Need help hiring top legal talent? Contact our team.
Company logo

Senior Corporate Counsel, Licensing

Exelixis
$227,000 - $322,000
Posted Oct 18
Full Time
Alameda, California

Company Description

Every Exelixis employee is united in an ambitious cause: to launch innovative medicines that give patients, and their families hope for the future. In this pursuit, we know our employees are our most valuable asset. After operating in the challenging biotech sector for 25 years, we have a proven track record of resiliency in the face of adversity. The success of our lead product has provided a solid commercial foundation allowing us to reinvigorate our research efforts and grow our team in areas such as Drug Discovery, Clinical Development and Commercial.

As we expand our global partnerships and further reinvest in R&D to help us discover the next breakthrough for difficult-to-treat cancers, we’re seeking to add talented, dedicated employees to power our mission.

Cancer is our cause. Make it yours, too.

Summary/Job Purpose

The Senior Corporate Counsel, Licensing takes a supporting role in setting the material terms of the many significant and complex business transactions undertaken by the company, the drafting and negotiation of definitive and ancillary agreements reflecting those terms, and the organization of processes necessary and helpful for Exelixis to transact efficiently and effectively. This function also plays a transactional oversight role, working with Legal and operational colleagues to help ensure that the company’s R&D activities and transactions are carried out with efficiency and reflect an appreciation for an appropriate level of business and legal risk.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

  • Drafts, reviews, and negotiates a wide range of contracts in support of the Business Development, Alliance Management, and Research and Development organizations (which may include confidentiality agreements, collaboration agreements, licensing agreements, acquisition agreements, strategic transactions, consulting agreements, materials transfer agreements, simple and complex clinical trial agreements, clinical advisory board agreements, and various vendor services agreements, supply agreements, and master agreements).
  • Supports optimization of internal processes by drafting and reviewing summaries of the critical legal, financial, and operational terms of the existing and future completed agreements, enabling the company to enforce and maintain compliance with those terms effectively.
  • Acts as a legal point person for ongoing collaboration agreements, and licensing agreements, and acquisition agreements in support of alliance management efforts.
  • Supports legal diligence for licensing and acquisition activities.
  • Reviews redlines, supervise negotiations, and provide general guidance to junior attorneys and contract managers.
  • Assists with maintaining up to date form agreements consistent with industry standards and applicable laws.
  • Identifies and define operational and legal risks and be able to communicate those risks to appropriate internal decision-makers for discussion and resolution.
  • Cultivate a strong and highly effective cross-functional relationships and communication with internal colleagues to effectively address legal and business questions.
  • Effectively represents the company.
  • Handles miscellaneous legal tasks on an as-needed basis.

Supervisory Responsibilities

  • Provides direction to other individuals.
  • Supervises staff, including hiring, scheduling, and assigning work, reviewing performance, and recommends salary increases, promotions, transfers, demotions, or terminations.
  • Manages others through subordinate supervisors.

Education

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE/KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:

  • BS/BA degree, preferably in life sciences or a related field. Advanced degree preferred.
  • JD degree required and a minimum of six years of related experience.
  • Equivalent combination of education and experience
  • Must be admitted to practice, preferably in California.

Experience

  • Experience as an attorney in a law firm or in-house legal environment in the biotechnology or pharmaceuticals industry.
  • Complex contract drafting and negotiation experience required.
  • Pharmaceutical licensing experience is required.

Knowledge/Skills

  • Possesses clear and concise verbal and written communication skills and must have excellent interpersonal communication skills.
  • Strong computer skills (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.), document management systems, and redlining software).
  • Must be detail-oriented and have strong organizational skills.
  • Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, with the ability to re-prioritize on short time frames.
  • Can quickly separate the mission-critical from the nice-to-haves and the trivial.
  • Ability to make complex decisions based on the data available; drives to the finish on all projects.
  • Acts responsibly and conscientiously.
  • Works under pressure to meet specific deadlines.
  • Works well both independently and in a team environment; addresses differences fairly and equitably; treats everyone as a preferred internal client.
  • Dedicated to quality, reliability, and highest professional standards in all work tasks.
  • Must be a self-starter and quick learner.
  • Must have good judgment.

Working Conditions

  • Primarily working indoors, in an office environment

_If you like wild growth and working with happy, enthusiastic over-achievers, you'll enjoy your career with us!

_ Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several U.S. geographic markets, and we pay differently based on those defined markets. The base pay range for this position is $227,000 - $322,000 annually. The base pay range may take into account the candidate’s geographic region, which will adjust the pay depending on the specific work location. The base pay offered will take into account the candidate’s geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills, experience and internal equity, among other factors.

In addition to the base salary, as part of our Total Rewards program, Exelixis offers comprehensive employee benefits package, including a 401k plan with generous company contributions, group medical, dental and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, and flexible spending accounts. Employees are also eligible for a discretionary annual bonus program, or if field sales staff, a sales-based incentive plan. Exelixis also offers employees the opportunity to purchase company stock, and receive long-term incentives, 15 accrued vacation days in their first year, 17 paid holidays including a company-wide winter shutdown in December, and up to 10 sick days throughout the calendar year.

DISCLAIMER

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job.

_We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.

_