Lead Counsel Central Europe

Description

The Lead CounselCentral Europeserves as Takeda’s senior legal partner fortheCentral EuropeCluster, overseeing legal support acrosstheNetherlands,Switzerlandand Austria.The Lead Counseloperatesin highly varied legal, regulatory, and commercial environments,leadsexecution of legal strategy within the marketsand partners withCluster leadershipto support decision-makingbyinfluencingleadership discussions. 

The role provides clear,business‑alignedlegaladvicethat enables confidentdecision‑makingacrossthethreecountrieswith differing healthcare systems, compliance expectations, and levels of market maturity. 

This positionis responsible forensuring consistent legal standards across theClusterwhile tailoring advice to local needs,balancing complexity, risk, and business priorities.The Lead Counsel leads legal decision-making on complex legal and risk matters, withappropriate escalationof highimpact issues, and contributes to the implementation of innovative legal service delivery solutions (digital, simplification, efficiency) in alignment with Europe and IBU Legal.

The Lead Counselfosters strong collaboration acrosscountries,drivesand implementscohesive ways of working that strengthen Takeda’s legal capability and regional execution. The role requires the ability to navigatecross‑borderissues,anticipateregulatory and policy developments, andenable decisionsforcommercial, access, and operational priorities with practical,solutions‑focusedadvice. 

As a key contributor to theEuropean Marketslegal leadership structure, the Lead CounselCentral Europeplays acentral role in buildingstrong partnershipswith Cluster and local leadership andthe business,as well asa unified legal approach across markets while maintaining deep understanding of local dynamics,ensuring Takeda can operate confidently, compliantly, and effectively across this strategically important region.

How you will contribute:

Provides commercially grounded, strategic legal guidance that enables sound decision-making across diverse markets and strengthens business impact across the region. Serves as the strategic legal partner to the Cluster’s leadership, providing risk based, decision-enabling guidance with a strong enterprise mindset. Builds strong and trusted partnerships with business stakeholders and cross-functional teams, enabling effective collaboration, aligned, solution-oriented legal support, as well as driving effective decision-making.  Navigates diverse legal systems, cultures, and healthcare environments with a global mindset, fostering effective collaboration across the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland and the European Markets. Delivers high quality outcomes with ownership, urgency, and a disciplined focus on the priorities that matter most across the cluster and markets. Proactively identifies, assesses, and manages legal and regulatory risks across jurisdictions, enabling compliant growth and responsible innovation. Adapts to evolving regional dynamics, simplifies complexity for local business teams, and leverages digital tools to enhance efficiency and alignment across markets. Communicates with simplicity, as well as clearly and concisely across diverse cultures to ensure shared understanding and support confident decision-making. Supports continuous improvement initiatives, contributes to change efforts with resilience, and fosters a collaborative, growth-oriented culture across the regional legal organization

Skills:

Master’s degree in law and active legal license within a European jurisdiction, preferably the Netherlands, Austria or Switzerland. Advanced professional experience in pharmaceutical law, as in-house counsel or in a highly regarded law firm or both. Extensive post-qualification legal experience (typically 8+ years) advising on complex legal issues, including access, regulatory, compliance, litigation and corporate matters within the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industries.  Experience managing external legal counsel.  Growth-oriented culture across the regional legal organization.

Additionalrequirements:

Languagesrequired:at least Dutch or German, ideally both. Location: Candidate must bebasedin one of the counties of the Central Europe Clusteri.e.the Netherlands,Austriaor Switzerland. Role requiresregulartravel across the Central Europe cluster to support business engagement and effective legal partnering.

Locations

Hoofddorp, Netherlands

Base Salary Range:

€116,400.00 - €160,050.00

For information about our benefits, please click .

Worker Type

Employee

Worker Sub-Type

Regular

Time Type

Full time