SPD Clearblue

Legal Counsel

Bedford

 

SPD is a joint venture between Alere; a major medical device company, and Procter and Gamble (P&G); one of the world’s largest consumer brands businesses.  With strong positions in most key markets with the Clearblue brand, SPD is active in the research,design, marketing and sales of branded consumer diagnostic products.

SPD has its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland (SPD Swiss Precision Diagnostics GmbH) and its R&D and support functions are in Bedford (SPD Development Company Ltd). There are approximately 160 employees across these two sites.

The function of SPD is to rapidly design, develop, test and transfer to production, world class consumer diagnostic solutions in women’s health.
SPD comprises of Research and Development (including Science, Design, Engineering, Software and Hardware), Product Support, Clinical Affairs, Statistics & Data Management, Scientific & Medical Affairs, Regulatory Affairs, Compliance and Quality Assurance, Customer Support, Sales & Marketing, Product Supply, Project Management, Finance, Legal and People and Organisational Development.
 
Position Overview
 
This role has accountability to provide legal and compliance advice and support to Swiss Precision Diagnostics GmbH and SPD Development Company Ltd (together “SPD”) to internal clients on a range of legal matters. The position concerns principally and initially client support marketing legal matters of SPD and support to SPD’s branded goods teams, though duties may vary as becomes necessary from time to time for proper compliance support to the business.
 

Key Responsibilities

  • Independently advise and support a group of internal clients and manage all requests received from these clients providing feedback on status to other Legal and Compliance Team members;
  • Act as a business partner, building strong relationships with the internal client group to become a trusted and respected advisor reducing risk and providing business oriented practical solutions in a timely manner, but remain firm on critical compliance issues.
  • More in detail the Main Responsibilities will currently include, albeit subject to change depending on SPD business needs and organisation:

o    (a) SPD Branded business and advertisement support, excl. special projects but incl. general issues such as Careline;
o    (b) Support to the Med & Scientific affairs team (professional advertisement, health professional relationships) ;
o    (c) Support to Regulatory Affairs ;
o    (d) Trademark support and budget;
o    (e) specific questions in health/Medical device law

  • Provide legal advice, support and risk assessment and manage legal issues;
  • Negotiate and draft agreements, correspondences, powers of attorney or any other documents as required for the above internal clients and GC & CCO
  • Spot compliance issues early within the internal client group supported and handle such issues in close coordination with the GC & CCO
  • Obtain specialist advice from approved outside Legal Counsel where appropriate after approval by GC & CCO and manage budget and provision of services
  • Develop, propose and conduct legal and compliance training with other Legal Team Members; draft, review and contribute to templates
  • Ensure knowledge remains up to date in areas required to provide advice and support to internal client groups.

Person Specification

  • Be a qualified Solicitor, Barrister or European qualified Lawyer with at least 2 years post-qualification experience.  Ideally the job holder will have qualified at a City or nationally recognised law firm and have worked previously in-house
  • Have a proven track record in successfully handling, with integrity and where needed discretion, complex legal and compliance issues, including without limitation: drafting and negotiating contracts; if possible, experience in management of litigation; expertise to give practical advice that is precise and accurate with attention to detail;
  • Have experience in at least some of the areas outlined in the Main Responsibilities, expertise in the health business is welcomed.  Interest in the legal health field is required, with a desire to learn and stay updated with developments in this changing legal field.
  • Communications skills with also an ability to communicate in non-legal language; able to successfully establish effective networks and relationships
  • Able to prioritise and work to deadlines
  • Willing and able to learn from experience and acquire new skills
  • Ability to work both autonomously and as a team player with a results driven attitude
  • Computer literate and in particular be familiar with Microsoft Office (all typical Microsoft applications) and Microsoft SharePoint and/or a document management system.

Other Information

  • Travel may be included, but would then be very limited.
    All applicants must be eligible to work in the UK.