Senior Director - International Compliance

Company Overview
Rhythm is a global, commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company committed to transforming the lives of patients and their families living with rare neuroendocrine diseases. We develop medicines for previously untreatable or undertreated diseases and provide meaningful support for healthcare providers and patients and their families. We recognize the courage it takes for patients and their caregivers to begin their journey of advocacy to find the answers they need. Their courage inspires us to challenge convention, ask bold questions and seek answers for them. Every day, we strive for excellence through our willingness to learn, adapt, and our tenacity to overcome barriers, together.

Opportunity Overview
Rhythm is seeking an experienced, practical, and highly collaborative Sr. Director, Compliance International Compliance to lead and support the continued implementation, monitoring, and ongoing improvement of the compliance program across International markets, including Europe and other countries.
The role will provide practical, business-facing compliance advice and oversight, including with respect to anti-bribery and anti-corruption (ABAC), transparency reporting, third-party risk management, HCP/HCO interactions, training, monitoring and auditing, and investigations. The role is intended to enhance Rhythm’s regional compliance operations and global compliance program, improving consistency across markets, and ensuring that International compliance risks are identified, managed, and escalated appropriately.
This is a hands-on role for someone who can operate at both strategic and operational levels.

Responsibilities & Duties

• Contribute to the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of the global compliance program. Help International markets operate in accordance with applicable laws, industry codes, company policies, and ethical business standards, driving consistent compliance standards across countries while allowing for appropriate local adaptation.
• Serve as a trusted compliance advisor and business partner to colleagues across International markets, helping the organization achieve its objectives while maintaining a strong culture of integrity and compliance.
• Translate global compliance policies, standards, and controls into practical regional and local processes.
• Support launch and new market readiness activities by embedding compliance considerations into new business models.
• Design, deliver, and track role-based compliance training for International colleagues and relevant third parties.
• Develop and maintain risk-based compliance monitoring and auditing plans for International operations and partner with the business to manage remediation activities.
• Leverage data analytics, system reports, dashboards, and other monitoring tools to identify trends, outliers, control gaps, documentation issues, and emerging risks.
• Help define the future operating model for compliance support across International markets, including potential team structure, role design, resource requirements, and third-party support models.
• Participate in Compliance Committee meetings, leadership forums, and other cross-functional governance bodies, as appropriate.
• Provide periodic updates to Legal & Compliance leadership and regional leadership regarding compliance program matters.
• Promote a collaborative culture in which compliance is viewed as a pragmatic, trusted advisor and strategic business partner.
• Advise Commercial, HR, Supply Chain, Medical Affairs, Market Access, International Operations, Marketing, and other cross-functional colleagues across International markets on compliance related matters.
• Provide guidance on activities involving healthcare professionals (HCPs), healthcare organizations (HCOs), patients, caregivers, patient organizations, payors, government officials, healthcare authorities, distributors, consultants, vendors, and other external stakeholders.
• Advise on promotional and non-promotional activities, disease awareness initiatives, medical and scientific exchange, congresses and events, advisory boards, speaker programs, consultancy arrangements, patient support activities, grants, sponsorships, donations, market access initiatives, and payor communications.
• Advise on market access and payor interactions, including communications with public and private payors, reimbursement stakeholders, purchasing authorities, tendering bodies, and other market access audiences.
• Contribute to the implementation and oversight of anti-bribery and anti-corruption controls across International markets, including third-party due diligence and monitoring activities related to distributors, agents, vendors, and other business partners.
• Provide guidance regarding hospitality, sponsorships, donations, grants, conflicts of interest, and interactions with government officials.
• Support International transparency reporting obligations, including applicable statutory and industry-code disclosure requirements relating to transfers of value to HCPs, HCOs, and patient organizations.
• Partner with Finance, Medical Affairs, Commercial, Procurement, IT, vendors, and local country teams to support transparency reporting data collection, validation, and reporting processes.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of systems and vendor platforms used for HCP engagement management and transparency reporting.
• Develop and maintain work instructions, local disclosure guidance, and escalation processes.
• Support the intake, triage, investigation, documentation, and resolution of International compliance concerns.
• Ensure matters are managed consistently, confidentially, objectively, and in accordance with company policies and procedures.
• Track corrective and preventive actions and support appropriate follow-through and accountability.

Qualifications & Skills

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Qualified lawyer or senior compliance professional with strong experience in healthcare, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, or broader life sciences compliance.
• Approximately 10-12 years of relevant professional experience in life sciences compliance
• Experience supporting multiple jurisdictions, preferably across Europe and/or other International markets.
• Experience working in a global or regional matrix organization.
• Ability to provide practical, risk-based advice in a fast-moving business environment.
• Experience advising senior business stakeholders and cross-functional teams on complex, time-sensitive compliance questions. 
• Strong understanding of industry codes and legal frameworks relevant to International pharmaceutical operations, including EFPIA, national industry codes, EU medicinal product advertising rules, anti-bribery/anti-corruption requirements, transparency reporting requirements, and privacy/data protection considerations.
• Not accepting the status quo, working with a sense of urgency to deliver results
• Self-starter mentality who feels comfortable working in a fast-paced environment
• Fluent written and spoken English.

Preferred Qualifications and Experience

• Advanced degree preferred, such as JD, LL.M., master’s degree in law, business, public health, pharmacy, or a related field.
• Experience in a rare disease, specialty pharma, biotech, orphan drug, or launch-stage environment.
• Familiarity with ABPI, EFPIA and other relevant international and national industry-code requirements.
• Experience supporting transparency reporting across multiple countries.
• Experience with HCP engagement and transparency reporting systems, expense monitoring tools, data analytics, compliance dashboards, third-party due diligence tools, and compliance systems.
• Experience managing external advisors, vendors, or project teams.

Work Location and Travel
This role may require periodic travel within Europe, the US and potentially other countries, and to other company locations for business meetings, training, and other compliance program support.
More about Rhythm
We are a dynamic and growing global team spanning more than a dozen countries. At Rhythm we are dedicated to transforming the lives of patients living with rare melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) pathway diseases by rapidly advancing care and precision medicines that address the root cause.  Our team is passionate about expanding access to reach more patients and developing novel therapies for other rare neuroendocrine diseases, including congenital hyperinsulinism.

At Rhythm Our Core Values Are

• We are committed to advancing scientific understanding to improve patients’ lives
• We are inspired to tackle tough challenges and have the courage to ask bold questions
• We are eager to learn and adapt
• We believe collaboration and ownership are foundational for our success
• We value the unique contribution each individual brings to furthering our mission