Lead Counsel, External Innovation

Zoetis•Parsippany-Troy Hills, NJ

3d•$185,000 - $240,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Lead Counsel serves as the lead legal counsel and primary strategic business partner for Zoetis’ External Innovation (EI) team. The role provides primary legal support for early-stage animal-health research and development transactions, including domestic and cross-border matters from inception through execution and post-execution. The counsel advises on deal terms and structure, due diligence, negotiations, and post-signing contractual matters, while independently handling a high volume of work for more than 10 business clients across multiple jurisdictions with limited oversight from the Senior Counsel, Business Transactions, External Innovation and Integration. The role co-leads deal teams with EI business leads and collaborates with colleagues across legal and non-legal functions, including regional legal counsels and specialists in Veterinary Medicine Research and Development, Regulatory, Intellectual Property, Compliance, Tax, and Finance. It also manages agreement templates, playbooks, contract databases, deal tracking, internal policy compliance, and project-based assignments. The position supports development and deployment of AI-enabled workflows and legal technology tools to improve efficiency and consistency in transaction execution. This is a full-time, regular position in a hybrid working environment. Approximately 50% of work time (two to three days per week) is required on-site at Zoetis’ headquarters in Parsippany, New Jersey. The U.S. base salary range is $185,000 to $240,000. The position is eligible for short-term incentive compensation and long-term incentives. Zoetis offers healthcare and insurance benefits beginning on day one, a 401(k) plan with company match and profit-sharing contribution, and four weeks of vacation.

Requirements

J.D. from an accredited law school, with demonstrated academic achievement.
Current bar membership in good standing in at least one U.S. state or the District of Columbia, including compliance with continuing legal education requirements.
At least 6 years of legal experience.
Transaction experience, including the ability to independently review, analyze, draft, and negotiate a high volume and variety of agreements.
Ability to prepare and negotiate term sheets and translate business and technical terms into legal agreements.
Ability to conduct legal due diligence and manage non-legal due diligence.
Ability to lead cross-functional deal teams involving legal and non-legal functions.
Ability to provide strategic legal advice to business clients on research and development-related matters.
Strong project management, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Sound and practical business judgment and decision-making skills.
Ability to work independently with limited oversight in a fast-paced environment while handling multiple projects for multiple clients simultaneously.
Strong transactional legal drafting and negotiation skills, with or without precedents or templates.

Nice To Haves

Am Law 100 law firm experience in a transactional group.
In-house counsel experience supporting transactions and/or research and development.
Experience advising on transactions involving non-U.S. counterparties, biotechnology companies, academic institutions, or government-funded entities.
Intellectual property transactional experience.
Pharmaceutical research and development transactional experience in human or animal health.
Familiarity with animal health or veterinary medicine regulatory matters, such as USDA or FDA-CVM matters.
Patent law experience and/or a non-legal scientific or technical background in research and development or adjacent disciplines.
Familiarity with contract management systems and legal technology platforms.
Experience developing or deploying AI-enabled workflows in a legal or transactional context.

Responsibilities

Act as lead legal counsel and strategic advisor for the External Innovation team, independently and with limited oversight.
Support a high volume of transactions and related matters for more than 10 business clients across multiple jurisdictions.
Draft, negotiate, and advise on a variety of agreements at all stages of transactions.
Provide strategic legal advice on early-stage research and development transactions and related matters, including deal strategy, risk assessment, and transaction structuring.
Support post-signing contract and alliance management, including monitoring obligations, processing amendments, and coordinating terminations.
Co-lead deal teams with EI leads or business clients and collaborate with internal legal and non-legal specialists.
Prepare, update, and manage legal templates, playbooks, and contract databases.
Maintain an active deal tracker, including deadlines and action items, and provide updates to business clients and legal leadership.
Implement and ensure compliance with internal policies and procedures, including anti-bribery and anti-corruption policies, veterinary medicine regulations, and corporate approvals.
Support project-based assignments and other business transaction-related matters.
Support development and deployment of AI-enabled workflows and legal technology tools.
Advise on potential deal terms and structure, conduct legal due diligence, manage non-legal due diligence, and handle agreement negotiations and post-signing contractual matters.