Job Description

Do you want to be part of an inclusive team that works to develop innovative therapies for patients? Every day, we are driven to develop and deliver innovative and effective new medicines to patients and physicians. If you want to be part of this exciting work, you belong at Astellas! Astellas Pharma Inc. is a pharmaceutical company conducting business in more than 70 countries around the world. We are committed to turning innovative science into medical solutions that bring value and hope to patients and their families. Keeping our focus on addressing unmet medical needs and conducting our business with ethics and integrity enables us to improve the health of people throughout the world. For more information on Astellas, please visit our website at www.astellas.com. This position is based in Northbrook, Illinois. Remote work from certain states may be permitted in accordance with Astellas' Responsible Flexibility Guidelines. Candidates interested in remote work are encouraged to apply. Purpose and Scope: The Director, Legal Strategic Transactions, is a key member of the Legal ST Team and is responsible for providing a wide range of legal support for transactions involving Business Development ("BD"), Alliance Management ("AM"), Research, Development, Medical Affairs, Pharmaceutical Technology ("P‑Tech") for R&D activities, and Rx+ (all collectively, "Transactions"). Such support includes: (1) analyzing and strategically negotiating, drafting, facilitating, and resolving Transactions; (2) proactively identifying potential risk areas; and (3) developing best practice processes and recommending creative, strategic courses of action that foster the Company's business interests, advance the Company's goals, and appropriately balance risk. This is a strategic position and is accountable for supporting the Company's objectives in the Corporate Strategic Plan ("CSP"), balancing global business opportunities with associated legal and compliance risks in a complex and fast-evolving regulatory environment. This position is responsible for: (1) supporting the Legal ST Team leadership to provide practical, timely, high quality legal support for the organization at the global, divisional, local, and affiliate levels for Transactions; (2) advising the business and the Legal ST Team in regard to Transactions across the globe; and (3) identifying and implementing preventative measures to avoid disputes and facilitate effective partnerships within the organization. Essential Job Responsibilities: * Collaborating with the Executive and/or Senior Directors, Legal Strategic Transactions to develop strategies and provide legal support for Transactions globally, including identifying specific legal requirements relative to such activity and advising the Legal ST Head on opportunities and legal risks with respect to such matters. * Helping to develop and implement a streamlined and consistent global approach to matters supported by the Legal ST Team. * Providing legal support for small to large, complex BD/AM and Rx+ transactions across the organization, including mergers & acquisitions, collaborations, and licensing. * Drafting, negotiating, and consummating a broad range of complex agreements in support of: * M&D, including agreements for collaboration and combination studies, clinical trials, expanded access, compassionate use, patient recruitment, informed consents, non-interventional studies, sponsorships and grants, advisory boards, data sharing and data licensing, investigator-initiated trials, and regulatory, quality, and pharmacovigilance agreements; * Research, including research collaborations and alliances, consortiums, sponsored research, material transfers, research licenses, HTS library exchange, consulting services, research services, CRO services, advisory boards and councils, data sharing and data licensing, investigator-initiated studies, regulatory and quality agreements; and * P-Tech for R&D activities, including contract manufacturing master agreements, manufacturing-related IP and material license agreements, testing service agreements, engineering agreements, construction service agreements, purchase agreements, research and development supply agreements, clinical supply agreements, quality agreements, and services agreements for supply chain vendors. * Coordinating and working closely with business clients and the Commercial, Regulatory, and Privacy ("CRP"), IP‑Legal, IP‑INV, and Corporate Communications teams on Transactions. * Coordinating and working closely with the Litigation, Investigations and Strategic Learning ("LIT") Team on any litigation and internal and external investigations related to Transactions. * Helping to manage priorities for the Legal ST Team based on the CSP objectives, anticipated risks, and available resources, ensuring consistent use of best practices and a high standard of professional excellence. * Proactively identifying key legal issues requiring attention from the Executive and/or Senior Director, Legal Strategic Transactions as appropriate. * Supporting the Legal ST Head to provide updates and training to senior managers and business clients supported by the Legal ST Team on changes in legal developments affecting the pharmaceutical industry. * Retaining, supervising and directing outside counsel effectively and efficiently managing legal expenses consistent with global budget for Legal ST Team matters, coordinating closely with Legal & IP Operations. * Coordinating closely with Ethics & Compliance colleagues. * Keeping current on BD, AM, and other developments affecting the pharmaceutical industry. * Supporting the Executive and/or Senior Director, Legal Strategic Transactions in leading a culture of excellence for the Legal ST Team, which includes driving and fostering: (1) an agile, adaptive culture; (2) a value-based organization based on Legal's mission, strategic plan and objectives; (3) a culture of innovation, transparency, and trust; (4) proactive identification/mitigation of risk in a balanced approach; (5) empowerment and engagement of the Legal ST Team members; (6) a collaborative culture with close coordination with other members of Legal and IP as appropriate to leverage synergies and efficiencies; (7) a culture of compliance and good corporate governance; and (8) a continuous expectation of high performance, where "ok" is not good enough. * Other projects as may be requested by the Executive and/or Senior Directors, Legal Strategic Transactions. * Overnight travel, including international travel, as needed. Qualifications Required * Law Degree, LL.M. or equivalent. * At least 7-10 years of experience working in a large law firm or in-house legal department. * At least 5 years of diverse and complex transactional legal experience, including substantial experience as a part of a deal team. * Solid experience and knowledge of best practices relating to transactional matters in the pharmaceutical industry. * Deep understanding of the legal issues affecting the pharmaceutical industry, including regulatory processes for prescription drugs, anti-kickback, fraud and abuse, anti-bribery and anti-corruption and antitrust laws. Strong knowledge of global regulatory environment that affects decision-making across Astellas' global business. In-depth understanding of the pharmaceutical industry, including IP, manufacturing, R&D, regulatory and commercial elements. * Strong ability to grasp legal issues quickly, exhibit strong analytical problem solving and decision-making skills, exercise sound judgment, and provide practical and constructive legal advice in a time-sensitive dynamic and fast paced complex global environment. * Strong negotiation and communication skills (both oral and written). Ability to communicate legal issues in a clear and understandable manner. * Strong work ethic and ability to manage large workload, multi-task, focus on critical priorities, and otherwise effectively meet client needs. Ability to produce high quality work under deadline pressures. * Team player and able to build relationships, both internally and externally. * Strong organizational skills. Detail-oriented, self-motivated and able to motivate others. * A strong commitment to integrity and professionalism and demonstrated passion for excellence. Benefits * Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance * Generous Paid Time Off options, including Vacation and Sick time, plus national holidays including year-end shut down * 401(k) match and annual company contribution * Company paid life insurance * Annual Corporate Bonus and Quarterly Sales Incentive for eligible positions * Long Term Incentive Plan for eligible positions * Referral bonus program Astellas is committed to equality of opportunity in all aspects of employment. EOE including Disability/Protected Veterans. *LI-CH1 Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Protected Veterans/Disabled more