Associate General Counsel, Legal - Global Procurement & Corporate RE

Baxter•Deerfield, IL

56d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate General Counsel—Global Procurement & Real Estate will provide strategic day-to-day legal support for (1) direct and indirect procurement, including the sourcing of raw materials, components, finished goods, capital equipment, warehousing and distribution, technology, professional services, contingent labor, facilities, and other operational supplies and services across multiple jurisdictions and (2) complex real estate transactions, including purchases and sales of commercial properties, leasing, and land use and zoning. The role requires sound judgement and excellent communication skills while driving practical, business-focused solutions.

Requirements

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school; admission to practice in relevant jurisdiction, active member in good standing.
10+ years of transactional legal experience advising business teams on procurement and/or operational transactions.
Exceptional oral and written communication skills, including drafting skills and presentation capabilities.
Proven people leadership and team development skills.
Sound judgement with the ability to balance legal risk and business objectives.
Self-motivating, working independently on projects, meeting aggressive deadlines, acting decisively, balancing multiple matters and a mentality of continuous improvement.
Comfort partnering with Legal Operations, IT and Procurement on technology-driven initiatives.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Real Estate transactions is also a plus.
Significant in-house experience supporting a pharmaceutical and/or medical device company will be desirable.
Familiarity with AI tools and CLM technologies to improve efficiency and reduce legal or compliance risk.

Responsibilities

Draft, review, negotiate, and interpret complex global procurement and real estate agreements, including: Supply Agreements, Master Service Agreements, IT Licensing and SaaS Agreements, Warehousing and Distribution Agreements, Real Estate Purchase and Sale Agreements, Real Estate and Equipment Leases.
Advise internal stakeholders on key contract provisions such as warranties, indemnities, limitations of liability, intellectual property, default, termination, force majeure, and dispute resolution.
Provide strategic guidance on contract enforcement and resolution of supplier issues.
Lead, mentor and manage a team of attorneys and legal assistants responsible for procurement contracting.
Set priorities, allocate work, and ensure timely, high-quality support for legal teams.
Develop and maintain contract templates, negotiation playbooks and best practices across the team.
Select, direct and manage outside counsel efficiently when needed.
Serve as a strategic legal advisor to senior Procurement, Supply Chain and Real Estate personnel and the Business teams.
Provide practical, business-oriented legal guidance to facilitate deal execution while protecting Baxter’s interests.
Participate in internal review committees and approval processes for complex or high-risk agreements.
Collaborate and coordinate with Baxter business attorneys on procurement agreements within their businesses.
Develop and deliver training for legal team members and business stakeholders on contracting best practices, compliance and risk mitigation.
Promote a culture of compliance, innovation and operational excellence within the legal function.
Evaluate, implement and oversee the use of AI-powered tools, contract lifecycle management systems and other legal technologies to streamline contracting workflows.
Leverage technology to improve contract review, identify risk, standardize clauses, and implement approval processes and compliance monitoring.
Use data and analytics to identify contracting trends, risk areas and opportunities for process improvement.
Partner with Legal Operations, IT, Privacy and Compliance to ensure responsible, secure and compliant use of AI and emerging technologies.

Benefits

medical and dental coverage that start on day one
insurance coverage for basic life, accident, short-term and long-term disability, and business travel accident insurance
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), with the ability to purchase company stock at a discount
401(k) Retirement Savings Plan (RSP), with options for employee contributions and company matching
Flexible Spending Accounts
educational assistance programs
paid holidays
paid time off ranging from 20 to 35 days based on length of service
family and medical leaves of absence
paid parental leave
commuting benefits
Employee Discount Program
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
childcare benefits