Global Head IP Transactions
Basel (City)
Key information
- Publication date:10 September 2025
- Workload:100%
- Place of work:Basel (City)
Summary
Location: Basel, Switzerland
Are you a seasoned IP leader ready to shape the future of pharmaceutical innovation at a global scale? At Novartis, we’re seeking a Global Head of IP Transactions to lead high-energy and high-impact patent and IP diligence across more than 100 M&A and BD&L deals annually. This is a unique opportunity to influence strategic decisions, collaborate with top-tier legal and business teams, and drive IP excellence for the most transformative medicines in the world. Join us in a role where your expertise will directly support breakthrough therapies and deliver lasting value to patients and society.
About the Role
Key Responsibilities:
- Coordinates, manages, leads, and drives the IP diligence and strategy for transactions (M&A and BD&L), using the support of all enterprise, legal, and IP functions in the analysis of IP issues (patents, trademarks, trade secrets), resulting in proactive, timely, thorough, and comprehensive advice on all relevant issues.
- Ensures clear, well-communicated, and accurate IP advice for all M&A and BD&L deals, recognizing the time-sensitive nature of transactions requires constant attention also during non-standard working hours.
- Develops and drives the IP and regulatory transaction governance framework, establishes appropriate tools and processes, and leads high-visibility, complex global IP transactions projects.
- Advises the Global Head IP and the Global Head Legal Transactions, as well as other senior business leaders, on IP transactions and risk exposure, including strategies for minimizing adverse consequences.
- Builds strong interface with M&A/BD&L colleagues to ensure transactions are supported by IP staff trained and equipped to advise on all IP aspects of transactions and manages external counsel providing diligence information and contract clauses.
- Ensures exchange of information and know-how across the enterprise and provides training, with the goal that in-house and external lawyers take a consistent and proactive approach in effectively dealing with IP transactions, and that stakeholders are advised early and proactively of IP issues impacting the deal business cases.
- Leads the IP Transactions team, ensuring that their services are timely, proactive, targeted, and of high quality.
- Retains and develops key talents within IP, particularly in IP transactions.
- Member of IP Leadership Team (IPLT) and Transactions Legal Leadership Team (TLLT)
Essential Requirements:
- Law school graduate (Common or Civil Law) with an additional science degree, Common Law and admission to the bar preferred; Patent attorney qualification required
- Extensive, multi-year IP transactions and diligence experience within a pharmaceutical company or with health care clients, including experience leading a team
- Sound knowledge of related following disciplines: Regulatory, Antitrust, and Contracts paired with a good understanding of Corporate, Tax
- Proven ability to deal positively when working under time pressure and with demanding clients as well as in handling a high volume of activity involving multiple, often complex projects simultaneously
- Proficiency in English (written and spoken), other languages are a plus
Benefits and Rewards:
Company Pension Plan, Life and Accidental Insurance, Meals Allowance or Canteen in the office, Flexible working hours. Read our handbook to learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally: Novartis Life Handbook
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities we serve.
Why Novartis: Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together? https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture
Join our Novartis Network: Not the right Novartis role for you? Sign up to our talent community to stay connected and learn about suitable career opportunities as soon as they come up: https://talentnetwork.novartis.com/network(link is external)
Benefits and Rewards: Read our handbook to learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally: https://www.novartis.com/careers/benefits-rewards