Director, Manufacturing Legal Counsel

About the role

The Manufacturing Counsel will be a member of the U.S. Kyowa Kirin Legal Department and serve as the primary legal business partner supporting the Sanford manufacturing site, with a focus on contracting and transactional support, while acting as the first point of legal contact for site leadership on regulatory, Human Resources, and operational matters.

Responsibilities

• Utilize the Legal Department’s contract management system to manage the contracting process for Sanford-related agreements, including review, negotiation, approval, and execution.
• Partner with Sanford stakeholders to support the drafting and negotiation of manufacturing, construction, consulting, equipment, supply, and operations related agreements.
• Prepare guidance and training materials to support the efficient and compliant use of the Legal Department’s contract management system.
• Carefully coordinate the work of paralegals and outside counsel supporting Sanford matters, as needed.
• Provide practical legal guidance on laws and regulations applicable to pharmaceutical manufacturing operations, including the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Partner with Princeton-based Legal colleagues and outside counsel, as needed, to address more complex or significant legal matters affecting Sanford operations.
• Provide legal support to Human Resources on Sanford-related employment and employee relations matters, in coordination with internal employment counsel and external counsel as appropriate.
• Work closely with colleagues from Legal and Compliance to provide consistent and efficient guidance in accordance with Kyowa Kirin’s healthcare compliance policies and related laws and regulations.
• Conduct legal research and draft memoranda / provide counsel in response to Sanford-related legal and regulatory inquiries.
• Serve as a member of the Sanford site Senior Leadership Team and an embedded legal advisor to Sanford business partners by applying sound judgment, practical risk assessment, and a solutions-oriented approach in a fast-paced manufacturing and site-startup environment.
• Engage regularly with Sanford site leadership and cross-functional stakeholders to support alignment on contracting priorities, legal risk considerations, and compliance expectations.
• Collaborate with internal functions to support cross-functional and cross-border Sanford initiatives.
• Support Sanford-related projects and initiatives that require coordination across functions or regions to ensure alignment with Kyowa Kirin policies and Legal Department practices.

Requirements

• Education: BA/BS required. JD degree from an accredited law school is required. Eligibility for North Carolina in-house registration required.
• Experience: 4–8 years of legal experience, preferably including contracting and legal support for manufacturing, construction, or operations in a regulated industry. Law firm experience required. In-house experience is a plus.
• Skills: Advanced proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook). Must understand contract law and have effective communication and negotiation skills and the ability to influence and work collaboratively at all levels and across functions. Foundational understanding of employment law or counsel human resources functions is a plus. Experience supporting a start-up, greenfield, or rapidly scaling operational environment is a plus.

Qualifications

• Must be admitted in good standing to at least one U.S. state bar.

Benefits

• 401K with company matching
• Annual Bonus Program (Sales Bonus for Sales Jobs)
• Generous PTO and Holiday Schedule
• Healthcare Benefits (Medical, Dental, Prescription Drugs and Vision)
• HSA & FSA Programs
• Well-Being and Work/Life Programs
• Long-Term Incentive Program (subject to job level and performance)
• Life & Disability Insurance
• Concierge Service
• Pet Insurance
• Tuition Assistance
• Employee Referral Awards