Sr Principal Legal Counsel - Direct Sourcing GOSC Legal

We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on - 14 Nov 2026

Careers that change lives start here. Medtronic is a global leader in healthcare technology with a Mission to alleviate pain, restore health, and extend life. Our 95,000 employees work across more than 150 countries to put patients first — developing innovative medical technologies that improve the lives of 72+ million patients each year. Your unique talents will help shape the future of healthcare while building a career grounded in purpose, growth, and impact.

A Day in the Life
Provide strategic legal advice and commercial transactional support within the Global Operations & Supply Chain (GOSC) Legal organization to a broad range of Medtronic business clients within Global Supply Management. This individual will focus on product development, supply chain, direct material sourcing, and contract manufacturing agreements with third parties. Responsibilities will include reviewing, drafting, negotiating, and advising business clients on contractual, operational, and risk management matters while delivering practical and timely legal guidance. The attorney will collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders, including Intellectual Property, Business, Regulatory, Quality, and Trade teams, to support business objectives and facilitate efficient transaction execution.
The role requires an attorney who can independently lead sophisticated negotiations, translate legal risk into clear business choices, and work effectively in a fast-paced, highly matrixed global organization with input from subject matter experts.

This position will report to the Sr. Legal Director within GOSC Legal. The position ideally will reside in Minneapolis, Minnesota; Lafayette, Colorado; Memphis Tennessee; or Washington DC.

- Provide primary legal support for Direct Sourcing & Contract Manufacturing and Global Technical Sourcing teams, within Global Supply Management organization.

- Analyze, draft and negotiate a broad range of complex agreements, including direct material supply agreements, product development agreements, contract manufacturing agreements, quality-related provisions, and other commercial arrangements.

- Advise business clients on legal and commercial risks involving supplier performance, continuity of supply, quality, warranties and remedies, intellectual property, confidentiality, and other risk-allocation issues.

- Partner closely with Sourcing, Research and Development, Supplier Quality and other legal and functional subject matter experts to develop coordinated and practical solutions.

- Serve as a strategic advisor to business and sourcing leaders by identifying material risks, explaining available options and trade-offs, and recommending commercially reasonable paths forward that protect Medtronic while enabling business objectives.

- Lead complex and high-value negotiations with suppliers and their counsel, including matters involving new technologies, supplier-funded or Medtronic-funded development, licensing, volume commitments, pricing structures and long-term supply arrangements.

- Support the resolution and escalation of supplier disputes, delivery interruptions, performance failures and other operational issues through negotiation, contractual remedies, settlement strategies and coordination with internal and external counsel as appropriate.

- Anticipate and help address emerging legal and operational issues across Direct and Global Technical Sourcing, including evolving contracting models, supply chain resilience, technology-enabled sourcing and protection of Medtronic confidential information, know-how and intellectual property.

- Develop and update agreement templates, negotiation playbooks, guidance materials and training to promote consistent contracting positions and efficient legal support.

- Lead or contribute to cross-functional projects and continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen contracting processes, legal service delivery and stakeholder engagement.

- Perform other responsibilities and special projects as assigned.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

- Juris Doctorate from a nationally recognized US law school and minimum 8 years of experience.

- License to practice law and in good standing under the Bar of at least one state in the United States or Washington D.C.

PREFERRED

- Experience supporting direct procurement, technical sourcing, strategic sourcing, manufacturing, supply chain or supplier relationship matters.

- Experience drafting and negotiating product development, co-development, contract manufacturing, technology, licensing or similar complex agreements.

- Background in intellectual property law or substantial experience addressing intellectual property ownership, licensing, technology transfer, confidentiality, know-how and development deliverables in commercial transactions.

- Experience working with engineers, research and development teams, quality professionals, operations leaders and sourcing professionals on technically complex matters.

- Experience in the medical device, life sciences, healthcare, technology or other highly regulated industry.

- Experience at a leading law firm and/or in-house legal department supporting a global business.

- Experience working within a highly matrixed, multinational organization.

- Familiarity with global laws and regulatory requirements impacting supplier relationships, and experience supporting supplier diligence, risk assessments, compliance reviews, and related remediation activities.

- Ability to identify, evaluate and manage legal, commercial and operational risk and to exercise superior common sense and judgment.

- Exceptional negotiation and advocacy skills, with a collaborative and relationship-preserving approach.

- Ability to establish credibility and strong working relationships across functions and at all organizational levels.

- Business acumen and an understanding of sourcing strategies, product development lifecycles, manufacturing arrangements and supplier economics.

- Demonstrated ability to lead change, improve processes and create practical tools, templates and training for business and legal stakeholders.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

- Builds credibility quickly with Sourcing, technical and business stakeholders and becomes a practical, solutions-oriented partner on complex matters.

- Independently manages a varied portfolio of high-priority matters, makes sound decisions with incomplete information and escalates thoughtfully when appropriate.

- Distinguishes material legal and business risk from lower-value issues and focuses negotiations on provisions that meaningfully protect Medtronic and support continuity, quality, innovation and commercial objectives.

- Communicates complex legal concepts in clear, concise and actionable terms for technical teams, business leaders and senior management.

- Works effectively across functions, geographies and business units, bringing the right stakeholders together and driving matters to timely resolution.

- Balances urgency with rigor, remains responsive during operational escalations and maintains strong judgment under pressure.

- Contributes to team capability through knowledge sharing, template and playbook improvements, training and mentorship.

For Baccalaureate degrees earned outside of the United States, a degree that satisfies the requirements of 8 C.F.R. § 214.2(h)(4)(iii)(A) is required.

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.

U.S. Work Authorization & Sponsorship
At Medtronic, we are committed to fostering an environment where employees can thrive and make a meaningful impact. In alignment with our enterprise-wide workforce planning approach, U.S. work authorization sponsorship (H-1B, TN, J, etc.) is offered exclusively for Principal-level roles and above, where specialized expertise aligns with long-term business needs. Roles below the Principal level require candidates to possess unrestricted U.S. work authorization at the time of hire and for the duration of employment.
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We are aware of phishing scams targeting job seekers. Please keep the following in mind:

Apply only through official Medtronic channels. All legitimate Medtronic recruiting communications come from approved Medtronic platforms and official @medtronic.com email addresses.

Medtronic will never ask for payment or sensitive personal information (such as bank account or Social Security details) during early stages of the hiring process. Any such requests are not legitimate.

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If you have any questions, concerns regarding the authenticity of a communication alleged to have been made by or on behalf of Medtronic, please contact us immediately at AskHR@medtronic.com .
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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):$191,200.00 - $286,800.00

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This position is eligible for a short-term incentive called the Medtronic Incentive Plan (MIP).

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

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.

If you are applying to perform work for Medtronic, Inc. (“Medtronic”) in any position which will involve performing at least two (2) hours of work on average each week within the unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, you can find  here a list of all material job duties of the specific job position which Medtronic reasonably believes that criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship potentially resulting in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment. Medtronic will consider for employment qualified job applicants with arrest or conviction records in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the California Fair Chance Act.