Head Counsel, Global Transactions & Contracts Legal – Global Supply & Quality

Takeda•Cambridge, MA

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

Takeda is seeking a legal leader to join our Global Transactions & Contracting Legal (GTC Legal) team. As Head Counsel, GTC Legal – Global Supply & Quality (GSQ) and a valuable member of the GTC Legal leadership team, you will lead a team of attorneys and legal professionals supporting transactions and contracts for Takeda’s GSQ organization. This is a highly visible leadership role where you will lead novel, complex, high‑impact, high‑risk transactions while empowering Procurement and the business on routine contracting matters. You and your team will partner closely with Procurement and business stakeholders to drive business objectives and priorities through pragmatic, business-tailored legal advice, disciplined contracting, sound risk judgment, and scalable legal contracting infrastructure. This role operates across multiple global time zones and legal jurisdictions. Success requires experience navigating regional legal nuances and evolving regulatory frameworks. This position may be based in Cambridge, MA or Exton, PA. Employees must be located within a reasonable commuting distance of their assigned office. A minimum of five (5) in‑office days per month is required; remaining days are remote.

Requirements

J.D. or equivalent legal degree is required.
Strong preference for candidates with at least 5 years of experience as in-house counsel leading a team of attorneys and legal professionals that advise and support global manufacturing and supply chain, CapEx, and quality functions and Procurement on in-scope contracts and strategic transactions.
At least 10 years of experience is required as in-house or external counsel supporting contracts and strategic transactions within the global biopharmaceutical industry.
Deep experience required advising on key business, legal, and compliance risks associated with in-scope contracts and transactions, such as product liability risk, supply continuity, business continuity, quality requirements and compliance, import/export, customs, trade compliance, and sanctions.
Experience implementing and working within strategic legal support models that empower business stakeholders and Procurement to independently prepare, negotiate and execute high-volume and routine contracts.
Experience collaborating productively and efficiently with subject matter experts within and outside the Law Department in support of in-scope contracts and transactions.

Nice To Haves

Strong judgment and business acumen in balancing legal risk, business objectives, and execution speed.
Demonstrated ability to design, structure, and build an effective global team of attorneys and legal professionals, with both internal and external resources.
Demonstrated ability to lead teams, influence senior stakeholders, and operate effectively in ambiguous, fast‑moving environments.
Ability to operate effectively across cultures, time zones, and regulatory environments.
Ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear, practical, and business-aligned advice and solutions.
Technology‑forward mindset, including the ability to identify, adopt, and scale use of artificial intelligence and other digital tools.
Collaborative and influential leadership style.

Responsibilities

Lead the team to provide pragmatic, business-tailored legal advice and support for in-scope strategic transactions and enterprise contracts for Takeda’s GSQ organization globally. Examples include: contract manufacturing & supply, labeling and packaging services, quality agreements, warehousing, logistics services, 3PL, CapEx, and equipment purchase and services.
Directly lead in-scope transactions and contracts where complexity, legal risk, business impact / priorities require senior leadership and judgment.
Serve as primary legal escalation point for issues of material risk, complexity, or deviation from standard positions.
Lead and oversee the team’s legal advice on pre‑contract activities, including due diligence, sourcing models, deal structures, and risk assessments.
Lead and oversee the team’s post‑signing legal support and advice on contract interpretation, disputes, amendments, renewals, and terminations.
Work in close collaboration with adjacent Takeda legal teams, including Regulatory Legal, to ensure integrated legal advice and support to business clients.
Partner with Legal Operations, Procurement and business stakeholders to design, develop, implement, and maintain contracting infrastructure, including Templates, playbooks, fallback positions, and legal guidance Escalation frameworks and risk thresholds Training, office hours, and best‑practice resources
Lead and oversee the team’s substantive legal input and advice on contracting infrastructure, which supports both Legal and Procurement/business‑led contracting.
Collaborate with legal colleagues and other Takeda subject matter experts to maintain ongoing awareness of internal and external factors and trends that impact contracting risk and strategy, including: Changes in laws, regulations, and internal policies Geopolitical, economic, and public‑health developments Market trends and supplier business models Evolving negotiation norms and “market” positions for key contract terms
Incorporate these insights into transactional advice, negotiation strategies, and contracting infrastructure to improve quality, speed, risk mitigation, and business outcomes.
Lead and develop a team of transactions & contracts legal professionals aligned to Takeda’s GSQ organization.
Strategically allocate internal / external team resources based on risk, complexity, business priorities, and enterprise impact.
Partner with GTC Legal leaders to ensure consistency, alignment, and best‑practice sharing across the team.
Serve as a senior representative of GTC Legal with relevant executive‑level stakeholders.