(Senior) Legal Director

COMPANY:

Centessa Pharmaceuticals plc (Nasdaq: CNTA) new kind of pharmaceutical company with a deconstructed R&D environment that prioritizes data driven decision making led by subject matter experts. Centessa is advancing a portfolio of high conviction programs with strong biological validation.

Our asset-centric model offers a unique R&D logic that has been applied by single asset companies to improve productivity. This operating model has minimal centralized infrastructure, reduced hierarchy, and exclusive focus on data driven capital allocation. Our teams are uniquely incentivized to expeditiously interrogate key scientific hypotheses. We believe the asset-centric model can lead to improved success rates for programs with greater speed and modest costs.

SUMMARY:

We are searching for an experienced corporate/commercial lawyer to support our business reporting to the General Counsel. This role is based in Boston, MA, with flexibility to work from home. Other working locations may be considered. 

You will have responsibility for negotiating and managing contracts to support our multiple clinical trials. You will also have broad responsibility to support our business and take ownership of a range of other commercial contracts including CRO/CDMO engagements, as well as advising on day-to-day and more strategic business matters. Additionally, you will support the General Counsel on corporate governance matters and have shared responsibility for managing contracts repository, legal technology and delivery of legal training. This is an excellent opportunity to operate in an autonomous role, working directly with the business by cultivating effective cross-functional relationships.

ABOUT YOU:

• You may already be an in-house lawyer in a pharmaceutical or life sciences business looking to take a step up, or you might be a corporate/commercial lawyer in private practice who is looking to take a step into a commercially focused in-house legal role.
• Have a broad corporate/commercial legal background and experience in the pharmaceutical or healthcare sector.
• Sound business acumen and commercial awareness and practically-oriented, ability to identify and resolve legal issues quickly and effectively and provide strategic, well-reasoned, constructive solutions.
• Experience leveraging external counsel to provide business‐critical, pragmatic legal support in cost‐efficient manner
• Have previous experience successfully negotiating contracts in the pharmaceutical / healthcare industry. Experience with clinical trial agreements preferred.
• You will need to demonstrate flexibility and adaptability and the ability to work in a varied in-house role.
• Strong communication skills are essential.
• Ability to work collaboratively and effectively with key stakeholders and business partners in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience with supporting corporate governance (board meeting, corporate secretarial duties) is a plus.
• SEC compliance experience desired.

EXPERIENCE & SKILLS:

• Juris Doctorate (J.D.) from an accredited law school and admitted to the Massachusetts State Bar in good standing
• At least 7 years of experience as in-house counsel in reputable company or lawyer in an internationally reputable law firm.
• Complex contract drafting and negotiation experience is required.
• Pharmaceutical licensing (research) and/or manufacturing agreement experience is preferred.
• English fluency.

POSITION: Full-Time, Exempt

EEOC Statement: Centessa Pharmaceuticals believes in a diverse environment and is committed to equal employment opportunity for all its employees and qualified applicants. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. Centessa Pharmaceuticals will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with known disabilities, in accordance with applicable law.