Director, Supply Chain Contracting

Job Overview 

The Director, Supply Chain Contracting provides legal support for DePuy Synthes global supply chain contracting activities. This role is accountable for driving consistency in contract terms, complying with supply chain contracting policies, supporting and assisting supply chain partners in contract negotiations and drafting agreements, advising on supplier disputes and advising on supply chain strategies. The position partners closely with Supply Chain, Procurement, Quality, and Finance to ensure contracts are compliant, scalable, and aligned with business objectives in a highly regulated medical‑device and medical technology environment. This role has a significant impact on operational performance, cost management, and supplier relationships. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Collaborate with Supply Chain to negotiate terms of complex supply chain agreements, including raw material supply, manufacturing, logistics, distribution, and service agreements. 

• Advise the business on contractual risk and collaborate with supply chain professionals to enable resilient supply strategies. 

• Manage the drafting and negotiation of complex supply chain agreements associated with the above Supply Chain organizations, including master supply and external manufacturing agreements. 

• Provide guidance and advice to the members of the Contract Management Organization who collaborate in supporting the contracting workstream for supply chain activities. 

• Drive adherence to good contracting process, simplification and improvement of templates, creation and adoption of contracting aids (such as playbooks), acceptance of prudent risk taking, and by proactively spotting common issues and trends that need addressing through change.  

• Advise Supply Chain leaders on proposed laws and regulations that have a high impact on current and future supply chain activities (e.g. import/export, trade controls, govt. incentives for local manufacturing, supply chain shortages). 

• Together with Litigation colleagues, advise the business on disputes and litigation arising under supply agreements or otherwise with suppliers under purchase orders or other supply arrangements. 

• Provide review of supply agreements in connection with due diligence on mergers, acquisitions or strategic partnerships. 

• Oversee management of outside counsel relationships, workflow, and budget.  

• Collaborate with legal colleagues to proactively assess and manage legal risk for the end-to-end supply chain worldwide. Coordinating legal support on any complex issues by working closely with other functional groups. 

Qualifications 

Education 

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school in the U.S. 

• Admitted to practice in at least one U.S. jurisdiction, or in Great Britain or Ireland for candidates working in those countries. 

Experience and Skills 

Required 

• Typically requires a minimum of 8-10 years of commercial contracting experience. 

• Proven expertise negotiating and managing complex, high‑value supply chain contracts, in-house at a multi-national corporation, or at a large or mid-sized reputable law firm. 

• Strong understanding of supply chain operations, supplier risk management, contracting principles and excellent drafting skills. 

• Solution and business-oriented team player, with an ability to take a pragmatic approach to solving problems. 

• Strong interpersonal skills, ability to lead through influence and to challenge the status quo. 

• Comfortable handling ambiguity and ability to simplify complicated issues for clients. 

• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and operate effectively in a complex, global organization. 

Preferred 

• Experience in medical device, medtech, pharmaceutical, orthopedics, healthcare or other highly regulated manufacturing environments. 

• Familiarity with contract lifecycle management (CLM) tools and supply chain digital platforms. 

• Experience with software and other technology supply agreements a plus. 

• Track record of driving process standardization or transformation initiatives. 

• Strong executive presence with the ability to lead complex negotiations. 

Other 

• Language: English proficiency required. 

• Travel: Up to 10–15% domestic and/or international travel. 

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