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Senior Manager/Associate Director-Legal & Compliance

1-7 years
Not Disclosed
10 Dec. 10, 2025
Job Description
Job Type: Full Time Education: B.Sc./ M.Sc./ M.Pharm/ B.Pharm/ Life Sciences Skills: Causality Assessment, Clinical SAS Programming, Communication Skills, CPC Certified, GCP guidelines, ICD-10 CM Codes, CPT-Codes, HCPCS Codes, ICD-10 CM, CPT, HCPCS Coding, ICH guidelines, ICSR Case Processing, Interpersonal Skill, Labelling Assessment, MedDRA Coding, Medical Billing, Medical Coding, Medical Terminology, Narrative Writing, Research & Development, Technical Skill, Triage of ICSRs, WHO DD Coding

Senior Manager / Associate Director – Legal & Compliance

Location: Tokyo, Japan
Work Type: Full-Time | Onsite (Hybrid Eligible)
Job ID: R0048654

Gilead Sciences is a global biopharmaceutical leader advancing innovative therapies for life-threatening diseases including HIV, viral hepatitis, COVID-19 and cancer. With more than 35 years of scientific impact, the company continues to expand access to transformative medicines worldwide. The Japan office is now seeking a highly skilled legal professional to support expanding operations and ensure compliance excellence across the organization.


Position Overview

The Senior Manager / Associate Director, Legal & Compliance will work from Gilead’s Tokyo office and support a broad range of legal and compliance responsibilities under the guidance of the Head of Legal. This role offers an exceptional opportunity for a junior to mid-level pharmaceutical lawyer to operate as a strategic partner in a dynamic, global biotechnology environment.


Key Responsibilities

  • Draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of legal agreements and documentation.

  • Conduct due diligence on potential third-party vendors and partners.

  • Identify legal risks proactively, conduct legal research, and recommend compliant, actionable solutions.

  • Provide legal and compliance guidance to internal stakeholders and support cross-functional decision-making.

  • Strengthen and promote a culture of compliance across the organization.

  • Ensure compliant interactions with healthcare professionals, government authorities, and external partners.

  • Support implementation and continuous improvement of the company’s compliance programs.

  • Assist in updating policies, procedures, training content, and audit processes for promotional and non-promotional activities.

  • Monitor developments in Japanese and global pharmaceutical regulations and deliver compliance training.

  • Liaise with external legal counsel for specialized matters.

  • Support data privacy compliance and coordinate on personal data matters with global privacy teams.

  • Participate actively in industry compliance committees and professional groups.

  • Lead or support investigations into potential non-compliance matters.


Required Skills and Competencies

  • Ability to collaborate across multiple teams in Japan and global affiliates, including headquarters in Foster City, California.

  • Strong ability to manage high workloads, prioritize tasks, and deliver within agreed timelines.

  • Creative problem-solving mindset with the ability to provide practical legal solutions.

  • Comfortable working across diverse business functions and multicultural environments.

  • Strong judgment and professionalism suited to a fast-paced, mission-driven organization.


Minimum Requirements

  • Fluency in written and spoken Japanese and English.

  • Bar admission in Japan or in another common-law jurisdiction.

  • Law degree from a Japanese university and an accredited international university in a common-law system.

  • 4+ years of relevant experience in private practice or in-house roles, preferably within the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry.

  • Strong experience drafting and negotiating contracts and managing compliance matters.

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

  • Ability to make informed decisions in complex or high-pressure situations.

  • Prior experience in compliance functions is preferred.

  • Experience working in a pharmaceutical organization is an advantage.


Experience Required (in Years)

  • 4–7 years of legal experience in private practice or in-house roles.

  • 3–5 years of experience handling compliance or regulatory matters.

  • 2–4 years of experience drafting and negotiating complex legal agreements.

  • 1–3 years of experience working in a pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or healthcare-related industry (preferred).