Job Description

PRIMARY SCOPE OF WORK

Primary scope of work includes, but is not limited to the following:

• Supporting the legal and compliance needs of all key stakeholders in the relevant areas of law which may include but is not limited to privacy, anti-corruption/anti-bribery, fair competition, and trade practice legislations, etc. as well as policies, compliance standards and local industry guidelines. In particular:

Commercial and Contractual Matters

• Advise on day-to-day commercial transactions and business undertakings

• Advise on business development, marketing and business initiatives, patient programs, disease awareness campaign initiatives, review and draft/negotiate related agreements

• Advise on commercial/corporate and employment issues and negotiate with external parties on behalf of where needed or appropriate

• Advise on innovative solutions with a particular interest in AI, digital, technology and data-analytics

Regulatory Requirements

• • Monitor changes and developments in the legal and regulatory environment within which businesses operates, advise local management and develop appropriate strategies

  • Provide advice and legal support, as needed and in collaboration with regulatory affairs, on application and maintenance of all authorizations, permits and licenses needed for local operations, including importation, listing/reimbursement and marketing of products, conducting clinical trials, handling adverse experience incidents and implementing product recalls where needed

  • Support in interactions with regulatory and other relevant government agencies on legal and compliance issues and development of appropriate strategies for resolution of issues

Promotional/Non-Promotional Material Review

• • Provide and oversee internal legal review as part of medical-legal process for promotional/non-promotional materials according to local laws and policies and standards
  • Collaborate with Medical and business colleagues in initiating and/or responding to regulatory/competitor challenges on promotional/non-promotional practices

Business Standards & Compliance

• • Develop, monitor and implement compliance and risk management strategies and processes, and work with divisional compliance and local BPOs and management.
  • Support the development and conduct of legal & compliance training, monitor and resolve legal & compliance issues, work with local management to formulate and implement appropriate local business standards and procedures consistent with local laws, relevant US laws (including the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)), industry standards (including local pharmaceutical industry Codes of Conduct and the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (IFPMA) Code of Marketing Practices) and corporate policies.

Disputes/Litigation

• • Support the initiation, defence, negotiation, settlement and management of litigation, disputes and actions arising from business operations of including contractual, IP, adverse reaction claims, compliance and regulatory challenges, in collaboration/consultation with regional legal team and other legal colleagues from headquarters or other divisions as appropriate

Intellectual Property

• • • Support headquarters IP attorneys to coordinate local trademark and patent filings and collect and disseminate intellectual property information for local management, as needed
    • Provide advice on local strategies and counteractions in relation to local IP infringement and enforcement actions, in collaboration with global IP attorneys

Human Resources Issues

• • • Advise on sensitive HR issues
    • Participate in compliance issue remediation team and provide legal perspectives, as appropriate

Others

• • • • Conduct investigations, where necessary, in collaboration with Global Security, Global Investigations and Office of Ethics, and coordinate with Corporate Audit, local management and Finance/HR groups in taking practical and appropriate remediation actions as needed
      • Work with Finance team and provide any required legal support on corporate secretary/registration/resolution matters in Singapore and Malaysia
      • Additional responsibilities and projects may be assigned by the Director, Legal & Compliance (Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Taiwan Cluster) on an ad-hoc basis

Participation on an as-needed basis in meetings of Country Compliance Committee, Local Review Boards, Grants Committee and other compliance or country-level leadership committees in the SGMY Markets, as needed/designated by line management

Collaborating and instructing external counsel where needed and to provide inputs and oversight of the work done by external counsels

WHAT WILL A SUCCESSFUL APPLICANT LOOK LIKE?

Qualifications·

A degree in law or the equivalent·

Admitted to practice law in Malaysia·

5-7 years of post-admission experience

Skillsets ·

Ability to be an independent contributor and a team player·

Ability to challenge status quo whilst understanding the fundamental legal principles·

Ability to provide practical and commercially focused solutions whilst consistently applying a high standard of integrity, professionalism, legal knowledge, and business ethics·

Language proficiency in English and Bahasa Melayu required – additional language capabilities in the Asia Pacific context (for e.g. Mandarin) a strong advantage·

A positive personality and ability to thrive in a fast-changing, pressurizing and highly regulated environment·

Proactive and responsive·

Savvy in different computing applications (including AI applications) needed to perform role independently·

Strong communication and interpersonal skills·

Strong drafting and negotiation skills

Knowledge & Experience

The following experience is required: ·

In-house legal and compliance experience in a multinational organization; and/or·

Commercial practice experience in a top tier law firm

The following experience is preferred:

In-house legal and compliance experience with a multi-national pharmaceutical company or other highly regulated industries (for e.g. biochemicals industry)

Private practice experience in advising the pharmaceutical industry or other highly regulated industries (for e.g. biochemicals industry)

Familiarity with the US FCPA, the Singapore Association of Pharmaceutical Industries Code of Conduct, Pharmaceutical Association of Malaysia (PhAMA) Code of Conduct and the IFPMA Code of Marketing Practices would be advantageous

Working knowledge of privacy, competition law and employment legislations would be advantageous

Required Skills:

Business Development, Business Development, Clinical Trials, Codes of Conduct, Compliance Programs, Confidentiality, Contract Administration, Corporate Ethics, Data Privacy, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), Labor and Employment Law, Law Practice, Legal Acumen, Legal Analysis, Legal Communication, Legal Documents Preparation, Legal Research, Legal Services, Legal Strategies, Legal Training, Marketing, Marketing Management, Medical Practice Operations, Principles of Marketing, Product Marketing {+ 1 more}

Preferred Skills:

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Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.

Employee Status:

Regular

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Hybrid

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

07/27/2026

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