Senior Legal Counsel Real Estate & Commercial Contracting

Salary Range:

CHF146,300.00 - CHF271,700.00

 

Job Description Summary

#LI-Hybrid

Location Basel, Switzerland

Relocation Support This role is based in Basel, Switzerland. Novartis is unable to offer relocation support: please only apply if accessible.

What if your legal expertise could help shape some of the most strategic real estate and business transactions across a global healthcare leader?
As Senior Legal Counsel Real Estate and Commercial Contracting, you will be a trusted business partner, providing strategic legal guidance on complex real estate, facilities, commercial contracting, and environmental matters across Switzerland and beyond. Working closely with senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams, you will help drive critical projects, manage risk, support business growth, and influence key decisions that enable Novartis to continue reimagining medicine for patients worldwide.

 

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic legal counsel on complex real estate, facilities, and commercial contracting matters.

• Lead the drafting, review, and negotiation of high-value transactional agreements.

• Partner with global and local stakeholders to identify risks and deliver practical solutions.

• Support mergers, acquisitions, licensing, and other strategic business transactions.

• Manage external counsel while ensuring effective oversight of legal spend.

• Advise on environmental, health, safety, and sustainability-related legal matters in Switzerland.

• Develop legal processes, guidance, and training that enable informed business decision-making.

Essential Requirements

• Qualified Swiss lawyer with significant post-qualification experience in commercial contracting and real estate matters.

• Proven experience supporting complex real estate transactions within industry or private practice.

• Strong expertise in drafting, reviewing, and negotiating complex commercial agreements.

• Demonstrated experience leading negotiations and managing multiple legal projects independently.

• Ability to prioritize competing deadlines and deliver high-quality work in a fast-paced environment.

• Excellent stakeholder management skills with experience collaborating across global cross-functional teams.

• Strong communication, influencing, and relationship-building skills with a collaborative mindset.

Desirable Requirements

• Fluency in written and spoken English and German highly preferred

Benefits & Rewards 

At Novartis, we’re committed to reimagining medicine together - and rewarding the people who make it happen. 

  

Expected Annual Base Salary Range for role:  €146,300.00 - 271,700.00 CHF

  

The base salary offered is determined based on gender-neutral objectives, such as relevant skills, competencies and experience in accordance with the Novartis pay setting policy and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically. 

  

In addition to your base salary, you may be eligible for a performance-based bonus depending on certain performance parameters. 

  

The rewards of being part of our team go far beyond base pay and incentives. We also offer a variety of competitive benefits in kind to help you thrive personally and professionally, such as insurance plans, retirement plans, wellbeing resources and global recognition programs. In addition, we provide flexible and hybrid working options, where possible, and minimum 14 weeks paid parental leave. 

In addition to your base salary, you may be eligible for a performance-based bonus depending on certain performance parameters. Long-term equity awards granted at group level may also be part of your package. Further details will be provided during the application process.  

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion / EEO paragraph 

Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams’ representative of the patients and communities we

 

Skills Desired

Adaptability, Business Acumen, Business Law, Critical Thinking, Curious Mindset, Decision Making, Legal Acumen, Legal Communication, Legal Issues, Legal Research, Legal Risk Analysis, Legal Support, Legal Writing, Negotiation, Persuasion, Proactive Planning, Problem Solving, Relationship Building, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Thinking