Associate Counsel - Foster City, CA
About The Position
Gilead Sciences is seeking an Associate Counsel to join our Corporate Contracts Legal Team. We are looking for an attorney with experience in negotiating, reviewing and drafting Medical Affairs and Clinical Data Science contract matters to support Gilead’s research and development operations. Working under a senior level attorney, this role primarily supports the drafting and negotiation of contracts for the Medical Affairs and Clinical Data Science organizations, including but not limited to Data Transfer Agreements, Data Licenses, Collaboration Agreements, Master Service Agreements, Work Orders and Change Orders, and Confidentiality Agreements. This attorney will be the primary point of contact on legal contract issues for one or more client groups and will work closely with the Corporate Contracts Legal team to support other projects and work as needed, which may include process improvement, playbook preparation, and the design of automation tools. The individual must thrive in a high-volume, fast-paced, high-performing and collaborative corporate teaming environment.
Requirements
- 3+ years of prior in-house or law firm relevant experience providing legal counsel on medical affairs or clinical data science related agreements in the biotech, pharmaceutical, or medical research areas
- Juris Doctorate or equivalent advanced degree from a nationally accredited law school
- Admission to the California state bar, registration as in-house counsel, or ability to gain admission or registration for either within 90 days.
Nice To Haves
- Solid grasp of contracting concepts and strong skills in drafting, negotiating and interpreting a wide range of commercial and vendor agreements, such as master services agreements, consulting agreements and confidentiality agreements
- Experience developing and implementing contract processes and knowledge resources, such as contract templates, playbooks, back-up provisions, client guidance, and team and client training materials
- Excellent analytical, problem-solving, written and presentation skills
- A high degree of client service orientation and ability to recognize and respond quickly and pragmatically to urgent, complex situations and demanding clients
- Willingness and ability to coordinate activities of many stakeholders across various departments, not only within the company’s headquarters in Foster City, but also throughout the company’s international organization
- Must be able to set appropriate priorities with clients and deliver results within the established timelines, including, proactively and independently inquire and take ownership to answer internal client questions even when minimal information, direction, and/or policies are available
- Experience using a contract lifecycle management software (e.g., Apttus)
- Knowledge of Gilead’s business and the pharmaceutical industry in general, including knowledge of regulations governing the pharmaceutical industry
- Privacy certifications such as CIPP/US and/or CIPP/E as may be ancillary to medical affairs and clinical data science arrangements with third parties is a big plus.
Responsibilities
- Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a full range of medical affairs, research and clinical data science contracts typical of a biotech or pharmaceutical research organization, including data transfer agreements, data licenses, grant agreements, agreements with governmental entities, collaboration agreements, development and supply agreements, vendor services agreements, and related agreements.
- Preparing master services agreements, consulting agreements, confidentiality agreements, and other agreements in support of our Medical Affairs and Clinical Data Science organizations.
- Advising client groups on various legal concerns including, intellectual property and data security and privacy issues, identifying and explaining legal and business risks for the business teams, and partnering with the business teams to ensure the efficient resolution of issues.
- Reviewing contracts, identifying issues, and discussing questions or suggestions with senior attorneys, client and/or contract specialists.
- Developing and improving templates and procedures to drive efficiencies in the legal review process.
- Analyzing non-standard, complex problems based on experience and making recommendations on how to proceed.
- Timely advising clients and other attorneys on higher risk issues and proposing alternative legal terms and solutions to senior counsel and/or the client for presentation to the client or opposing counsel.
- Promptly escalating legal issues to a higher level where appropriate but typically handles most contract legal matters from beginning to end.
- Demonstrating excellent business judgment and ability to clearly explain contract terms to clients and how they affect the business.
- Collaborating with members of legal department, other business partners (tax, finance, and risk management) and internal client departments.
- Advising on and resolving transactional negotiation escalations and potential contract disputes.
- Maintaining and improving productive and efficient ways of working with a wide range of cross- functional colleagues and subject-matter experts.
Benefits
- company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans
- discretionary annual bonus
- discretionary stock-based long-term incentives
- paid time off
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
