Senior Counsel, Global Transactions & Contracts Legal – Data, Digital & Technology

Takeda; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 169,000 - 266,000; Full time

Job summary

Takeda, Boston, MA, seeks an experienced Senior Counsel (Associate Director) to join the Global Transactions & Corporate (GTC) Legal team. You will support Data, Digital & Technology (DD&T) contracts and transactions, empowering Procurement and business with pragmatic legal advice and scalable contracting infrastructure across global time zones.

You will lead negotiations, draft and review software/cloud agreements, data licensing, and AI-related contracts, collaborating with DD&T and other

Qualifications

• J.D. or equivalent legal degree required.
• 6+ years in-house or external counsel supporting contracts and strategic transactions in global biopharma.
• Experience advising on data rights, cybersecurity, data privacy/GDPR, AI risks, IP, pharmacovigilance, quality, anti-bribery, sanctions, and trade controls.
• Experience enabling high-volume and routine contracts through strategic support models.
• Ability to collaborate across Law, Procurement, and business teams globally.
• Strong business acumen, judgment, and influence in fast-moving environments.

Responsibilities

• Provide pragmatic, business-tailored legal advice for strategic transactions and enterprise contracts including software, cloud, data licensing, AI, and related services.
• Independently lead, negotiate, draft, review and advise on moderately complex in-scope transactions and contracts.
• Advise on pre-contract activities: due diligence, sourcing models, deal structures, risk assessments.
• Provide post-signing support on contract interpretation, amendments, renewals, and terminations.
• Collaborate with GTC Legal and DD&T teams to ensure integrated legal support across functions.

Skills

Contract negotiation

Legal advisory

Data privacy

Risk assessment

Cross‑functional collaboration

AI & data governance

Global time zones

Leadership

Education

J.D. or equivalent

Job description

Job Description

About the Role

Takeda is seeking an experienced biopharma transactions attorney to join as a valuable member of our Global Transactions & Corporate (GTC) Legal team. As Senior Counsel (Associate Director), you will report to our Head Counsel GTC Legal – DDT and support transactions and contracts for Takeda’s Data, Digital & Technology (DD&T) organization.

This is a strategic role where you will empower Procurement and the business on routine contracting matters and lead and advise on more complex transactions. You 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.

How you will contribute:

Strategic transactions and enterprise contracts

• Provide pragmatic, business-tailored legal advice and support for in-scope strategic transactions and enterprise contracts, including software and cloud agreements, software services, data licensing, A.I., machine learning, digital health, benefits administration services, recruitment services, contingent workforce/staffing, management consulting, and business process outsourcing.
• Independently lead, negotiate, draft, review and advise on moderately complex in-scope transactions and contracts.
• Serve as legal escalation point for issues of risk, complexity, or deviation from standard positions.
• Advise on pre‑contract activities, including due diligence, sourcing models, deal structures, and risk assessments.
• Provide post‑signing legal support and advice on contract interpretation, disputes, amendments, renewals, and terminations.
• Work in close collaboration with adjacent Takeda legal teams to ensure integrated legal advice and support to business clients, including DD&T Legal in support of the DD&T organization.

Global contracting infrastructure & enablement

• In alignment with principles set forth by GTC leadership, generate, 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

Transaction category leadership

• Build and maintain expertise and ownership within one or more in-scope categories of transactions and contracts.
• Collaborate with legal colleagues, business stakeholders and other Takeda subject matter experts to maintain ongoing awareness of internal and external factors and trends relating to the applicable business functions/ areas 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.

Stakeholder management

• Primary relationship attorney for assigned Procurement category managers and any assigned business teams.

• Build strong relationships with legal and business stakeholders.

• Understands business objectives and renders legal advice accordingly.

• Communicates clearly and effectively with colleagues and clients.

• Serve as a representative of GTC Legal with relevant stakeholders.

Skills and Qualifications:

• J.D. or equivalent legal degree is required.
• At least 6 years of experience is required as in-house or external counsel supporting contracts and strategic transactions within the global biopharmaceutical industry.
• Experience required advising on key business, legal, and compliance risks associated with in-scope contracts and transactions, such as data rights, cybersecurity, data privacy/GDPR, risk allocation, A.I. risks, intellectual property rights, pharmacovigilance, quality, co-employment, anti-bribery, anti-kickback, false claims, sanctions, trade controls, financial transparency, and other relevant risks.
• Experience 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.
• Strong judgment and business acumen in balancing legal risk, business objectives, and execution speed.
• Demonstrated ability to influence 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, adopt, and scale use of artificial intelligence and other digital tools.
• Collaborative and influential leadership style.

Takeda Compensation and Benefits Summary

We understand compensation is an important factor as you consider the next step in your career. We are committed to equitable pay for all employees, and we strive to be more transparent with our pay practices.

For Location:

Boston, MA

U.S. Base Salary Range:

$169,400.00 - $266,200.00

The estimated salary range reflects an anticipated range for this position. The actual base salary offered may depend on a variety of factors, including the qualifications of the individual applicant for the position, years of relevant experience, specific and unique skills, level of education attained, certifications or other professional licenses held, and the location in which the applicant lives and/or from which they will be performing the job.The actual base salary offered will be in accordance with state or local minimum wage requirements for the job location.

For information about our benefits, please click here.

EEO Statement

Takeda is proud in its commitment to creating a diverse workforce and providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, parental status, national origin, age, disability, citizenship status, genetic information or characteristics, marital status, status as a Vietnam era veteran, special disabled veteran, or other protected veteran in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws, and any other characteristic protected by law.

Locations

Boston, MAUSA - PA - Exton

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type

Regular

Time Type

Full time

Job Exempt

Yes

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.