Legal Director, Partnerships & Licensing

Zealand Pharma • Cambridge, MA

4d • $180,000 - $250,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

We are looking for a Legal Director based on the U.S. east coast to join our Legal Partnerships and Licensing team, headquartered in Denmark. The role guides research and development initiatives and drives business development efforts, supporting company growth and compliance with industry and market regulations. As a trusted advisor, the Legal Director works closely with Medical, R&D and Business Development teams to shape the legal approach to cutting-edge science and to enable innovation. The role reports to the Senior Director of Partnerships & Licensing in Denmark and offers the flexibility to work from home or from the Boston office, with some travel to the headquarters in Denmark.

Requirements

• Law or commercial law degree; admission to practice law in a relevant jurisdiction is preferred
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in a legal role, in private practice or in-house, within the biotech or pharmaceutical industry
• Solid understanding of biotech industry regulations and of research and clinical development challenges
• Experience with complex contract negotiations, including IP, licensing and M&A
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Professional proficiency in English and the ability to work with English-language contracts

Responsibilities

• Provide expert legal guidance across the organization, with a focus on business development, medical, AI and R&D
• Draft, review and negotiate complex agreements, including partnerships, alliances, licensing, collaborations, AI partnerships and M&A
• Facilitate and manage strategic partnerships with external collaborators to advance innovation
• Identify and assess new business opportunities, including strategic partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, contributing to the company's growth agenda
• Participate in and support legal projects involving template updates, ESG initiatives, guidance notes and compliance initiatives

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree