Legal Counsel, IM Supply Chain

We are searching for the best talent for Legal Counsel, Innovative Medicine Supply Chain to join our Global Legal Organization located in Basel, Switzerland; Zug, Switzerland; Cork, Ireland; or High Wycombe, UK. This role will be primarily responsible for the management, drafting and negotiation of contracts for Innovative Medicine Supply Chain Legal – Biotherapeutics. The candidate will gain valuable experience and contribute to complex contract negotiation and drafting of supply chain transactions within the Biotherapeutics platform end‑to‑end, from clinical to commercial.

The role advises on high‑risk and high‑complexity contracts involving suppliers across the Biotherapeutics platform and plays a key role in operational decision‑making across procurement, external manufacturing, discovery, product development, and collaboration partners.

Responsibilities / Principal Duties

• Manage and execute the drafting and negotiation of supply‑chain agreements relating to the engagement of external manufacturers producing drug substance and drug products for commercial programs across the Biotherapeutics platform.
• Manage and execute the drafting and negotiation of supply‑chain agreements relating to procurement of drug delivery devices, active pharmaceutical ingredients (API), and packaging for large‑molecule and small‑molecule therapies with third‑party suppliers.
• Draft, or supervise the drafting of, complex R&D agreements for clinical supply programs, including master service agreements, research collaboration agreements, material transfer agreements, confidentiality agreements, and other research‑related contracts.
• Counsel and support the IM SC procurement and R&D clinical procurement organization, ensuring stakeholder alignment and providing functional training as needed.
• Provide streamlined, risk‑based legal counsel on supply‑chain issues in close collaboration with patents, regulatory and commercial legal, alliance management, privacy, and quality teams.
• Work closely with other members of the J&J Innovative Medicine Supply Chain legal team to identify and flag risks and provide value‑driven insights to advance supply‑chain capabilities.
• Be a team player, supporting team priorities and taking responsibility for executing team objectives and programs.
• Manage external counsel support and budget where relevant.
• Identify and adopt best practices and support process‑improvement initiatives to streamline contracting, improve timeliness, accuracy, and quality.

Qualifications

• A Juris Doctor (J.D.) or Master of Laws (LL.M.) with admission to and good standing with the bar of one U.S. state or the District of Columbia, or a European jurisdiction.
• Minimum of seven years of legal experience, preferably as in‑house counsel in the life‑sciences industry or as an attorney in the life‑sciences practice of a large or mid‑size law firm.
• Strong knowledge of current laws, regulations, and industry standards governing R&D and intellectual property in the life‑sciences sector.
• Thorough understanding of contract law, with strong drafting and negotiation skills.
• Strong business and analytical skills, problem‑solving ability, legal risk assessment skills, and the ability to influence and work collaboratively at all levels and across functions.
• Interest in designing, developing, and leading strategic and process‑improvement initiatives, and familiarity with technology and AI.
• Comfortable working with ambiguity and keen to interact with a diverse group of people and different businesses.
• Highly developed virtual team‑working, relationship management, interpersonal, and organizational skills.
• Fluency in English, with the capability to draft contract terms and conditions in English.

Benefits

The anticipated base pay range for this position is 92,800 to 159,505 EUR. In addition to base pay, employees receive an annual bonus with a set target (percentage of pay) based on performance, as well as sales commissions, vacation days, parental leave (minimum 12 weeks), bereavement leave, caregiver leave, volunteer leave, well‑being reimbursement, programs for financial, physical and mental health, service anniversary and recognition awards, and eligibility for several insurance plans (subject to plan terms and location).

Required Skills

See Qualifications section (listed above).

Preferred Skills

• Analytical reasoning, business agility, commercial laws, compliance management, corporate governance, dispute resolution, lawyering, legal services, litigation, negotiation, organizing, process improvements, representing, strategic thinking, tactical thinking, technical credibility.