Senior Counsel, International Employment

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Job Description

About Takeda:

”Better Health for People, Brighter Future for the World” is the purpose of a company. We aim to create a diverse and inclusive organization where people can thrive, grow and realize their own potential while enabling our purpose. We continue to innovate and drive changes that will transform the lives of patients. We’re looking for like-minded professionals to join us.

Takeda is a global values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical leader. We are guided by our values of Takeda-ism, which has been passed down since the company’s founding. Takeda-ism incorporates Integrity, Fairness, Honesty, and Perseverance, with Integrity at the core. They are brought to life through actions based on Patient-Trust-Reputation-Business, in this order.

About the Role:

• The Counsel, International Employment is a senior legal advisor responsible for providing strategic and pragmatic employment law counsel to all Takeda business units and functions operating across all Takeda jurisdictions outside of the United States, with a particular focus on Japan and Asia Pacific (JAPAC). This role partners closely with Global HR, Regional HR leadership, Compliance, and senior business stakeholders to manage a range of complex and operational employment law matters, support organisational change, and mitigate legal and reputational risk across a highly regulated, global environment.

• The role requires deep expertise in employment law, strong judgement, and the ability to influence at senior levels within a global organisation, while ensuring consistent application of Takeda’s values, policies, and risk appetite across diverse legal systems.

• The preferred location for this role is Tokyo or Shanghai; however, other APAC locations with suitable time zone alignment will also be considered.

How you will contribute:

• Serve as the primary legal advisor on international employment law matters across JAPAC (including Japan and China), as well as support other regions including EMEA, LATAM, and other non‑US jurisdictions, providing timely, commercially‑focused advice to HR and business leaders.

• Advise on complex workforce matters, including restructurings, reductions in force, site closures, reorganisations, works council and union engagement, collective consultations, and employee transfers.

• Lead employment law aspects of M&A, divestitures, and strategic transactions outside the US, including due diligence, transaction negotiations and integration planning, and post‑transaction workforce issues.

• Provide strategic guidance on senior executive employment matters, including hiring, terminations, investigations, disputes, and settlements in non‑US jurisdictions.

• Oversee and manage employment litigation, claims, and government investigations outside the US, including coordination with and supervision of external counsel.

• Partner with Global HR and Centres of Excellence to develop, review, and implement global and regional employment policies, frameworks, and playbooks, ensuring legal compliance and practical applicability across jurisdictions.

• Advise on employee relations issues, disciplinary actions, performance management, whistleblowing, and internal investigations, ensuring consistency with Takeda’s ethics and compliance standards.

• Monitor and interpret legislative and regulatory developments in  employment law across multiple jurisdictions, proactively assessing impact and advising on risk mitigation strategies.

• Support global initiatives relating to diversity, equity and inclusion, flexible working, data privacy (as it relates to employment), compensation and reward, and workforce transformation, ensuring alignment with local legal requirements.

• Build strong, trusted relationships with HR leadership, Compliance, and the broader Legal function, and other stakeholders acting as a thought partner on people‑related risk.

• Contribute to the development of international employment law strategy, including identifying opportunities for efficiency, standardisation, and risk reduction across regions.

• Provide legal and functional guidance to other employment or HR‑supporting lawyers, where applicable, and collaborate effectively within a global legal team.

• Provide support for global business units and functions on non-US employment law matters

• Provide support for various corporate initiatives and strategic projects requiring international employment law expertise as assigned by the Head Counsel, Employment

Education, behavioral competencies and skills: 

• Qualified lawyer with significant post‑qualification experience in employment law, including substantial international or cross‑border experience. 

• As a guide, with minimum of 7 years post-qualification experience although other levels of PQE will be considered.

• Maintained legal practice certificate.

• Fluent English speaker required, additional languages would be an advantage.

• Professional training /experience in an international law firm.  Relevant in-house experience would be an advantage.

• Demonstrated expertise and practical experience in international employment law, including collective labour issues, restructurings, and employee relations across multiple jurisdictions.

• Experience supporting a large, multinational organisation, preferably in a regulated industry such as life sciences, pharmaceuticals, or healthcare.

• Proven ability to advise on high‑risk, high‑complexity matters and to exercise sound judgement under pressure.

• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and advise senior leaders in a global environment.

• Experience managing and coordinating external counsel across multiple jurisdictions.

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate complex legal issues into clear, practical guidance.

• High degree of integrity, discretion, and professionalism, with a strong alignment to Takeda’s values.

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