Chief Legal Counsel - Medtronic Ear Nose & Throat (Sr. Legal Director)

 

At Medtronic you can begin a life-long career of exploration and innovation, while helping champion healthcare access and equity for all. You’ll lead with purpose, breaking down barriers to innovation in a more connected, compassionate world.

A Day in the LifeMedtronic ENT, headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, offers a unique opportunity to be at the forefront of medical innovation with the Global leader in ENT solutions, where you can make a tangible impact on the lives of patients worldwide. Join our team and be a part of a mission-driven organization committed to transforming patient care and enhancing quality of life for millions of patients across the globe.

ENT is part of the Neuroscience Portfolio. Our therapies are used in the treatment of head and neck cancers, chronic rhinosinusitis and otology. Our portfolio includes large capital, small capital, specialty surgical instruments, drills, drug coated sinus stents, disposables and many more ENT products. In addition to our medical devices, Medtronic ENT has the only NDA pharmaceutical product in all of Medtronic.  

Medtronic ENT is seeking a seasoned corporate generalist attorney adept at advising company management on the broad spectrum of legal and business issues affecting a global healthcare enterprise.  Reporting to the President of the ENT OU, you will partner closely with executive-level business leaders as a member of the ENT Leadership Team, engaging in discussions related to business strategy, as well as legal and compliance matters across all functional areas of our growing ENT business.

The role requires significant experience in all areas impacting a global medical device manufacturing business – sales and marketing, compliance, regulatory, quality, HR, business development, intellectual property, etc. The ideal candidate will be solution-oriented and possess the executive presence and leadership capabilities to manage and work collaboratively on complex matters that are typical in our highly regulated industry.

A successful candidate must be ethical, inspirational, disciplined, bold, decisive and creative. You should also be a leader who is kind, leads with empathy and finds ways to positively impact the lives of those you lead, work with, and those we serve (i.e., our patients).

You should possess a keen ability to identify issues and find practical and compliant solutions, maintaining a focus on continuous improvement. Demonstrating a strong sense of urgency and a track record of efficiently handling multiple priorities while aligning with the Medtronic Mindset and Mission will be essential for achieving success in this role.

Medtronic’s legal model supports our internal clients with various legal Centers of Expertise (COE’s) who support the Chief Counsel and the business at large. You will collaborate closely with the COE attorneys and other legal professionals to deliver the highest quality legal advice and counsel to our internal clientele.

The ideal candidate will be located in Jacksonville, Florida and will office in the Jacksonville, ENT facility; however, ENT will also consider candidates who will be located in either of the following strategic hubs, Rice Creek, MN or Lafayette, CO.

Responsibilities may include the following and other duties may be assigned.

• • Commercial Legal Counsel:  Reporting to the President of the ENT Operating Unit, the Chief Legal Counsel represents the legal interests of the OU working collaboratively the OU leadership team and corporate legal and compliance partners.   

  • Legal Strategy: Develop and implement legal strategies to safeguard the Company's interests, mitigate risks and support business objectives while identifying areas for continuous improvement. 

  • Business Partner: Develop strong relationships with business leaders to advance complex and impactful business initiatives.  This role requires not only a sharp legal mind but well-developed business acumen.  You will be expected to always offer insight and opinion as a business leader, not just your legal judgment.  We are looking for a solution oriented legal leader who will creatively and compliantly assist the business to compliantly address problems while meeting strategic objectives.      

  • Contract Management: Draft, review and negotiate a variety of contracts, including strategic transactions, collaboration agreements, distribution agreements, licensing arrangements and other high-level commercial partnerships. 

  • Regulatory Compliance: Stay abreast of healthcare regulations and ensure the company's adherence to applicable laws, including FDA regulations for medical devices and pharmaceuticals. 

  • Litigation Management: Work with COE partners to oversee and manage legal disputes, litigation and regulatory investigations, collaborating with external counsel when necessary. 

  • Intellectual Property: Work with our IP COE to ensure that we safeguard and manage intellectual property assets and enforce our commercial rights globally. 

  • Manage Globally: Work with a global network of regional attorneys that support the Neurosciences portfolio, you will have primary responsibility for managing global legal projects while indirectly managing regional business and legal personnel to successfully resolve commercial matters.   

  • Risk Management: Advise on risk management strategies, identify potential legal exposure and develop appropriate measures to minimize risks, providing strategic advice to executive leadership. 

  • Mergers and Acquisitions: Work with our BDL COE to provide legal support for M&A, joint commercial ventures and other strategic transactions, conducting due diligence and negotiating terms. 

  • Compliance: Partner with our COE compliance officer to promote ethical practices and ensure the adherence of compliance programs throughout the Company; act as a model of integrity and compliance-minded leadership for the business. 

  • Project Management: The legal function is a truly integral player in many of our major strategic initiatives.  It will be your responsibility to lead projects – developing detailed project action plans, setting and managing client expectations, understanding and counter-measuring project risks and assigning team members to specific tasks.  Attention to detail, the ability to adjust to unforeseen challenges and accountability is necessary.       

