Kathleen A. Gluz
Farmington,CT
Summary
Dynamic senior management professional with a proven track record of driving organizational success through strategic leadership and operational excellence. Expertise in project management, team collaboration, and process optimization ensures a results-oriented approach to achieving business objectives. Recognized for navigating complex challenges while fostering a culture of accountability and adaptability to meet evolving business needs. Strong decision-making abilities and effective communication skills contribute to building and leading high-performing teams.
Overview
34
34
years of professional experience
Work History
Sr. Manager, Legal Operations
Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
Cambridge, MA
04.2016 - Current
- (acquired Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.)
- Mentored junior managers, fostering professional growth and enhancing team performance.
- Developed strategic initiatives that improved operational efficiency across multiple departments.
- Managed budgets and resource allocation for major projects, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
- Collaborated with stakeholders to establish clear objectives and track progress on key initiatives.
- Provided strong leadership to enhance team productivity and morale.
- Led cross-functional teams to achieve project milestones and deliver high-quality results.
- Established strong relationships with clients and stakeholders, ensuring long-term partnerships and repeat business.
- Improved team performance by providing comprehensive training and fostering a collaborative work environment.
- Collaborated closely with peers from other departments to drive organizational success jointly as one cohesive unit.
- Reduced costs, optimized resource allocation, and improved efficiency in managing projects.
- Managed large-scale projects and introduced new systems, tools, and processes to achieve challenging objectives.
- Mentored junior staff members for skill development and career progression within the organization.
- Implemented and developed operational standards, policies and procedures.
- Conducted performance evaluations, compensations and hiring to maintain appropriate staffing requirements.
- Consistently met or exceeded annual performance targets set by senior leadership.
- Managed budgets effectively, achieving financial objectives while maintaining strict control over expenditures.
- Spearheaded change management efforts for seamless adoption of new systems or processes among employees.
- Recruited, interviewed and hired employees and implemented mentoring program to promote positive feedback and engagement.
- Evaluated employee performance and conveyed constructive feedback to improve skills.
Manager, II
Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Cambridge, MA
01.2011 - 01.2016
- Reports to General Counsel.
- Responsible for annual budget preparation, monthly accrual process, and assists budget accountable managers in controlling quarterly expense to support division goals (Business Legal Group, IP, Compliance and Office of GC).
- Assists business attorneys on business development projects and other business related deals (confidentiality memo, due diligence, etc.)
- Business Records Manager for the Legal Group. Manages the Legal Group records and file management process and manages the company’s notebook scanning/archival function; serves as Primary Principal Archivist Delegate for Lab Notebooks (ensuring policies and procedures are in place for appropriate retention and archiving and notebooks are FDA inspection ready) managing direct report responsible for notebook scanning and archiving.
- Coordinates surveys/benchmarking.
- Organizes department meetings, events, teambuilding exercises and other Legal Department functions.
- Liaison for the Legal Department to other company departments such as IT, HR, Finance, and Facilities.
- Assists General Counsel and the Chief IP Counsel with patent litigation, including but not limited to e-discovery, document trial preparation, coordination with outside counsel.
- Coordinates, creates and maintains sharepoint site for Legal Group, litigation, other areas as needed and maintains Legal Department portal site.
- Assists the Deputy General Counsel with non-IP litigation, including but not limited to budget control, e-discovery.
- Immigration Specialist
- Responsible for the Companies I-9 re-verifications, Candidate Reviews, LCA postings, New Hire Approvals
- Manages the coordination and completion of annual Internal Controls Questionnaire from parent company
- Assists General Counsel with Environmental Risk Management (ERM) projects.
- Back up for State Licensing renewals.
- Coordinates cross-affiliate meetings held at Millennium (previously coordinated all Board of Directors and shareholder meetings when Millennium was public).
- Coordinates office space and equipment for the legal group including new hires and vendors/contractors.
- Coordinates with IT staff for special hardware needs and department specific software and databases such as the docketing system.
- Participates in long-range planning of the department, with a focus on paralegal and administrative staffing.
- Responsible for managing the company’s notebook scanning/archival function.
- Primary Principal Archivist Delegate for Lab Notebooks.
Legal Specialist
Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
04.2002 - 04.2011
- Reports to General Counsel.
