At least 5-8 years’ experience providing commercial and corporate legal advice. 
• Experience in a biotech/pharmaceutical or professional services industry highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively at all levels of an organisation, excellent written and verbal communication skills and good knowledge of office productivity software.

Responsibilities:

• To implement and maintain the highest standards of corporate governance.
• Review and provide advice in relation to commercial contracts involving Novotech clients, Sites, and suppliers.
• Draft documents required in relation to commercial contracts involving Novotech clients, Sites and suppliers.
• Work closely with the Business Development, Proposal Budget & Contract, Clinical Operations teams to facilitate timely legal review and practical legal solutions.
• Consult and collaborate with client legal counsel and other legal counsel as required.
• Assist with Company Secretarial matters as required.
• To assist and advise on legal related due diligence activities linked to merger/acquisition activities.
• To assist and advise in relation to human resources matters.
• To assist and advise in relation to disputes.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required

Knowledge

• Knowledge and experience in commercial contracting, corporate law and governance. Experience in employment law and dispute resolution an advantage.

Working with Others

• Work as part of a team, with key stakeholders in business units and support functions.
• Provide updates on progress to Line Manager as appropriate.

Communication

• Possess a high standard of communication skills in order to:
  • Lead discussions with clients, suppliers and all levels of Novotech personnel.
  • Train and evaluate learning in others.
• Possess high standard of writing skills appropriate for formal reports, and to provide clear advice to personnel.
• Provide updates on assigned projects to appropriate personnel.
• Make formal presentations to management as required.

Planning & Organisation

• Proactive in performing tasks to assist with customer deliverables.

Creativity

• Use knowledge and experience to identify areas of inefficiency in current process/practice and suggest alternatives to improve Novotech operations.
• Aware of technology innovations and advancements and promote review and implementation of novel technology/process at Novotech.
• Have a problem-solving mentality, and promote same across Novotech personnel to enable creative solutions to challenges facing the company in delivering on internal and external project deliverables.

Developing Others

• Be able to provide information to staff to facilitate understanding of delegated tasks.
• Able to identify and assess knowledge deficiencies in staff and ensure training opportunities are provided for professional development.
• Provide a positive role model to personnel.

Commercially Aware

• Understand the Novotech/client relationship and be customer focused.
• Understand the industry/competitor environment, and be able to identify opportunities and risks relevant to the company’s future growth.
• Aware of the drug development process, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries in general.

Novotech Commitment

• Present a positive image of Novotech at all times, in communication, presentation and actions.
• Aware of the company mission statement, and annual objectives, and be aware of own contribution to Novotech’s success.

Quality Focus

• Understand SOPs relevant to the performance of Legal Counsel responsibilities.
• Aware of the company quality objectives, and process for documenting and resolving arising quality issues.
• Assist with the preparation and performance of all legal documents as required.

Safety Conscious

• Take due care at all times to minimise the risk of harm to self or others, including safe storage of site supplies, good lifting techniques and good workstation practice.
• Ensure you report any observations deemed as unsafe within your work environment to your representative as soon as possible.

Novotech is proud to offer a great workplace. We are committed to being an employer of choice for gender equality and providing an inclusive work environment where everyone is treated fairly and with respect. Our team members are passionate about what we do, but we understand work is only of the things that is important to them. We support our team members with flexible working options, paid parental leave for both parents, flexible leave entitlements, wellness programs and ongoing development programs.
We are looking for people who are passionate about working clinical research and biotech, including people who identify as LGBTIQ+, have a disability or have caring responsibilities.
We are a Circle Back Initiative Employer and commit to respond to every application. We look forward to contacting you regarding your application.

Responsibilities

1. Review and provide advice in relation to commercial contracts involving Novotech clients and suppliers.
2. Draft documents required in relation to commercial contracts involving Novotech clients and suppliers.
3. Work closely with the Business Development and Clinical Operations teams to facilitate timely legal review and practical legal solutions.
4. Consult and collaborate with client legal counsel and other legal counsel as required.
5. Review and oversee the Contracts Database.
6. Assist with Company Secretarial matters (as required).
7. To assist with legal related due diligence activities (as required).

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required

Knowledge

• Knowledge and experience in commercial contracting, corporate law and governance. Experience in employment law and dispute resolution an advantage.

Working with Others

• Work as part of a team, with key stakeholders in business units and support functions.
• Provide updates on progress to Line Manager as appropriate.

Communication

• Possess a high standard of communication skills in order to:
  • Lead discussions with clients, suppliers and all levels of Novotech personnel.
  • Train and evaluate learning in others.
• Possess high standard of writing skills appropriate for formal reports, and to provide clear advice to personnel.
• Provide updates on assigned projects to appropriate personnel.
• Make formal presentations to management as required.

Planning & Organisation

• Proactive in performing tasks to assist with customer deliverables.

Creativity

• Use knowledge and experience to identify areas of inefficiency in current process/practice and suggest alternatives to improve Novotech operations.
• Aware of technology innovations and advancements and promote review and implementation of novel technology/process at Novotech.
• Have a problem-solving mentality, and promote same across Novotech personnel to enable creative solutions to challenges facing the company in delivering on internal and external project deliverables.

Developing Others

• Be able to provide information to staff to facilitate understanding of delegated tasks.
• Able to identify and assess knowledge deficiencies in staff and ensure training opportunities are provided for professional development.
• Provide a positive role model to personnel.

Commercially Aware

• Understand the Novotech/client relationship and be customer focused.
• Understand the industry/competitor environment, and be able to identify opportunities and risks relevant to the company’s future growth.
• Aware of the drug development process, pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries in general.

Novotech Commitment

• Present a positive image of Novotech at all times, in communication, presentation and actions.
• Aware of the company mission statement, and annual objectives, and be aware of own contribution to Novotech’s success.

Quality Focus

• Understand SOPs relevant to the performance of Legal Counsel responsibilities.
• Aware of the company quality objectives, and process for documenting and resolving arising quality issues.
• Assist with the preparation and performance of all legal documents as required.

Safety Conscious

• Take due care at all times to minimise the risk of harm to self or others, including safe storage of site supplies, good lifting techniques and good workstation practice.
• Ensure you report any observations deemed as unsafe within your work environment to your representative as soon as possible.

Minimum Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor of Laws.
• Current practising certificate.
• At least 3 to 5 years’ experience providing commercial and corporate legal advice.
• Experience in a biotech/pharmaceutical or professional services industry highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively at all levels of an organisation, excellent written and verbal communication skills and good knowledge of office productivity software.