  • Team Member: Teamwork and collaboration is critical in this role.  Medtronic is a matrixed organization of legal support and being a great team member who can network, lead, and influence others to support the patient-focused mission advanced by ENT will be fundamental. 

  • Meaningful Work: We are privileged here to contribute to a business that has a profound impact on the daily lives of the patients we serve.  The employees working in ENT are deeply connected to our patient-centric mission and many have personal experience with the conditions our devices impact, either individually or through loved ones.  The work provides tremendous meaning and attracts truly invested team members motivated to make a fundamental change in the lives of our patients.    

  MUST HAVE:  MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS 

  •  Juris Doctor from a top tier law school 

  • Licensed to practice law and in good standing under the Bar of at least one state or Washington D.C. 

  • 13+ years of legal experience to include experience with laws and regulations relevant to the sale and promotion of medical and pharmaceutical devices (e.g., Anti-kickback Statute, False Claims Act, Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act). 

   

  DESIRED/PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: 

  • 13+ years of legal experience, with at least the past 8 years having a heavy focus on medical devices 

  • Track record of being a strong leader who is kind, leads with empathy and is grounded in the Medtronic expectation to deliver results in a compliant and ethical manner. 

  • Strong understanding of, and ability to demonstrate, the following cultural norms:  act boldly; compete to win; move with speed & decisiveness; foster belonging; and deliver results the right way  

  • Experience in a law firm, corporate legal department or in-house counsel role 

  • Medical Device industry experience supporting a large portfolio from capital equipment to disposables. 

  • Some experience supporting pharmaceutical products would be preferred 

  • Ability to issue spot antitrust issues     

  • Leadership presence and a proven ability to influence leadership at all levels of an organization 

  • An adept ability to issue spot with a solution-oriented and continuous improvement mindset  

  • Experience providing legal advice, support and business solutions for data protection, privacy, security or equivalent function for a large, regulated and matrixed organization 

  • Experience supporting business with field corrective actions and other Quality related issues.   

  • Experience in advising on various marketing strategies including direct-to-consumer (DTC) and other business models 

  • Experience providing legal advice and support to health economics and market access teams  

  • Ability to identify high risk situations and provide appropriate guidance, including the ability to make courageous and unpopular decisions    

  • Excellent written and verbal communication and presentation skills 

  • Experience serving as a people leader/manager    

  • Ability to manage and execute multiple complex projects across multiple stakeholder groups within required timelines and expectations 

Physical Job Requirements

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this position, but they are not an exhaustive list of all the required responsibilities and skills of this position. 

The physical demands described within the Responsibilities section of this job description are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. For Office Roles: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to be independently mobile. The employee is also required to interact with a computer, and communicate with peers and co-workers. Contact your manager or local HR to understand the Work Conditions and Physical requirements that may be specific to each role.

Benefits & Compensation
 

Medtronic offers a competitive Salary and flexible Benefits Package
A commitment to our employees lives at the core of our values. We recognize their contributions. They share in the success they help to create.  We offer a wide range of benefits, resources, and competitive compensation plans designed to support you at every career and life stage.
 

Salary ranges for U.S (excl. PR) locations (USD):$234,400.00 - $351,600.00This position is eligible for a short-term incentive called the Medtronic Incentive Plan (MIP).This position is eligible for an annual long-term incentive plan.The base salary range is applicable across the United States, excluding Puerto Rico and specific locations in California. The offered rate complies with federal and local regulations and may vary based on factors such as experience, certification/education, market conditions, and location. Compensation and benefits information pertains solely to candidates hired within the United States (local market compensation and benefits will apply for others).

The following benefits and additional compensation are available to those regular employees who work 20+ hours per week: Health, Dental and vision insurance, Health Savings Account, Healthcare Flexible Spending Account, Life insurance, Long-term disability leave, Dependent daycare spending account, Tuition assistance/reimbursement, and Simple Steps (global well-being program).

 

The following benefits and additional compensation are available to all regular employees: Incentive plans, 401(k) plan plus employer contribution and match, Short-term disability, Paid time off, Paid holidays, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, Employee Assistance Program, Non-qualified Retirement Plan Supplement (subject to IRS earning minimums), and Capital Accumulation Plan (available to Vice Presidents and above, or subject to IRS earning minimums).

 

Regular employees are those who are not temporary, such as interns.  Temporary employees are eligible for paid sick time, as required under applicable state law, and the Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Please note some of the above benefits may not apply to workers in Puerto Rico.

 

Further details are available at the link below:

Medtronic benefits and compensation plans

About Medtronic

We lead global healthcare technology and boldly attack the most challenging health problems facing humanity by searching out and finding solutions.
Our Mission — to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life — unites a global team of 95,000+ passionate people. 
We are engineers at heart— putting ambitious ideas to work to generate real solutions for real people. From the R&D lab, to the factory floor, to the conference room, every one of us experiments, creates, builds, improves and solves. We have the talent, diverse perspectives, and guts to engineer the extraordinary.

Learn more about our business, mission, and our commitment to diversity here.

It is the policy of Medtronic to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, Medtronic will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.