Counsel, Regulatory Law, Government Programs

Purpose

Federal and state governments play a significant role as purchasers and payors of Johnson & Johnson products. This attorney will serve as an enterprise-oriented legal advisor who shapes strategy, influences decisions across organizational boundaries, and creates clarity in complex and rapidly evolving legal and regulatory environments pertaining to government transactions, federal procurement, pricing, transparency and compliance requirements affecting Johnson & Johnson operating companies. The role requires practical, solutions-oriented advice that supports business objectives while managing legal, regulatory, financial, and reputational risk and creating enterprise impact through judgment, influence, innovation, and ownership of outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Advise Johnson & Johnson businesses engaging with U.S. government agencies on procurement and grant laws, contract terms, offers, cost and accounting requirements, contract performance, audits, inquiries, closeout activities, and compliance programs by developing and delivering clear, actionable legal recommendations that balance business objectives with short- and long-term consequences for patients, customers, compliance, financial performance, reputation, and enterprise strategy.
• Provide strategic legal counsel on federal and state government programs and procurement matters, including: Federal Supply Schedule, VA and Department of Defense procurements for pharmaceutical and medical technology products including software; State pharmaceutical programs including Medicaid supplemental rebate agreements; Research agreements with US government.
• Evaluate government contracting and pricing implications of complex commercial strategies, including participation in Commercial Pricing Committees.
• Develop practical risk-mitigation strategies for innovative and evolving business models.
• Support enterprise compliance functions, including leading the Government Contract Compliance Steering Committee, participating in the Government Contract Compliance Committee, advising on escalations, remediation, and issue resolution, and collaborating with Corporate Internal Audit and Health Care Compliance & Privacy.
• Anticipate and monitor significant legal, regulatory, enforcement, geopolitical, and public-policy developments; assess potential enterprise-wide consequences; and lead coordinated legal, business, compliance, finance, and government-affairs efforts, including State prescription drug affordability boards and prescription drug price transparency programs, Executive Orders, legislative proposals and appropriation laws.
• Advise on ethics requirements pertaining to interactions with government officials.
• Execute by leading and driving cross-functional legal support, taking ownership for outcomes by establishing clear priorities and accountabilities, driving timely decisions, escalating thoughtfully, and following significant matters through implementation, remediation, and sustainable resolution and by working independently and collaboratively with business leaders, compliance professionals, finance partners, and Global Legal Organization colleagues.

Qualifications/Requirements

• Juris Doctor degree and active membership in good standing with the bar of at least one state or the District of Columbia.
• At least seven years combined of healthcare law experience and government procurement law experience.
• Experience evaluating pharmaceutical or medical technology pricing strategies, fees, access programs, and value-based offerings.
• Ability to provide clear, actionable legal advice in complex and ambiguous situations.
• Strong strategic, analytical, communication, and presentation skills, including the ability to make complex legal issues succinct and understandable to business partners.
• Demonstrated ability to anticipate legal and business consequences, align legal advice with organizational objectives, and influence sound decision-making.
• Executive maturity, sound judgment, discretion, and communication discipline.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of cross-functional teams.
• Ability to lead enterprise or cross-business initiatives through ambiguity and change.
• Ability to formulate an independent legal point of view, make timely recommendations with incomplete information, and escalate appropriately.
• Demonstrated digital fluency, familiarity with AI-enabled legal technologies and a learning approach to new technology.
• Enterprise mindset and ability to look beyond the immediate client or matter to identify broader strategic implications.
• Resilience, learning agility, and willingness to challenge established approaches constructively.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience advising senior business leaders on significant legal, regulatory, financial, and reputational risks preferred.
• Experience developing creative, compliant solutions to novel or complex business issues preferred.
• Experience advising on internal investigations, compliance concerns, remediation, and issue resolution preferred.
• Ability to support the design of scalable, practical legal and compliance solutions that simplify processes, strengthen controls, enable responsible innovation, and improve enterprise decision-making preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders and align stakeholders with differing priorities preferred.
• Track record of converting complex legal issues into practical decisions, scalable processes, or sustainable risk-management solutions preferred.
• Practical experience applying government cost accounting standards and procurement regulations within a complex global organization preferred.
• Finance or accounting experience preferred.
• Experience interacting with government agency personnel, auditors, attorneys, and other officials preferred.
• Experience with pharmaceutical and medical technology customers, and healthcare providers preferred.
• Knowledge of evolving federal and Department of Defense requirements involving privacy, cybersecurity, data sharing, and the Federal Acquisition Regulation preferred.