General Counsel Jobs in Illinois

Req # 204454
Location Deerfield, Illinois, United States
Job Category Legal
Date posted 06/18/2026

This is where your work makes a difference.

At Baxter, we believe every person—regardless of who they are or where they are from—deserves a chance to live a healthy life. It was our founding belief in 1931 and continues to be our guiding principle. We are redefining healthcare delivery to make a greater impact today, tomorrow, and beyond.

Our Baxter colleagues are united by our Mission to Save and Sustain Lives. Together, our community is driven by a culture of courage, trust, and collaboration. Every individual is empowered to take ownership and make a meaningful impact. We strive for efficient and effective operations, and we hold each other accountable for delivering exceptional results.

Here, you will find more than just a job—you will find purpose and pride.

What you'll be doing:

The Associate General Counsel—Global Procurement & Real Estate will provide strategic day-to-day legal support for (1) direct and indirect procurement, including the sourcing of raw materials, components, finished goods, capital equipment, warehousing and distribution, technology, professional services, contingent labor, facilities, and other operational supplies and services across multiple jurisdictions and (2) complex real estate transactions, including purchases and sales of commercial properties, leasing, and land use and zoning. The role requires sound judgement and excellent communication skills while driving practical, business-focused solutions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Commercial Contracting

• Draft, review, negotiate, and interpret complex global procurement and real estate agreements, including:
• Supply Agreements
• Master Service Agreements
• IT Licensing and SaaS Agreements
• Warehousing and Distribution Agreements
• Real Estate Purchase and Sale Agreements
• Real Estate and Equipment Leases
• Advise internal stakeholders on key contract provisions such as warranties, indemnities, limitations of liability, intellectual property, default, termination, force majeure, and dispute resolution.
• Provide strategic guidance on contract enforcement and resolution of supplier issues.

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, mentor and manage a team of attorneys and legal assistants responsible for procurement contracting.
• Set priorities, allocate work, and ensure timely, high-quality support for legal teams.
• Develop and maintain contract templates, negotiation playbooks and best practices across the team.

External Counsel Management

• Select, direct and manage outside counsel efficiently when needed.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Serve as a strategic legal advisor to senior Procurement, Supply Chain and Real Estate personnel and the Business teams.
• Provide practical, business-oriented legal guidance to facilitate deal execution while protecting Baxter’s interests.
• Participate in internal review committees and approval processes for complex or high-risk agreements.
• Collaborate and coordinate with Baxter business attorneys on procurement agreements within their businesses.

Training & Education

• Develop and deliver training for legal team members and business stakeholders on contracting best practices, compliance and risk mitigation.
• Promote a culture of compliance, innovation and operational excellence within the legal function.

Technology, AI & Process Innovation

• Evaluate, implement and oversee the use of AI-powered tools, contract lifecycle management systems and other legal technologies to streamline contracting workflows.
• Leverage technology to improve contract review, identify risk, standardize clauses, and implement approval processes and compliance monitoring.
• Use data and analytics to identify contracting trends, risk areas and opportunities for process improvement.
• Partner with Legal Operations, IT, Privacy and Compliance to ensure responsible, secure and compliant use of AI and emerging technologies.

What you'll bring:

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school; admission to practice in relevant jurisdiction, active member in good standing.
• 10+ years of transactional legal experience advising business teams on procurement and/or operational transactions. Experience with Real Estate transactions is also a plus.
• Significant in-house experience supporting a pharmaceutical and/or medical device company will be desirable.
• Familiarity with AI tools and CLM technologies to improve efficiency and reduce legal or compliance risk.
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills, including drafting skills and presentation capabilities.
• Proven people leadership and team development skills. Sound judgement with the ability to balance legal risk and business objectives.
• Self-motivating, working independently on projects, meeting aggressive deadlines, acting decisively, balancing multiple matters and a mentality of continuous improvement.
• Comfort partnering with Legal Operations, IT and Procurement on technology-driven initiatives.

Baxter is committed to supporting the needs for flexibility in the workplace. We do so through our flexible workplace policy which includes a required minimum number of days a week onsite. This policy provides the benefits of connecting and collaborating in-person in support of our Mission. The flexible workplace policy is subject to local laws and legal requirements. At its discretion, Baxter may decide to adjust, suspend, or discontinue as business needs change.

We understand compensation is an important factor as you consider the next step in your career.

At Baxter, we are committed to equitable pay for all employees, and we strive to be more transparent with our pay practices. The estimated base salary for this position is $256,000-320,000 annually. The estimated range is meant to reflect an anticipated salary range for the position. We may pay more or less than of the anticipated range based upon market data and other factors, all of which are subject to change. Individual pay is based on upon location, skills and expertise, experience, and other relevant factors. This position may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, commission, and/or long-term incentive. For questions about this, our pay philosophy, and available benefits, please speak to the recruiter if you decide to apply and are selected for an interview.

US Benefits at Baxter (except for Puerto Rico)

This is where your well-being matters. Baxter offers comprehensive compensation and benefits packages for eligible roles. Our health and well-being benefits include medical and dental coverage that start on day one, as well as insurance coverage for basic life, accident, short-term and long-term disability, and business travel accident insurance. Financial and retirement benefits include the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), with the ability to purchase company stock at a discount, and the 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan (RSP), with options for employee contributions and company matching. We also offer Flexible Spending Accounts, educational assistance programs, and time-off benefits such as paid holidays, paid time off ranging from 20 to 35 days based on length of service, family and medical leaves of absence, and paid parental leave. Additional benefits include commuting benefits, the Employee Discount Program, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and childcare benefits. Join us and enjoy the competitive compensation and benefits we offer to our employees. For additional information regarding Baxter US Benefits, please speak with your recruiter or visit our Benefits site: Benefits | Baxter

Equal Employment Opportunity

Baxter is an equal opportunity employer. Baxter evaluates qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, disability/handicap status or any other legally protected characteristic.

Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal

Reasonable Accommodations

Baxter is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities globally. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or interview process, please click on the link here and let us know the nature of your request along with your contact information.

Recruitment Fraud Notice

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