Director, Corporate Counsel, Early Research & Development

BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.•San Rafael, CA

64d

About The Position

BioMarin is seeking an experienced and business-oriented attorney to serve as the lead legal support and strategic advisor for its Early Research & Development (RED) organization. This role will partner closely with scientific, business, and functional leaders to enable innovative research collaborations, advance BioMarin's pipeline, and support the company's long-term strategic objectives. The Director, Corporate Counsel, Early Research & Development will provide proactive legal counsel on a broad range of research, innovation, intellectual property, and transactional matters. The successful candidate will possess deep experience negotiating and drafting complex research and collaboration agreements including licenses, strong intellectual property acumen, and a demonstrated ability to effectively partner with scientists and senior business leaders in a fast-paced life sciences environment.

Requirements

J.D. degree from an accredited law school and active membership in at least one U.S. state bar.
7+ years of relevant legal experience, including substantial experience in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, life sciences, or related industry.
Significant experience negotiating and drafting research, collaboration, licensing, and technology-related agreements.
Deep understanding of intellectual property principles, including patent, licensing, ownership, and commercialization issues.
Demonstrated ability to provide strategic legal counsel in a complex and highly collaborative environment.
Experience partnering directly with scientific teams and translating complex scientific concepts into practical legal advice.
Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
Ability to independently manage a diverse portfolio of sophisticated legal matters.

Nice To Haves

In-house legal experience within a biotechnology or pharmaceutical company.
Experience supporting early-stage research, discovery, translational science, or external innovation organizations.
Familiarity with academic collaborations, sponsored research arrangements, and technology transfer practices.
Experience supporting business development transactions, licensing activities, and strategic partnerships.
Advanced scientific training or demonstrated aptitude for understanding complex scientific and technical concepts.
Strategic thinker with strong business judgment.
Collaborative and solutions-oriented approach.
Ability to influence and build credibility with senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders.
Skilled at balancing innovation enablement with appropriate risk management.
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic environment.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary legal advisor to BioMarin's Early Research & Development organization.
Provide practical, risk-based legal counsel to scientific and business stakeholders to support research initiatives, external innovation activities, and strategic collaborations.
Partner closely with senior leaders across Worldwide Research & Development (WWRD), Business Development, Intellectual Property, Alliance Management, Procurement, and other functions.
Develop trusted relationships with executive and senior leadership and contribute to strategic decision-making.
Lead the drafting, review, negotiation, and execution of a wide variety of agreements supporting research and development activities, including: Confidential Disclosure/Non-Disclosure Agreements (CDAs/NDAs), Master Services Agreements (MSAs), Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs), Sponsored Research Agreements (SRAs), Research Collaboration Agreements, Option, License, and Technology Evaluation Agreements, Academic and Institutional Collaborations, Consulting and Scientific Advisory Agreements, and Other strategic research and development transactions.
Structure and negotiate complex licensing, research, and collaboration arrangements involving proprietary technologies, intellectual property rights, and scientific data.
Advise stakeholders on contractual risk allocation, governance structures, publication rights, ownership of intellectual property, data rights, and commercialization considerations.
Partner with BioMarin's Intellectual Property team to support patent strategy and technology transactions.
Provide strategic legal guidance to business stakeholders regarding intellectual property protection, ownership, licensing, and commercialization.
Advise on intellectual property aspects of collaborations with academic institutions, biotechnology companies, vendors, and other external partners.
Collaborate effectively with Legal, Intellectual Property, Compliance, Business Development, Procurement, and Research leadership teams.
Support due diligence activities and strategic partnering opportunities involving early-stage science and technology.
Develop and improve contracting processes, templates, policies, and training materials to support research and development operations.
Monitor legal and regulatory developments affecting research collaborations, innovation partnerships, and intellectual property rights.