Sr. Paralegal (commercial), Structural Heart

Thornton Tomasetti; Santa Clara, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 86,000 - 156,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Tuition reimbursement

Retirement plan

Job summary

Abbott in Santa Clara, CA is seeking a Senior Paralegal who will provide legal services and resolve complex matters with limited supervision. The role supports the business by communicating advice from Legal, managing risks, and driving process improvements.

You will lead cross‑functional legal workstreams, prepare complex agreements, serve as primary contact for internal contracting, and represent Legal internally and externally with professionalism.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and/or ABA approved Paralegal Certificate or equivalent experience.
• 4+ years of relevant experience.
• Must have familiarity with basic laws related to applicable areas of responsibility.

Responsibilities

• Interfaces with internal clients in preparing complex commercial agreements, including but not limited to professional services agreements, supply agreements, research agreements, design and development agreements, confidentiality disclosure agreements, etc.
• Serves as a primary point of contact for legal work intake system(s) for internal clients’ contracting needs, functioning as a trusted advisor to provide legal services/advice in support of business objectives.
• Independently manages complex legal matters with minimal supervision, exercising sound judgment regarding escalation and risk tolerance.
• Develops and proposes business‑aligned solutions while performing substantive legal work requiring deep knowledge of legal concepts.
• Leads and coordinates legal workstreams on cross‑functional, multidisciplinary projects involving multiple Legal teams, business units, or geographic regions.

Skills

Legal analysis

Drafting

Negotiation

Communication

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Proofreading

Education

Bachelor’s Degree and/or ABA approved Paralegal Certificate or equivalent experience

Tools

Document management systems

Job description

Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our 122,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.

JOB DESCRIPTION: About Abbott

Abbott is a global healthcare leader creating breakthrough science to improve people’s health. We are always looking towards the future, anticipating changes in medical science and technology. Working at Abbott At Abbott, you can do work that matters, grow, and learn, care for yourself and family, be your true self, and live a full life. You will also have access to: Career development with an international company where you can grow the career you dream of. Free medical coverage for employees* via the Health Investment Plan (HIP) PPO. An excellent retirement savings plan with high employer contribution. Tuition reimbursement, the Freedom 2 Save student debt program, and FreeU education benefit - an affordable and convenient path to getting a bachelor’s degree. A company recognized as a great place to work in dozens of countries around the world and named one of the most admired companies in the world by Fortune. A company that is recognized as one of the best big companies to work for as well as a best place to work for diversity, working mothers, female executives, and scientists.

The Opportunity

This position works out of our Santa Clara, CA location in the Structural Heart Division. The Senior Paralegal performs duties with a high degree of independence and exercises sound judgment with limited supervision. The Senior Paralegal will provide legal services and resolve complex legal matters for assigned responsibilities or clients. Supports the business in achieving its business objectives by communicating advice of the Legal Department, managing legal risks to the corporation, and driving process improvements aligned with Legal Department priorities.

What You’ll Work On

Interfaces with internal clients in preparing complex commercial agreements, including but not limited to professional services agreements, supply agreements, research agreements, design and development agreements, confidentiality disclosure agreements, etc. Serves as a primary point of contact for legal work intake system(s) for internal clients’ contracting needs, functioning as a trusted advisor to provide legal services/advice in support of business objectives. Resolves matters for assigned responsibilities. Independently manages complex legal matters with minimal supervision, exercising sound judgment regarding escalation and risk tolerance by identifying, evaluating, and resolving complex and high-risk legal issues related to assigned matter; develops and proposes business‑aligned solutions. Performs substantive legal work that requires deep knowledge of legal concepts including complex analysis, drafting, negotiating, and consulting. Resolves routine and complex legal matters in areas of responsibility with minimal supervision. Conducts in‑depth analysis of novel, complex, or ambiguous legal issues and presents well‑reasoned recommendations to attorneys or senior legal leadership. Develops deep knowledge of Abbott’s businesses supported and knowledge of the broader business impact. Keeps abreast of changes in laws that affect client areas. Leads and coordinates legal workstreams on cross‑functional, multidisciplinary projects involving multiple Legal teams, business units, or geographic regions. Represents Legal Division internally to clients. Represents Abbott externally with a high degree of professionalism and credibility in interactions with customers, suppliers, and opposing counsel. Helps maintain all agreements in document management systems. Maintains templates in document management system and helps prepare updates to templates. Prepares and delivers presentations and training materials on commercial legal topics for Legal and business audiences; supports the preparation of legal presentations on a broad range of topics. Other responsibilities as assigned.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree and/or ABA approved Paralegal Certificate or equivalent experience. 4+ years of relevant experience. Must have familiarity with basic laws related to applicable areas of responsibility.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience reviewing agreements/contracts and the ability to interpret and synthesize information from various sources to achieve superior outcomes. Must be self‑motivated and detail‑oriented with high work standards. High level of discretion, maturity, and ethical integrity. Excellent communication, interpersonal, proofreading, and organizational skills with a focus on continuous process improvement. Ability to multi‑task, work independently and efficiently in a fast‑paced environment, proactively thinking through challenges and coming up with pragmatic workable solutions.

Benefits & Compensation

The base pay for this position is $85,600.00 – $156,000.00. In specific locations, the pay range may vary from the range posted. JOB FAMILY: Operations & Business Support. DIVISION: GENC General Counsel. LOCATION: United States > Santa Clara : Building B - SC. ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS: WORK SHIFT: Standard. TRAVEL: Not specified. MEDICAL SURVEILLANCE: Not Applicable. SIGNIFICANT WORK ACTIVITIES: Continuous sitting for prolonged periods (more than 2 consecutive hours in an 8 hour day), Keyboard use (greater or equal to 50% of the workday).

Equal Opportunity & Diversity

Abbott is an Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities/Women/Individuals with Disabilities/Protected Veterans. EEO is the Law link - English: http://webstorage.abbott.com/common/External/EEO_English.pdf EEO is the Law link - Espanol: http://webstorage.abbott.com/common/External/EEO_Spanish.pdf Abbott is about the power of health. For more than 135 years, Abbott has been helping people reach their potential - because better health allows people and communities to achieve more. With a diverse, global network serving customers in more than 160 countries, we create new solutions - across the spectrum of health, around the world, and from all stages of life. Whether it’s next‑generation diagnostics, life‑changing devices, science‑based nutrition, or novel reformulations, we are advancing some of the most innovative and revolutionary technologies in healthcare, helping people live their best lives through better health. The people of Abbott came to work each day with relentless energy, enthusiasm and a promise to enhance the health and well‑being of millions of people. They push the boundaries to help manage and treat some of life’s greatest health challenges. We invite you to explore opportunities at Abbott, to see if your talents and career aspirations may fit with our openings. An equal opportunity employer, Abbott welcomes and encourages diversity in our workforce.

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