Legal Director - Innovative Medicine

At Johnson & Johnson, we believe health is everything. Our strength in healthcare innovation empowers us to build a world where complex diseases are prevented, treated, and cured, where treatments are smarter and less invasive, and solutions are personal. Through our expertise in Innovative Medicine and MedTech, we are uniquely positioned to innovate across the full spectrum of healthcare solutions today to deliver the breakthroughs of tomorrow, and profoundly impact health for humanity. Learn more at jnj.com.

As guided by Our Credo, Johnson & Johnson is responsible to our employees who work with us throughout the world. We provide an inclusive work environment where each person is considered as an individual. At Johnson & Johnson, we respect the diversity and dignity of our employees and recognize their merit.

Job Function:

Legal & Compliance

Job Sub Function:

Law Business Partners

Job Category:

Professional

All Job Posting Locations:

Chiyoda, Tokyo, Japan

Job Description:

Summary

Provides strategic legal counsel and proactive support to the Innovative Medicine Japan organization. Works effectively and collaboratively with cross-functional stakeholders and all legal practice groups to enable well-considered decisions and compliant business execution. Brings strong judgment, communication skills, and the ability to navigate a complex multinational environment.

Key Accountabilities

• Provides legal counsel, strategic guidance and operational support to the Innovative Medicine Japan business in various substantive areas of commercial law, including contracts, healthcare laws and regulations, competition, anti-corruption, copyrights, and labor laws
• Partnering with cross-functional stakeholders to drive well-considered decisions and compliant business success, serving as a trusted legal partner on key operational and strategic matters.
• Supports enabling functions (including Sales, Medical Affairs, R&D, Regulatory, Government Affairs, Quality & Safety, Supply Chain, HR, Procurement, Communications and General Affairs) with timely, practical legal and compliance guidance.
• Proactively assesses legal and compliance risks and implements policies, procedures, and training programs to effectively manage and mitigate those risks.
• Ensures consistent compliance with applicable laws, regulations, industry codes, and J&J policies, providing clear guidance to the business on their practical application.
• Engage drafting, negotiation, and execution of major business development agreements, ensuring strategic alignment and risk-mitigated outcomes.
• Oversees litigation, disputes, and internal/external investigations, providing strategic direction and partnering with stakeholders on resolution.
• Manages and oversees outside counsel, including budget management and guidance on appropriate use of external legal resources.
• Provide legal input and guidance to the employees on all J&J policies and procedures including the Code of Business Conduct, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, Corporate Integrity Agreements, and the Health Care Compliance and Health Care Business Integrity Guide, and delivers training and communication programs.
• Proactively partner and work with other Johnson & Johnson lawyers in the country (other sectors) /region/global to drive local alignment with country (cross-sector), regional and global legal best practices and knowledge sharing.
• Perform corporate governance functions for the Innovative Medicine Japan  including fulfilling all applicable reporting requirements relating to board and shareholders meetings.
• Identify opportunities to simplify processes and ways of working, including the through the use of technology such as AI-enabled tools that improve speed, insight and decision quality.

Required Skills & Capabilities

• Ability to work effectively in a multi-national and cross-border environment, engaging and coordinating with internal and external stakeholders (including global and regional teams), supported by a strong understanding of Japan’s legal framework and its practical implications.
• Ability to go beyond law and ethics to live Our Credo - the business foundation of J&J, and to incorporate Our Credo in making appropriate decisions.
• Comfortable and willing to work as part of a team, and openness and high level of flexibility to take on different/varying roles and responsibilities in a changing environment and needs of the organization.
• Keen to interact with diverse group of people spanning a broad range of business teams and executives within the client organizations.
• Self-starter with strong drive for results & strong sense of ownership but also willing to take direction from various stakeholders and resolve legal matters in area of responsibility with minimum supervision.
• Client Oriented - ability to proactively connect and engage with operations to find practical or innovative solutions (including alternative solutions, if applicable) and partner with them to implement desired actions and lead compliant success of operations.
• Judgment capability, good consultative skills, and structural thinking.
• Objective thinker who is able to advance ideas and influence others.
• Ability to manage conflicts in an open and constructive manner.
• Able to lead by example and ensure high ethical, legal and compliance standards and be proactive in engaging organization to identify opportunities to enhance ethics and anti-corruption practices and procedures.
• Comfort with ambiguity and ability to distill complex issues for decision- makers.

Qualifications

• JD or equivalent law degree.
• License to practice law in Japan (preferred).
• Minimum 10 years post-qualification experience.
• Fluent in written and spoken English.
• Experience in multinational corporations; healthcare industry experience preferred.

Required Skills:

Preferred Skills:

Business Agility, Collaboration, Commercial Laws, Compliance Management, Corporate Governance, Dispute Resolution, Lawyering, Legal Documents Preparation, Legal Services, Negotiation, Process Improvements, Representing, Risk Management, Strategic Thinking, Tactical Planning, Technical Credibility