Lead Counsel, Poland

Moderna Therapeutics; Warszawa; On-site; PLN 422,000 - 592,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading biotechnology company is seeking a Lead Counsel in Warsaw, Poland. This role involves directing a legal team and providing strategic counsel on commercial transactions and regulatory compliance. The ideal candidate will possess over 12 years of legal experience, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry, and be fluent in both English and Polish. This position offers a unique opportunity to impact global health initiatives while ensuring legal integrity.

Benefits

Quality healthcare and insurance benefits

Lifestyle Spending Accounts

Free premium access to fitness classes

Generous paid time off

Qualifications

• 12+ years of post-qualification legal experience required.
• Experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, or healthcare industries.
• Director-level or equivalent experience in a multinational environment preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Warsaw-based legal team covering contracts and international legal matters.
• Negotiate and draft complex commercial agreements.
• Advise on Polish and EU regulatory frameworks.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic counsel

Contract negotiation

Regulatory compliance

Problem-solving

Fluent in English

Fluent in Polish

Education

Law degree and qualification to practice law in Poland

Job description

Lead Counsel, Poland page is loaded## Lead Counsel, Polandlocations: Warsaw - Poland: G&Atime type: Full timeposted on: Posted 3 Days Agojob requisition id: R18489**The Role**Joining Moderna offers the unique opportunity to be part of a pioneering team that's revolutionizing medicine through mRNA technology, with a diverse pipeline of development programs across various diseases.As an employee, you'll be part of a continually growing organization, working alongside exceptional colleagues and strategic partners worldwide, contributing to global health initiatives.Moderna's commitment to advancing the technological frontier of mRNA medicines ensures a challenging and rewarding career experience, with the potential to make a significant impact on patients' lives worldwide.Moderna is solidifying its presence within our international business services hub in Warsaw, Poland, a city renowned for its rich scientific and technological heritage. This hub provides critical functions, meeting the growing demand of Moderna’s global business operations. We're inviting professionals from around the world to join our mission and contribute to the future of mRNA medicines.As Lead Counsel – Poland, you will be Moderna’s most senior legal presence in Warsaw, directing a team of legal professionals while aligning with global colleagues across the organization. This Director-level position places you at the intersection of strategic legal leadership and Moderna’s cutting-edge business operations in Poland. With a strong focus on commercial transactions, regulatory compliance, and legal enablement across contracts, R&D, CMC, and commercial domains, you will serve as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders. Your leadership will help drive Moderna’s mission forward while protecting the company’s legal and ethical integrity. This is a high-impact role with the opportunity to engage in cross-functional initiatives and use advanced legal technologies—including AI-enabled tools—to accelerate innovation and decision-making.**Here’s What You’ll Do****Your key responsibilities will be:*** Leading and managing the Warsaw-based legal team covering contracts, R&D, commercial, CMC, and international legal matters.* Serving as the senior legal representative in Poland, providing strategic counsel to local and regional leadership.* Partnering with global legal colleagues to ensure jurisdictional alignment, consistency, and compliance across the Moderna network.* Negotiating and drafting a range of complex commercial agreements, including those related to sales, distribution, licensing, R&D collaborations, and vendor engagements.* Advising on Polish and EU regulatory frameworks relevant to biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, healthcare compliance, and market access.**Your responsibilities will also include:*** Mentoring and developing a high-performing legal team with an emphasis on collaboration and professional growth.* Representing Moderna externally with regulators, stakeholders, and partners to safeguard the company’s interests.* Supporting cross-functional initiatives and integrating legal strategy into wider business operations.* Applying AI-enabled legal tools and data-driven approaches to increase efficiency, reduce risk, and support legal innovation.**The key Moderna Mindsets you’ll need to succeed in the role:*** **“We behave like owners. The solutions we’re building go beyond any job description.”** In this high-responsibility legal leadership role, you will take full ownership of legal operations in Poland, operating with strategic autonomy and accountability while shaping the country’s legal framework within the global Moderna ecosystem.* **“We digitize everywhere possible using the power of code to maximize our impact on patients.”** Your ability to leverage AI-driven legal technologies and integrate digital innovation into Moderna’s legal practices will be key to your success—and a source of competitive advantage in how Moderna operates.**Here’s What You’ll Need (Basic Qualifications)*** Law degree and qualification to practice law in Poland required.* 12+ years of post-qualification legal experience, with a strong mix of law firm and in-house roles.* **Broad commercial legal experience**, including market engagement, materials review and complex contract negotiation, sales and distribution, and strategic partnerships.* Extensive experience in pharmaceutical, biotech, or healthcare industries.* Proven leadership experience managing and developing legal professionals.* Strong expertise in contracts, commercial transactions, R&D agreements, and regulatory compliance.* Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.* Exceptional communication, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.* Fluent in English and Polish (both written and spoken).* Director-level or equivalent experience in a multinational environment strongly preferred.* Additional legal qualifications in EU or other jurisdictions a plus.* Strong business acumen with the ability to integrate legal advice into strategic decision-making.**At Moderna, we believe that when you feel your best, you can do your best work. That’s why our global benefits and well-being resources are designed to support you—at work, at home, and everywhere in between.*** Quality healthcare and insurance benefits* Lifestyle Spending Accounts to create your own pathway to well-being* Free premium access to fitness, nutrition, and mindfulness classes* Family planning and adoption benefits* Generous paid time off, including vacation, bank holidays, volunteer days, sabbatical, global recharge days, and a discretionary year-end shutdown* Savings and investments* Location-specific perks and extras!The benefits offered may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Moderna and the country where you work.**About Moderna**Since our founding in 2010, we have aspired to build the leading mRNA technology platform, theinfrastructure to reimagine how medicines are created and delivered, and a world-class team. We believe in giving our people a platform to change medicine and an opportunity to change the world.By living our mission, values, and mindsets every day, our peopleare the driving force behind our scientific progress and our culture.Together, we are creating a culture of belonging and building an organization that cares deeply for our patients, our employees, the environment, and our communities.We are proud to have been recognized as a Science Magazine Top Biopharma Employer, a Fast Company Best Workplace for Innovators, and a Great Place to Work in the U.S.As we build our company, we have always believed an in-person culture is critical to our success. Moderna champions the significant benefits of in-office collaboration by embracing a 70/30 work model. This 70% in-office structure helps to foster a culture rich in innovation, teamwork, and direct mentorship. Join us in shaping a world where every interaction is an opportunity to learn, contribute, and make a meaningful impact.If you want to make a difference and join a team that is changing the future of medicine, we invite you to visit to learn more about our current opportunities.Moderna is a smoke-free, alcohol-free, and drug-free work environment.Moderna is a place where everyone can grow. If you meet the Basic Qualifications for the role and you would be excited to contribute to our mission every day, please apply!Moderna is committed to equal opportunity in employment and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry or citizenship, ethnicity, disability, military or protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital or familial status, or any other personal characteristic