Senior Legal Counsel, NA

Aptar; Crystal Lake (IL); On-site; USD 194,000 - 264,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Performance-based bonus

401(k) plan

Healthcare benefits

Job summary

Aptar is seeking a Senior Legal Counsel for Pharma NA to advise cross-functional teams on commercial, regulatory, and strategic initiatives. You will align legal strategy with business goals, manage risk, and support growth across packaging and drug-delivery platforms.

The role emphasizes collaboration with procurement, quality, regulatory, and operations, with a focus on practical guidance, contract management, and compliance in a global manufacturing context.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and active license in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• 6–10 years of relevant legal experience; in-house or law firm experience in pharma, medical device, healthcare, life sciences, manufacturing, or highly regulated industries preferred.
• Strong knowledge of pharmaceutical regulatory environments and exceptional communication with stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Serve as primary legal partner to Pharma business teams, translating legal risks into actionable business advice.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and interpret customer, supply, confidentiality, distribution, development, and vendor contracts; support standardization of processes.

Skills

Strategic partnership

Regulatory compliance

Contract drafting

Stakeholder management

Negotiation

Communication

Education

Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school

Job description

The Legal Counsel – Pharma NA serves as a trusted legal advisor to Aptar Pharma, providing practical, business-focused legal support to commercial, operational, innovation, and regulatory teams. This role partners closely with business leaders to enable growth, manage risk, ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and support customer-focused solutions across the pharmaceutical packaging and drug delivery business.

The position requires a strategic thinker with strong knowledge of commercial contracting, regulatory frameworks impacting the pharmaceutical industry, risk management, and business partnership within a global manufacturing environment. The role requires the ability to manage complex legal matters while enabling business growth and ensuring compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

As Senior Legal Counsel for Pharma, You Will:

Legal Business Partnership

Serve as primary legal support for designated Pharma business teams. Provide practical legal advice to support strategic and operational objectives. Partner with commercial, operations, procurement, quality, regulatory, innovation, and supply chain teams. Translate legal risks into clear business recommendations.

Commercial Contracting

• Draft, review, negotiate, and interpret:
• Customer agreements
• Supply agreements
• Confidentiality agreements
• Distribution agreements
• Development and collaboration agreements
• Vendor and service contracts
• Support contract standardization and process improvements.

Regulatory & Compliance Support

• Advise on legal issues related to pharmaceutical packaging, drug delivery systems, and healthcare regulations.
• Support compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and industry standards.
• Assist with implementation of company policies, governance requirements, and compliance initiatives.
• Monitor legal and regulatory developments impacting the Pharma business.
• Identify legal, regulatory, commercial, and operational risks.
• Support dispute prevention and resolution activities.
• Coordinate with external counsel when appropriate.

Innovation & Strategic Projects

• Provide legal guidance for innovation, technology, and strategic partnerships.
• Participate in acquisitions, integrations, and other corporate projects as needed.
• Assist in protecting the company's intellectual property and confidential information.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Legal Centers of Excellence, including IP, Compliance, Privacy, Employment, and Corporate teams.
• Deliver legal training and awareness programs for business stakeholders.

Who We are Looking For

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school; active license to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• 6–10 years of relevant legal experience, including in-house counsel or law firm experience supporting pharmaceutical, medical device, healthcare, life sciences, manufacturing, or highly regulated industries preferred.
• Understanding of pharmaceutical and healthcare regulatory environments.
• Exceptional communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, matrixed environment.
• Excellent drafting, negotiation, and communication skills.
• High integrity, sound judgment, and a collaborative mindset.

Who We are

At Aptar, we leverage insights, design, engineering and science to develop drug and consumer product dosing, dispensing and protection technologies for many of the world’s leading brands. Aptar in turn makes a meaningful difference in the lives, looks, health and homes of millions of patients and consumers around the world. Our innovations nasal drug delivery for emergency medicines, precise fragrance applications, mess‑free ketchup dispensing for kids, connected technologies that support patients in adhering to their treatments and much more

With manufacturing facilities across North America, Europe, Asia, and South America, and a dedicated team of over 13,000 employees in about 20 countries, Aptar is committed to creating impactful innovations for our customers and their consumers.

Our Culture

At Aptar, our success is driven by the individuals who contribute their unique talents and perspectives every day. We believe that when you bring your authentic self to work, we all thrive.

How We Support Our Employees

• An exciting, diverse and value based working environment
• Award‑winning corporate university offering personal development and training opportunities.
• Competitive base salary and performance‑based bonus plan.
• Contribute to the communities where we reside.
• Innovative benefits plan which includes: 401k & Retirement Savings plan, vacation, medical, dental, vision, life, disability, pet insurance, wellness plan, and generous paid maternity/paternity leave.

Aptar is an equal opportunities employer. We believe that a diverse workforce is key to our success. We welcome applications from all members of society irrespective of age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief.

In compliance with pay transparency requirements, the salary range for this role is $194,000 - $263,500 . Th is is not a guarantee of compensation or salary, as final offer amount may vary based on factors including but not limited to experience and geographic location. Aptaralso offers a variety of benefits, including health, life, and disability insurance, 401(k) match and employer retirement savings contribution, flexible spending accounts, EAP, education assistance, parental leave, paid time off, company-paid holidays, and more. The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on location, pay class, or other factors