Sr. Director & Associate General Counsel, US Litigation, Antitrust & Employment

Job description

Job Description Summary The Sr. Director & Associate General Counsel, US Litigation, Antitrust & Employment will provide strategic legal support for Sandoz in the United States, with primary responsibility for managing high-impact litigation, disputes, investigations and antitrust matters. The role will serve as a trusted advisor to senior legal and business leadership and will provide support on labor and employment matters in partnership with People & Organization colleagues and outside counsel. This position offers the opportunity to assume progressively broader responsibility across complex legal matters affecting the Sandoz North American business. Job Description Sandoz continues to go through an exciting and transformative period as a global leader and pioneering provider of sustainable Biosimilar and Generic medicines. As we continue down this new and ambitious path, unique opportunities will present themselves, both professionally and personally. Join us, the future is ours to shape! Position Location: This position will be located at the Princeton, NJ US Headquarters site. Our Sandoz flexible hybrid working approach allows US office-based employees to work up to 50% of their monthly workday remotely. This role will not have the ability to be located remotely.  Preference will be given to local candidates not requiring relocation. U.S. Work visa sponsorship not available for this role. Must have U.S. work authorization. Major Accountabilities / Your Key Responsibilities: Your responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Litigation & Dispute Resolution Manage and support US litigation, disputes, claims and investigations, including development of case strategy, factual investigation, risk assessment, budgeting, settlement evaluation and coordination with internal stakeholders and external counsel. Reassess and challenge litigation strategy, ensuring internal teams and external counsel are fully prepared, cost-effective and aligned with business objectives. Identify and evaluate strategic settlement opportunities in litigation and other disputes to mitigate legal and business risk, protect Sandoz’s reputation and, where appropriate, support favorable financial outcomes. Support product liability, quality-related, commercial and other business disputes, including pre-litigation risk assessments, preservation obligations, document discovery, witness preparation and coordination with cross-functional teams. Partner with Global Litigation to ensure US litigation matters are managed consistently with global dispute resolution strategy, governance expectations, reporting requirements and risk management priorities. Antitrust Serve as a strategic legal advisor to business leadership, providing practical, business-oriented legal advice on US antitrust and competition law matters, including support for antitrust investigations, litigation matters, compliance initiatives and competition-law assessments, working closely with Global Antitrust colleagues. Relevant areas may include pricing practices, distribution arrangements, rebate and discount programs, trade association activities, information exchanges with competitors, competitive intelligence, joint ventures and strategic collaborations (including private label arrangements), and customer and supplier contracting practices. People & Organization (Labor & Employment) Provide timely, practical and business-oriented legal advice to P&O and business leaders on US labor and employment matters, including employee relations, terminations, accommodations, leaves of absence, performance management, restrictive covenants, workplace investigations and employment-related policies. Support internal investigations and sensitive employee-related matters in partnership with P&O, Compliance, Corporate Security and other stakeholders, while maintaining appropriate confidentiality, privilege and documentation discipline. General Clearly and timely communicate the status, risk profile, strategy and potential outcomes of new and pending US litigation and employment matters to relevant Legal, P&O, Compliance, Finance and business stakeholders. Effectively manage litigation, antitrust, and employment law matters to achieve legally sound, business-aligned outcomes while maintaining strong stakeholder partnership, cost discipline and compliance with internal governance expectations. Develop deep institutional knowledge of significant litigation, antitrust and investigation matters, ensuring continuity of strategic oversight, risk assessment, reporting and stakeholder engagement over time. Monitor and advise on federal, state and local legal developments affecting US litigation risk and employment law obligations and proactively educate relevant stakeholders on emerging risks and practical mitigation steps. The successful candidate will combine strong technical expertise with excellent judgment, business acumen, and the ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced corporate environment. Collaborate with Legal, P&O and business colleagues on policies, templates, training, communications and process improvements that reduce litigation and employment law risk and support consistent decision-making. Participate in applicable global litigation, antitrust, dispute resolution or employment-law forums, including contributing to guidance, best practices and reporting processes where relevant. Key Performance Indicators: Delivers high-quality, practical and timely legal advice on litigation, antitrust, and employment law matters with appropriate independence, judgment and business orientation. Manages litigation, disputes and employment-related matters efficiently, including strategy, budget, reporting, external counsel oversight and resolution planning. Builds trusted partnerships with Legal, P&O, Compliance, Finance, business stakeholders and global colleagues. Handles confidential and sensitive matters with discretion, sound judgment, privilege awareness and appropriate escalation. Proactively identifies emerging legal risks and develops practical mitigation strategies, training, guidance or process improvements. Key Capabilities Required: Litigation Strategy & Risk Management: Ability to assess complex litigation and dispute risks, develop practical strategies, challenge assumptions and drive matters toward sound business-aligned outcomes. Antitrust Counseling: Strong understanding of US antitrust laws and ability to translate complex legal concepts into practical guidance. Labor & Employment Counseling: Understanding of US employment law and ability to advise P&O and business leaders on sensitive workplace matters with practical judgment and clear risk calibration. Business Partnership & Practical Judgment: Ability to translate legal risk into actionable business advice, balancing legal requirements, operational realities and reputational considerations. Stakeholder Management & Communication: Ability to communicate clearly and credibly with senior leaders, cross-functional teams, external counsel and global colleagues on complex and sensitive matters. External Counsel & Matter Management: Ability to select, supervise and direct outside counsel effectively, manage budgets and ensure external legal support is strategically aligned and cost-efficient. What you’ll bring to the role: Required Qualifications: Education & Experience (Required): Essential Qualifications Juris Doctor degree from an accredited US law school. Admission to at least one US state bar in good standing, with eligibility to obtain and maintain New Jersey in-house counsel registration, if not already admitted in New Jersey. 7+ years of post-bar legal experience with significant experience in litigation, antitrust, investigations, complex disputes, white collar matters, employment law, or related areas. Demonstrated ability to quickly master new substantive areas of law and effectively ad