- Coordinates Board of Directors meetings, conference calls and materials.
- Responsible for budget preparation, forecasting and tracking expenses against budgeting goal with budget accountable managers.
- Responsible for managing/implementing database for all legal invoices/budgeting tool.
- Participates in and coordinates Senior Leadership Meetings and all department meetings, events
- Coordinates with facilities office space and equipment. Worked closely with facilities on the space planning and roll out for several legal department moves.
- Coordinates with IT staff for special hardware needs and department specific software and databases; liaison to Information Resources.
- Participates in long-range planning of the department, with a focus on paralegal and administrative staffing.
- Primary Principal Archivist Delegate for Lab Notebooks with responsibility for managing the company’s notebook scanning process (implementing new database for manuscripts with IT)
- Provided a portion of my time as Executive Assistant to General Counsel (10/04-4/11)
- Leadership Role: MASTERS Program – (Millennium Administrative Support Committee) – Updated administrative career ladder; created resources for administrative group along with learning and development opportunities thru the creation of a Learning & Development Committee under the MASTERS Program. Created and budgeted for yearly team building off site meetings.
Manager, Paralegal Services
Hale and Dorr, LLP
Boston, MA
01.2000 - 01.2002
- Worked directly with the Department Managers and Senior Partners appointed as advisors to the paralegal program.
- Managed all paralegals and case assistants throughout the departments and six regional offices. (approximately 116 paralegals)
- Responsible for the hiring of paralegals, case assistants, docket administrator, docket clerks, IP filing clerks and title examiner.
- Responsible for salaries, billable rates and orientation schedules including a mentor program: Provided guidance for training programs.
- Performed billable hours surveys and salary surveys.
- Updated the performance evaluations and job descriptions for 2002.
- Conducted yearly evaluations per the hire date.
- Oversaw the Summer Internship program consisting of six interns.
- Updated the paralegal section of Hale and Dorr’s web site.
- Responsible for reviewing memoranda submitted by paralegals requesting to be elevated to the senior paralegal level.
- Responsible for the preparation of the annual budget for the paralegal program.
- Prepared annual and semi annual profitability reports.
Manager, Paralegal Services
Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP
Boston, MA
01.1996 - 01.2000
- Managed a growing program of forty-five paralegals, plus temporary staff (12 paralegals in 1996 to 50+ in 2000)
- Worked directly with Human Resources, Administrative Departments and Partners appointed as advisors to the paralegal program.
- Developed a training program for all paralegals, including training on firm policies.
- Established a mentor program and educational seminars for paralegals.
- Performed three month, six month and yearly reviews for all paralegals, including but not limited to establishing salary increases.
- Performed all recruiting for the paralegal program.
- Prepared the annual budget for the paralegal program.
- Held monthly paralegal meetings and orientations for all new paralegals and attorneys.
Manager, Litigation Paralegals
Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP
Boston, MA
01.1992 - 01.1996
- Supervised on a daily basis six to ten litigation paralegals plus temporary staff.
- Assigned the paralegals their long term and temporary assignments.
- Managed and trained attorneys and paralegals on the litigation database.
- Completed performance evaluations for all litigation paralegals.
- Performed paralegal tasks on various litigation cases.
Education
Paralegal Certificate -
Bentley College
Waltham, MAAS - Legal Studies
Briarwood College
Southington, CTSkills
- Strategic planning
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Operations management
- Cross-functional team coordination
Affiliations
- Legal Assistant Managers Association (LAMA) 1992-2002
- Vice President, Membership: Nov. 2001 – April 2002
- Chairperson, Membership Committee: Nov 1999-2000
- Committee Member, Membership Committee: Nov. 1993 – Nov. 1999
Timeline
Sr. Manager, Legal Operations
Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.
04.2016 - Current
Manager, II
Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
01.2011 - 01.2016
Legal Specialist
Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
04.2002 - 04.2011
Manager, Paralegal Services
Hale and Dorr, LLP
01.2000 - 01.2002
Manager, Paralegal Services
Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP
01.1996 - 01.2000
Manager, Litigation Paralegals
Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP
01.1992 - 01.1996
AS - Legal Studies
Briarwood College
Paralegal Certificate -
Bentley College