Legal Director, Germany, Switzerland & Austria

Director, Germany, Switzerland & Austria, Legal

DePuy Synthes, a part of Johnson & Johnson, is recruiting a senior legal leader to serve as the primary legal advisor for the Germany, Austria, and Switzerland (GSA) region. The role will transition to DePuy Synthes upon completion of the company’s separation from Johnson & Johnson.

Overview

The Director provides legal and operational counsel to senior business leaders, enabling compliant growth and risk‐informed decision‐making in a highly regulated medical device environment. This leadership position partners with commercial, supply chain, regulatory, and government affairs teams to manage risk, support complex transactions, and shape ethical business practices.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary legal advisor for DePuy Synthes in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
• Provide guidance on healthcare compliance, regulatory matters, advertising and promotion, product liability, legal disputes, and interactions with healthcare professionals and institutions.
• Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements including distributor, customer, government, consulting, and strategic alliance contracts.
• Identify, assess, and manage legal and compliance risks, developing mitigation strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Partner with regional Health Care Compliance and Privacy teams to ensure alignment with company policies and standards.
• Support investigations, disputes, regulatory inquiries and litigation matters in coordination with in‐house and external counsel, and manage legal spend.
• Monitor changes in local and regional laws affecting the medical devices industry in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, proactively advising the business on implications.
• Support ethics and compliance training initiatives and promote a strong culture of integrity across the region.
• Champion the transformation of legal service delivery through the effective use of AI, automation, digital platforms, and emerging technologies.
• Reimagine legal workflows and operating models to deliver services more efficiently and drive greater business value.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required (Law or related field strongly preferred).
• Juris Doctor (JD) or equivalent legal qualification required.
• Advanced degree (LL.M. or MBA) preferred.

Experience and Skills

• 10–12 years of relevant in‐house legal experience advising regulated industries.
• Strong knowledge of German, Austrian, and Swiss healthcare, regulatory, and commercial law.
• Strong negotiation, drafting, and contract interpretation skills.
• Demonstrated ability to provide clear, commercially grounded, and pragmatic legal advice to senior leaders and cross‐functional teams.
• Experience managing complex commercial contracts, legal risk mitigation, and external counsel.
• Demonstrated ability to lead strategic initiatives and drive organizational outcomes.
• Strong business acumen, judgment, and integrity with adaptability to operate effectively in a fast‐evolving global organization.
• Comfort working through ambiguity and willingness to engage with innovative solutions, technology, and new ways of working.

Preferred

• Experience in the healthcare, pharmaceutical, or medical device industry.
• Familiarity with European and regional regulatory frameworks (Germany, Austria, Switzerland).
• People leadership experience or proven influence in a matrix organization.
• Experience supporting commercial operations and market access strategies.
• Strong track record of driving process improvements and operational excellence initiatives.
• Experience working in a global organization with cross‐border legal considerations.

Languages

• Fluency in German and English required.
• Additional European languages are a plus.

Travel & Certifications

• Travel up to 20–30% within the GSA region and internationally, as needed.
• Admission to practice law in at least one relevant jurisdiction preferred.

Benefits

• Anticipated base pay range: €106,100.00 – €182,390.00.
• Annual bonus with target set as a percentage of pay, based on company and employee performance.
• Vacation days, parental leave (minimum 12 weeks), bereavement leave, caregiver leave, and volunteer leave.
• Well‐being reimbursement programs for financial, physical, and mental health.
• Service anniversary and recognition awards.
• Eligibility for multiple insurance plans, including dependents where applicable.

Johnson & Johnson is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by federal, state or local law. We actively seek qualified candidates who are protected veterans and individuals with disabilities as defined under VEVRAA and Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act. Johnson & Johnson is committed to providing an inclusive interview process for applicants with disabilities. For accommodations, contact Johnson & Johnson via https://www.jnj.com/contact-us/careers, or internal employees asking AskGS to direct to the accommodation resource.