Lonza
Associate Director, Legal Counsel (Employment Law) 60-80%
Lonza is seeking a skilled Associate Director, Legal Counsel (Employment Law) 60-80% to join our Global Legal team at our headquarters in Basel, Switzerland. In this role, you will provide primary legal support on Swiss employment law matters, with occasional oversight of additional European jurisdictions.
Beyond employment law, you will act as a versatile legal partner, advising on a broad spectrum of commercial contracts, general corporate affairs, and transactional matters across Lonza’s global business platforms and corporate functions.
What you will get:
An agile career and a dynamic work culture.
An inclusive and ethical workplace.
Compensation programs that recognize high performance.
In addition to a competitive salary, you can expect numerous lifestyle, family, and leisure benefits. Our full list of tailored local benefits can be found below
What you will do:
Provide comprehensive legal support on all employment law matters, ensuring full regulatory compliance within the field.
Deliver expert legal counsel across a broad range of business platforms and corporate functions, including commercial contracting, general corporate affairs, and transactional matters.
Draft, review, and negotiate complex legal documents—including customer and supplier agreements—with the high-speed turnaround required for Lonza’s fast-paced environment.
Identify legal exposures and partner with stakeholders to mitigate risk through the development of new templates, legal training, and updated documentation.
Build trust and rapport with internal business units by maintaining high availability and proactively communicating to align legal strategies with business objectives.
Lead effective communications and negotiations with external customers and suppliers, while managing commercial disputes and supporting litigation as required.
Demonstrate strategic value in daily in-house legal matters, manage outside counsel and associated budgets, and travel as necessary to support global operations.
What we are looking for:
Master of Laws or equivalent preferably with a Bar Admission in Switzerland or an EU jurisdiction; post-bar education in Law or Business is a plus.
Minimum of 5+ years of high-level experience as an attorney within a reputable private practice or an in-house counsel in a corporate legal department.
Proven track record in commercial legal matters, including mastery of corporate law, general Intellectual Property, privacy laws, and litigation management.
Qualified expertise in the legal, quality, and regulatory frameworks governing the development and manufacturing of pharmaceutical products.
Ability to drive the "One Lonza" strategy by collaborating effectively across global functions and time zones to secure high-value, long-term client investments.
Business fluency in English is required; professional proficiency in German or additional European languages is highly advantageous.
Strong interpersonal skills with a focus on delivering impactful, lucrative outcomes for the organization through sophisticated verbal and written advocacy.
About Lonza:
At Lonza, our people are our greatest strength. With 30+ sites across five continents, our globally connected teams work together every day to manufacture the medicines of tomorrow. Our core values of Collaboration, Accountability, Excellence, Passion and Integrity reflect who we are and how we work together. Everyone’s ideas, big or small, have the potential to improve millions of lives, and that’s the kind of work we want you to be part of.
Innovation thrives when people from all backgrounds bring their unique perspectives to the table. At Lonza, we value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. If you’re ready to help turn our customers’ breakthrough ideas into viable therapies, we look forward to welcoming you on board.
Ready to shape the future of life sciences? Apply now.