Lead, Legal & IP Legal Operations jobs in United States
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Astellas Pharma · 1 day ago

Lead, Legal & IP Legal Operations

positionUnited States
timeFull-time
remoteRemote
seniorityLead/Staff
money$140K/yr - $222K/yr

Astellas Pharma is a global pharmaceutical company committed to developing innovative therapies for patients. They are seeking a Lead for Legal and IP Business Operations to provide strategic execution and operational planning for the Legal and IP functions, ensuring alignment with enterprise processes and driving efficiency across the divisions.

BiotechnologyHealth CareMedical
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Comp. & Benefits
Hiring Manager
Angela Aversa - McCracken
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Responsibilities

Serve as the operational lead and execution partner to Legal and IP leadership, translating strategic priorities into coordinated business operations
Align Legal and IP operating plans with CoS Office goals supporting Legal, IP, Ethics & Compliance, and Quality Assurance
Drive process standardization, efficiency improvements, and enterprise-level operational consistency across legal support functions
Develop, monitor operational KPIs that support performance transparency & continuous improvement
Lead global outside counsel and vendor operations, including firm onboarding/offboarding, scope and rate negotiation, and adherence to outside counsel guidelines
Manage preferred provider governance, performance metrics, and firm-level compliance
Implement operational frameworks that optimize law firm engagement, enhance value, and reduce variability in spend and process
Collaborate with Procurement, Legal, IP to enforce vendor governance & automate key workflows
Oversee Legal and IP headcount planning, including FTE tracking, hiring plan alignment, and payroll budget management
Own the Legal and IP financial planning cycle, including budget development, quarterly forecasting, variance tracking, and cost performance analysis
Conduct deep analysis of spend at the matter, firm, and category level to inform cost control, forecasting accuracy, and strategic resource allocation
Partner with Finance to ensure clear reporting, forecast reliability, and alignment to corporate financial governance
Lead the execution of cross-functional initiatives focused on operational transformation, tooling implementation, and department-wide efficiencies
Define objectives, timelines, and outcomes; manage stakeholder engagement; ensure sustainable adoption and measurable value
Support strategic planning cycles, road mapping, and OKR/goal development in partnership with Legal and IP leadership
Ensure Legal and IP are supported by an effective, scalable, and cost-efficient technology toolset, including matter management and spend systems that support business needs
Coordinate with CoS solutions team leads and, as needed, with Finance, HR, and Procurement to ensure alignment of Legal and IP budgets, workforce planning, and vendor operations with enterprise processes and standards
Represent Legal and IP in governance forums focused on financial performance, operational risk, and enterprise alignment
Support organizational design, workforce planning, and operational oversight in collaboration with internal and enterprise stakeholders

Qualification

Legal OperationsMatter Management TechnologiesProject ManagementData AnalysisFinancial PlanningLeadershipCommunication SkillsTeam PlayerDetail Oriented

Required

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
Strong analytical, strategic, and project management capabilities
Experience in Legal Operations in an in-house legal department with a focus on resource management
Deep knowledge, experience with law department matter management & e-billing technologies
Solid understanding of different types of legal matters
Strong data analytic skills and proficient use of Excel & other Microsoft applications
Excellent communication (written/oral) skills, strong presentation & executive presence
Strong leadership and planning skills
Ability to manage large workload, focus on critical priorities and effectively meet client needs
Ability to produce high quality work under deadline pressures
Team player and able to build relationships both internally and externally
Detail oriented, self-motivated and able to motivate others
A strong commitment to integrity and professionalism and demonstrated passion for excellence

Preferred

Experience working in a major law firm

Benefits

Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
Generous Paid Time Off options, including Vacation, Sick time, plus national holidays including Heritage Days, and Summer and Winter Breaks
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

Company

Astellas Pharma

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Astellas Pharma is a global pharmaceutical research & development company.
dateFounded in 2005
location
Tokyo, Tokyo, JPN
people-size10001+ employees
web-link
http://www.astellas.com

Funding

Current Stage
Public Company
Total Funding
unknown
Key Investors
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
2020-07-22Grant
2008-10-13IPO

Leadership Team

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Amanda Hart
Head, Global Commercial Analytics and Reporting
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