Country Ethics, Risk & Compliance Head

Major accountabilities:

• As member of the Country Leadership Team, persuade and engage the leaders to continually monitor effectiveness of the ERC program, including cultural drivers of ethical decisions and integrity, for continuous improvement
• Provide comprehensive, contextual advice in order to influence actions regarding local business-owned implementation of ERC Policies and Guidelines
• Actively engage with local external and internal ERC networks, including the local industry association, to shape and influence the environment, and build trust around Novartis reputation 
• Lead in developing, refining, and adapting standards related to ERC to meet evolving requirements; promote consistently high standards and operational excellence
• Conduct local communication, training, and monitoring activities to support ERC awareness, risk identification and prevention goals
• Find solutions to existing and new Ethics, Risk & Compliance issues and develop appropriate and innovative practices and guidelines.
• Ethics: 
  o    Nurture a culture of ethics by overseeing the implementation the Novartis Code of Ethics. Actively shape an environment that fosters ethical decisions making
  o    Coordinate and offer support, direction and guidance to Novartis associates to ensure activities are conducted ethically and within the tenets of internal policies and applicable laws, regulations and industry codes.
• Risk Management:
  o    Support South Africa CPO in establishing effective risk management strategies and operations. 
• Compliance:
  o    Overseeing the implementation of the Novartis ERC Program 
  o    Ensure ERC topics are regularly discussed and documented in Leadership Team meetings or Country ERC Committee meetings 
  o    Plan and execute risk-based monitoring of key business processes relying on centralized testing activities. Share insights with the local Leadership Team and recommend actions to address key issues and trends.
• External Partner Risk Management (EPRM) 
  o    Support the rollout and implementation of EPRM processes. Provide advice and support where needed on EPRM matters
  o    Deal with escalations on third party engagements. 
• Speak Up: 
  o    Actively promote a speak-up culture within the organization
  o    Support and/or conduct to the investigation of Speak Up cases as needed, in a timely and effective manner
  o    Participate in the Investigation Review Committee (IRC), ensuring appropriate remediation activities are defined and case outcomes documented within the Speak Up case management system
• Transparency Reporting: 
  o    Sponsor and oversee disclosure processes and ensure implementation of the Novartis position and guidelines as applicable
  o    Action on emerging risks identified in transparency.
• Other 
  o    Provide basic functional coordination and oversight for ERC activities at local level
  o    Serve as ERC representative and member in local Leadership meetings 
  o    Ensure that the local ERC Team is adequately resourced 
  o    Develop Associates within the local team for potential succession in ERC, with a special focus on key talents 
  o    Participate and contribute to the Compliance network from the local industry association.
   

Key performance indicators:

• Well established ERC ‘tone at the top’  
• Relevant functional inputs and active contribution to IM Leadership Team meetings are provided 
• Evaluate and provide recommendations to ensure adequate ERC structure and resources to address business activities and related risks
• ERC topics are regularly discussed and documented in Leadership Team meetings or Country ERC Committee 
• In a timely and pragmatic manner, advice is provided on ERC aspects of business decisions 
• All applicable ERC processes are established and effective
• Annual monitoring plan is in place and executed. Major issues/gap identified are adequately addressed
• Annual ERC training plan established executed 
• Audit-readiness status is achieved and maintained. 

Minimum Requirements:

Education:
Bachelor Degree in Business, Law, Finance or other relevant subjects is required. Postgraduate degree is preferred.
Work Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of work in pharmaceutical, device or healthcare industries with relevant exposure to Ethics, Risk and Compliance function or related components preferred
• Experience in a highly regulated industries (e.g. banking, FMCG) 
• Proven ability to lead complex projects and collaborate with different Therapy Areas, in a matrix environment
• Crisis management
• Experience in dealing with investigations of misconduct 

Skills:

• Familiarity with healthcare laws and regulations
• Knowledge of Compliance Program principles and structure; Compliance Certification status a plus
• Risk management, including third party risk management 
• Project Management

Languages :

• English.