Senior Legal Counsel - GMTE and US Marketing

Job Introduction

Thanks for checking out our vacancy, we’re delighted you want to learn more about Dechra!

Dechra is a growing, global specialist within the world of veterinary pharmaceuticals. Our expertise is in the development, manufacture, marketing and sales of high quality products exclusively for veterinarians worldwide.

Here at Dechra, our values are embedded within our culture and thrive within our family of almost 2000 colleagues globally. From manufacturing to marketing, (D)edication, (E)njoyment, (C)ourage, (H)onesty, (R)elationships and (A)mbition are at the heart of our everyday operations and the way we do business

The Opportunity

As a member of the global Legal team, the Senior Legal Counsel will report to the Assistant General Counsel located in North America and will serve as the primary legal advisor and business partner to the U.S. and global marketing teams; providing strategic, business‑minded guidance on all aspects of marketing, advertising, brand, and consumer communication. The Senior Legal Counsel will partner closely with cross‑functional stakeholders — including digital, therapeutic, and brand marketing teams, as well as communications, compliance, and privacy colleagues — to ensure marketing initiatives are compliant, aligned with regulatory and industry standards, and consistent with Dechra’s strategy.

This role requires deep expertise in advertising and promotional law, strong judgment, and the ability to operate with independence and confidence in a fast‑paced environment. It also requires an individual that can effectively engage with all parts of the global commercial business and with other members of the global Legal team, some of whom are based in Europe and some in North America. All Legal team members will necessarily have a close working relationship with the Corporate Governance and Compliance teams.

The Senior Legal Counsel will need good listening skills, cultural awareness and to enjoy working with others, as Dechra is a friendly, collaborative, and people-focused business. The work in this role will often be new and challenging so the individual should have curiosity, common sense, and resilience.

So, what will you be doing? This role has a broad and varied scope and the successful candidate will have responsibility for duties including:

Marketing & Advertising Legal Support

Advise U.S. and global marketing teams on all aspects of advertising, promotions, and brand marketing initiatives.
Supervise the review and approval of customer‑facing content across channels (e.g. digital, social, print, influencer campaigns, and paid media).
Provide guidance on substantiation requirements, claim development, comparative advertising, and risk assessments.
Counsel on complex promotional campaigns including sweepstakes, contests, loyalty programs, and cause‑marketing initiatives.
Support global expansion of marketing programs, tailoring advice to multiple jurisdictions and coordinating with local counsel as needed.
Counsel the organization on brand defense strategies.

Regulatory & Risk Management

Monitor evolving laws and regulations affecting marketing activities in the U.S. and key global markets.
Develop and maintain marketing‑related policies, playbooks, best practices, and training materials.
Partner with privacy and compliance teams on issues involving data use, consent, cookies, tracking technologies, and personalized advertising.
Manage responses to regulatory inquiries, competitor challenges, and internal escalations related to marketing content.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders on marketing strategy, messaging, and legal risk.
Collaborate with sales, marketing, digital, communications, and other commercial teams to support product launches and global campaigns.
Balance business priorities with legal constraints to enable creative, competitive marketing.
Responsible for own personal health & safety
Other tasks as requested

Here at Dechra we pride ourselves on being an inclusive employer and we embrace candidates from all walks of life. We’re particularly excited to hear from those who have/are:

Juris Doctor degree from an accredited law school; admitted to practice in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
At least 8 years of relevant legal experience, including substantial experience with advertising and marketing law. Experience in the life sciences industry is highly desirable.
Working knowledge of privacy laws relevant to marketing (e.g., CCPA, CPRA, GDPR, Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act).
Experience reviewing marketing claims and advising on substantiation requirements.
Familiarity with digital advertising, social media platforms, influencer marketing, and marketing technology.
Strong contract drafting and negotiation skills.
Ability to provide clear, practical legal advice in a fast‑moving, business‑focused environment.
Excellent attention to detail, organizational skills, and proficient contract review and drafting skills.
Experience reviewing pharmaceutical advertising and promotional materials
Understanding of intellectual property rights, including copyright, patents, and trademarks.
Ability to manage own workload, prioritise, meet deadlines and remain focussed with long-term deliverables.
Ability to build and maintain relationships with multiple stakeholders, both internal and external to Dechra.
Experience using common software such as Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

As a people first values-based culture, we provide free weekly wellness sessions focused on our employee's physical and mental wellbeing, and flexible work arrangements. We offer a generous employer 401k match and an other incentives for long-term financial wellness. Our full array of health, financial and voluntary benefit programs are what you would expect from a recognized Best Place to Work.

Apply