Head Counsel, Global Transactions & Contracts Legal – Commercial

By clicking the “Apply” button, I understand that my employment application process with Takeda will commence and that the information I provide in my application will be processed in line with Takeda’s Privacy Notice and Terms of Use.  I further attest that all information I submit in my employment application is true to the best of my knowledge.

Job Description

About the Role

Takeda is seeking a legal leader to join our Global Transactions & Contracts Legal (GTC Legal) team. As Head Counsel, GTC Legal – Commercial and a valuable member of the GTC Legal leadership team, you will lead a team of attorneys and legal professionals supporting global transactions and contracts that enable commercialization and related activities across Takeda business units, including U.S., Oncology, Plasma-Derived Therapies, Japan, and International Business Units.

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.

How you will contribute

Strategic transactions and enterprise contracts

• Lead the team to provide pragmatic, business-tailored legal advice and support for in-scope strategic transactions and enterprise contracts for Takeda’s Business Units globally. Examples include agreements for marketing and advertising services; market research; HCP/HCO engagements; speaker/advisory engagements; business insights and analytics, call centers and sales operations; distributor, wholesaler, and channel services; local distribution and related managed markets engagements; events, sponsorships, and congress-related activities; and outsourcing arrangements.

• 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 U.S. Business Unit Legal and International Business Unit Legal, to ensure integrated legal advice and support to business clients.

Global contracting infrastructure & enablement

• 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.

Global risk awareness & continuous improvement

• 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.

Leadership & team development

• Lea