Head of Transactions and Contracting Legal

Takeda • Boston, MA

6d • $304,000 - $418,000

About The Position

The Head of Transactions and Contracting Legal is a key member of the legal leadership team, acting as a strategic advisor to senior management, including the Head of Business Development, Chief Procurement Officer, and the Global General Counsel. This position leads high-impact legal support for transformative business initiatives such as mergers and acquisitions (M&A), in-licensing and out-licensing, collaborations, and strategic alliances. This position will oversee the transformation and simplification of contracting and is pivotal in driving the legal aspects of transactions and ensuring alignment with business objectives. How you will contribute: Strategic Transactions: Oversee the drafting, negotiation, and execution of complex agreements, including collaboration, licensing, and asset/share purchase agreements. Legal Counsel: Advise the Business Development team and executive management on deal strategy and execution. Due Diligence: Coordinate legal due diligence for potential transactions, collaborating with cross-functional teams. Contract Management & Oversight: Manage and transform the contracting function (excluding contract operations),maintain contract templates to standardize workflows globally and mitigate risk. Risk Management & Compliance: Identify legal risks in contractual arrangements and M&A activities, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations. Leadership & Team Management: Build and manage a high-performing legal team as well as oversee external counsel. Cross-functional Collaboration: Partner with legal colleagues and business units to ensure seamless implementation of contractual commitments.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree and active license to practice law within the relevant region.
• Extensive in-house experience in high-stakes negotiations, transactions, and contracts, with Professional training in pharmaceutical law from a highly regarded law firm.
• 15+ years of relevant post-qualification legal experience, particularly in the pharmaceutical or biotech industry.
• Demonstrated progression of responsibility in in-house pharmaceutical or biotech legal roles.
• Significant experience managing attorneys and legal professionals at all seniority levels.
• Fluency in spoken and written English at a business level.
• Comfortable managing complexity and ambiguity in a dynamic environment.
• Strong team player with a proven ability to build effective working relationships globally and cross-functionally.
• Business-oriented mindset with a solid understanding of business strategies and financial matters.
• Ability to set and drive strategic priorities for the legal team in alignment with business goals and risk management.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, interpersonal, and relationship building skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Transactions: Oversee the drafting, negotiation, and execution of complex agreements, including collaboration, licensing, and asset/share purchase agreements.
• Legal Counsel: Advise the Business Development team and executive management on deal strategy and execution.
• Due Diligence: Coordinate legal due diligence for potential transactions, collaborating with cross-functional teams.
• Contract Management & Oversight: Manage and transform the contracting function (excluding contract operations),maintain contract templates to standardize workflows globally and mitigate risk.
• Risk Management & Compliance: Identify legal risks in contractual arrangements and M&A activities, ensuring compliance with applicable regulations.
• Leadership & Team Management: Build and manage a high-performing legal team as well as oversee external counsel.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Partner with legal colleagues and business units to ensure seamless implementation of contractual commitments.

Benefits

• U.S. based employees may be eligible to participate in medical, dental, vision insurance, a 401(k) plan and company match, short-term and long-term disability coverage, basic life insurance, a tuition reimbursement program, paid volunteer time off, company holidays, and well-being benefits, among others.
• U.S. based employees are also eligible to receive, per calendar year, up to 80 hours of sick time, and new hires are eligible to accrue up to 120 hours of paid vacation.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees