Senior Counsel Sanctions Compliance (all genders)

Work Your Magic with us!

Ready to explore, break barriers, and discover more? We know you’ve got big plans – so do we! Our colleagues across the globe love innovating with science and technology to enrich people’s lives with our solutions in Healthcare, Life Science, and Electronics. Together, we dream big and are passionate about caring for our rich mix of people, customers, patients, and planet. That's why we are always looking for curious minds that see themselves imagining the unimaginable with us.

Your Role:

As Senior Counsel Sanctions Compliance , you take on a pivotal role at the intersection of regulatory compliance and business operations. Your primary responsibility is to serve as the strategic link between Merck's Corporate Trade Compliance organization and the business functions operating in highly regulated markets — in particular the Life Science business in Russia and other sanctions-exposed segments.

You design, implement and continuously improve Internal Compliance Programs (ICPs) for assigned sanctions regimes, embedding governance structures, controls and operational safeguards directly within the business organizations that own day-to-day execution. In this capacity, you act as a trusted partner and advisor to the business organizations who are responsible for running these programs, providing them with structured guidance, oversight and escalation support.

Beyond your program governance responsibilities, you coordinate cross-functional efforts across enabling functions — including Finance, HR, Tax and IT — to address sanctions exposure themes that extend beyond the Trade Compliance perimeter, such as financial flows, employee screening, technology transfer and jurisdictional nexus. You facilitate the establishment of cross-functional project teams, represent the Sanctions Compliance team in internal governance forums, and ensure that relevant process owners across the organization are identified, engaged and equipped to fulfill their compliance obligations.

You develop and deliver training programs and communication frameworks that translate complex regulatory requirements into practical, business-oriented guidance. You conduct compliance gap assessments, monitor regulatory developments in close collaboration with Corporate Legal and Government Affairs, and translate legislative changes into actionable program-level impact assessments.

Where the role requires it, you also provide legal advice and guidance on sanctions compliance matters — interpreting applicable EU and US sanctions regulations, advising on licensing strategies, and liaising with external legal counsel and regulatory bodies. However, the primary emphasis of this position is on program governance, organizational implementation and cross-functional coordination rather than on legal counselling as a standalone function.

Who You Are:

• You hold a university degree in Law, Business Administration, Economics, International Relations, or a related field — candidates with a legal background as well as those with a strong commercial or operational profile combined with deep sanctions compliance expertise are equally welcome to apply.
• You have at least 8 years of professional experience in trade compliance, export controls, sanctions compliance or a closely related field within an international corporate environment.
• You bring solid knowledge of EU and US sanctions regulations and export control requirements, including licensing frameworks and the procedures of competent export control authorities.
• You have a proven track record in program management and governance design — you know how to build compliance structures within business organizations and drive their implementation across complex, cross-functional environments.
• You are a strong communicator and stakeholder manager, able to engage credibly with senior management across business sectors and enabling functions, and to translate regulatory complexity into clear, actionable guidance.
• You combine a commercial mindset with compliance rigor — you understand business needs and are able to act as a trusted partner to the business rather than solely as a control function.
• You are proactive, structured and resilient, comfortable navigating ambiguous regulatory environments and managing multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Fluency in English and German is required; additional language skills are an advantage.

What we offer: We are curious minds that come from a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives, and life experiences. We believe that this variety drives excellence and innovation, strengthening our ability to lead in science and technology. We are committed to creating access and opportunities for all to develop and grow at your own pace. Join us in building a culture of inclusion and belonging that impacts millions and empowers everyone to work their magic and champion human progress!

Apply now and become a part of a team that is dedicated to Sparking Discovery and Elevating Humanity!