Managing Lead Counsel - SCRI

McKesson • Nashville, TN

6d • Remote

About The Position

McKesson is an impact-driven, Fortune 10 company that touches virtually every aspect of healthcare. We are known for delivering insights, products, and services that make quality care more accessible and affordable. Here, we focus on the health, happiness, and well-being of you and those we serve – we care. What you do at McKesson matters. We foster a culture where you can grow, make an impact, and are empowered to bring new ideas. Together, we thrive as we shape the future of health for patients, our communities, and our people. If you want to be part of tomorrow’s health today, we want to hear from you. In June 2022, McKesson and HCA Healthcare announced the creation of a joint venture that combines McKesson’s US Oncology Research (USOR) and HCA Healthcare’s Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI). This joint venture establishes a fully integrated oncology research organization aimed at expanding clinical research, accelerating drug development, and increasing availability and access to clinical trials for community oncology providers and patients, including those in underserved communities. Through the combination of clinical research networks, data, and analytic capabilities, SCRI brings greater efficiency to the drug development process—making it possible to help more cancer patients access new, life‑saving medications. Position Summary: McKesson’s Law Department is seeking an experienced healthcare and transactional lawyer to join the SCRI legal team and provide comprehensive legal support to SCRI’s Site Management Organization (SMO) business, with additional responsibility for select enterprise and cross‑functional initiatives. As Managing Senior Counsel, this role plays a critical part in advising and guiding the organization on legal matters related to clinical trials, research site relationships, regulatory compliance, privacy, and other legal aspects specific to oncology research and SMO operations. This role will report to and work in close partnership with the Managing Principal Counsel for SCRI, supporting the delivery of consistent, high‑quality legal advice across the SMO and enterprise initiatives. The Managing Senior Counsel is expected to exercise sound professional judgment regarding issue escalation, risk positioning, and alignment with broader legal and business strategy, while operating with a high degree of independence within the SCRI legal leadership structure.

Requirements

• Experience supporting clinical research operations and site‑based research activities, including an understanding of applicable healthcare and research regulations.
• Strong ability to assess legal risks associated with SMO operations and develop effective risk‑mitigation strategies.
• Superior ability to draft, review, and negotiate complex agreements, including clinical trial agreements, master services agreements, confidentiality agreements, vendor contracts, and other research‑related agreements.
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively within a legal leadership structure, including supporting senior legal leaders, aligning advice with established legal strategy, and escalating issues appropriately.
• Proven leadership experience and a strong desire to develop and manage a team of high‑functioning legal professionals.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to provide clear, practical legal advice to senior business executives and other stakeholders.
• Highly responsive, proactive, and solutions‑oriented approach.
• Excellent legal judgment with the ability to be both pragmatic and strategic in a fast‑paced, matrixed environment.
• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree.
• Active membership in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• Typically requires 10+ years of experience providing legal counsel.
• Must have experience in healthcare clinical trials and/or clinical research operations; experience supporting an SMO or equivalent site‑based research operations strongly preferred.
• Must have expertise in commercial contract drafting and negotiation.
• Typically requires 13+ years of professional experience and 6+ years of diversified leadership, planning, communication, organization, and people motivation skills (or equivalent experience)
• Must be authorized to work in the US.
• Sponsorship is not available for this position.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in technology licensing and data management is encouraged.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary legal advisor to SCRI on a wide range of legal matters pertaining to the SMO business, including research site relationships and related agreements, clinical trial operations support, regulatory compliance, privacy, and contractual matters.
• Provide legal support for select enterprise and cross‑functional initiatives impacting SCRI and the broader Oncology Ecosystem, including strategic initiatives and risk mitigation efforts that intersect with SMO operations.
• Partner closely with the Managing Principal Counsel for SCRI to ensure alignment on legal strategy, risk tolerance, and business priorities, including timely escalation of significant, novel, or sensitive issues and consistent communication of legal guidance to stakeholders.
• Manage and develop a team of high-functioning legal professionals, providing guidance, oversight, and mentorship to support high‑quality, timely legal advice and execution.
• Assess legal and regulatory risks associated with SMO operations and related enterprise initiatives and develop practical strategies to mitigate risk while enabling business objectives.
• Stay current on relevant laws, regulations, and industry guidelines related to clinical trials, oncology research operations, and healthcare compliance, and apply that knowledge to business decision‑making.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree