Head of Legal Compliance and Ethics

Head of Legal Compliance and Ethics

Location: Dublin

ICON plc, a leading global Contract Research Organisation (headquartered in Dublin) employing approximately 14,000 employees across 97 offices in 38 countries, seeks a highly motivated Head of Legal Compliance and Ethics to join its Legal Department.

Based in our Global HQ in Leopardstown, this is a fantastic opportunity to join one of Ireland’s best and largest legal teams – recognised by The Legal 500 as one of Ireland’s best in-house legal teams in 2018.

The successful candidate will join a professional and experienced in-house legal team focused on making an impact globally and supporting ICON’s mission – to help its clients accelerate the development of drugs and medical devices that save patient lives and improve their quality of life.

The Role

The role will report to ICON’s Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel (based in Dublin) and will suit a dynamic candidate interested in engaging on a broad portfolio of legal issues.  The successful applicant will  play a key leadership role in a  global legal team supporting ICON’s global operations – both internally as a business partner, and externally with blue-chip pharmaceutical and biotech clients.

As the Head of Legal Compliance and Ethics for ICON, you will be responsible for informing, advising and monitoring all areas of ethics and legal compliance matters across the business including ICON’s anti-corruption and anti-bribery program to providing guidance and support on a broad variety of life sciences compliance issues globally.

Role responsibilities include:

• Manage a global legal compliance
• ICON’s Anti-Corruption & Anti-Bribery Program - lead ICON’s ISO certified worldwide anti-corruption program, including policy and process development; risk assessments; education and communication; monitoring.
• Global international Trade and Healthcare Compliance.
• Oversight for content management on ICON’s core ethics and legal compliance codes & policies; and content development for associated training
• Support ICON’s acquisition team on legal compliance diligence and risk areas
• Building and driving and advising on legal compliance focused aspects of third party due diligence program - collaborate with various stakeholders to strengthen ICON’s overall international third-party vetting programs.
• Managing and advising external agency / regulatory requests and queries (taking lead on non-clinical requests and supporting business and QA on clinical regulatory issues).
• Oversight for ICON’s global whistle-blower line and preparation of associated reporting to ICON Board.
• Global legal lead for corporate; healthcare; and non-clinical regulatory compliance investigations.
• Directly oversee, conduct, and coordinate internal investigations directed by ICON GC under ICON’s Corporate Investigations Framework.
• Support business and QA on audits covering legal compliance & ethics program; advise on other areas of compliance, as required.
• Provide day-to-day proactive ethics and compliance; clinical regulatory; and general issue resolution legal advice; identify creative, compliant solutions to achieve business goals and strategies.
• Develop and implement tools/programming/training/communications that promote a culture of ethics and compliance that ensures that employees speak up about concerns and have a strong understanding of the Ethics and Compliance Program; develop innovative approaches to training to encourage employee engagement.
• Develop and deliver training to educate employees on a broad range of ethics and legal compliance topics.
• Recognize, exemplify and adhere to ICON's values which centers around our commitment to People, Clients and Performance.
• Lead and build a high-performing & engaged team of Legal professionals. Attract, select, develop and retain key talent. Proactively manage performance issues. Directly manage all Legal, Ethics & Compliance  team.

Experience & Knowledge Requirements:

• Experience in advising on compliance and ethics laws.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Large law firm or corporate plc or pharmaceutical/CRO/biotech industry experience is a plus.
• Ability to manage a high volume of work and prioritise effectively.
• Solutions focussed with strong work ethic.
• Team player and relationship builder with excellent interpersonal, communication, diplomacy, organizational and time management skills.
• Willingness to up skill in areas outside core competencies.

Education Requirements:

• Qualified lawyer with 5+ years PQE

Benefits of Working in ICON:

ICON enjoys a strong reputation for quality and is focused on staff development.  We make it our mission to attract the most diverse and creative minds into the business and we continually strive to provide opportunities for our people to excel, grow and build a great career. 

We understand that our greatest asset is the skills and talents of our people and they are truly what set us apart. 

Other than working with a great team of smart and energetic people, we also offer a very competitive benefits package – a dedicated recruiter will discuss this with you at interview stage. We care about our people as they are the key to our success. We provide an open, friendly and dynamic working environment where we empower people and provide opportunities to develop long term careers.