Vice President, Legal

Atrium Therapeutics • San Diego, CA

2d • $327,000 - $362,000

About The Position

Atrium is a biopharmaceutical company pioneering delivery of RNA therapeutics to the heart to transform the standard of care for people living with cardiomyopathies. Our proprietary technology leverages the targeted RNA delivery platform initially designed at Avidity, which combines the tissue selectivity of mAbs and other targeted delivery ligands with the precision of oligonucleotides.
This unique combination is designed to allow selective targeting of the underlying genetic drivers of disease that were previously undruggable. Through targeted, non-viral delivery of siRNA to cardiac tissues, our approach has the potential to overcome key limitations of nonspecific viral and nanoparticle-based delivery systems, including challenges related to tissue specificity, immunogenicity, and redosing.
Position Overview:
Atrium is seeking a pragmatic, business-oriented attorney to serve as our Head of Legal. This role will partner closely with the leadership team and across functions to support day-to-day operations, enable strategic decision-making, and manage legal risk across the organization.
We are looking for someone who is intellectually curious, highly collaborative, and comfortable operating in a hands-on environment. You must be diligent and proactive, show excellent business judgment and strategic thinking, along with the ability to work independently and collaboratively in a collegial, fast-paced team environment.
This position requires an attorney to be responsible for a broad array of matters, including partnering with internal and external stakeholders to ensure the Company’s compliance with U.S. securities laws, prepare and coordinate Board of Directors and committee matters, and providing timely and efficient legal advice across the Company. Experience in the biopharmaceutical industry is necessary.
The ideal candidate thrives in a resource-conscious environment, enjoys building from the ground up, and is excited to develop scalable legal processes while staying closely connected to the business. This role reports to the Chief Financial Officer.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school; active bar membership
• Licensed attorney with 10+ years of experience in a leading law firm and/or in-house biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry
• Strong generalist mindset with the ability to operate across multiple legal domains
• Demonstrated ability to provide practical, business-oriented legal advice
• Experience managing outside counsel effectively
• Ability to work independently in a lean, fast-paced environment and manage multiple priorities
• Demonstrated leadership qualities including experience coordinating with cross-functional teams, as well as providing sound business and legal judgment, and strategic and analytical thinking
• Experience working with all levels of management and key business stakeholders with a demonstrated ability to effectively communicate legal risks to executive leadership and senior management
• Excellent organizational skills and able to work with a team to meet critical deadlines; flexible and capable of managing multiple projects simultaneously

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting a public or late-stage private life sciences company is a plus

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted advisor to leadership and cross-functional teams (Finance, Clinical, Regulatory, Operations, HR)
• Provide practical, risk-balanced legal advice to support business decisions and company priorities
• Translate complex legal issues into clear, actionable guidance
• Apply commercially realistic judgment to balance legal risk, compliance, and operational goals
• Support public company obligations, including drafting/reviewing SEC filings (periodic reports, current reports, proxy statements, Section 16 filings) in coordination with internal teams and external counsel
• Advise on securities law matters, including fundraising activities
• Lead preparation and coordination of Board of Directors and committee materials
• Manage annual proxy statement process and stockholder meeting logistics
• Provide guidance on disclosure matters (investor presentations, press releases, and internal/external communications)
• Support corporate governance, including development of policies and employee training
• Coordinate equity and stock administration matters in partnership with Finance and HR
• Own and scale the Company’s contracting function, including templates, workflows, and processes
• Draft, review, and negotiate a broad range of agreements (e.g., CRO, vendor, licensing, collaboration, consulting)
• Partner with Finance and Procurement to streamline contract intake, tracking, and execution
• Provide legal support across company transactions and operational initiatives
• Identify, assess, and proactively mitigate legal and operational risks
• Develop, implement, and maintain company policies and compliance programs
• Stay current on applicable laws, regulations, and industry developments; update policies accordingly
• Provide risk mitigation counseling across all areas of the business
• Serve as the primary interface with outside counsel across corporate, securities, IP, employment, and regulatory matters
• Determine when to handle matters internally versus engage external expertise
• Manage scope, quality, timelines, and cost of external legal support
• Build and refine legal processes appropriate for a growing biotech company
• Enable efficient execution of business priorities through practical, solutions-oriented support
• Collaborate cross-functionally to support corporate activities and strategic initiatives
• Contribute to a low-ego, highly collaborative culture

Benefits

• Atrium offers competitive compensation and benefits which include stock options, as well as a 401(k) with an employer match.
• In addition, the comprehensive wellness program includes coverage for medical, dental, vision, and LTD, and unlimited of time off including spring, summer & winter breaks
• A commitment to learning and development which includes a variety of programming internally developed by and for Atrium employees, opportunities for job-specific training offered by industry, and an education reimbursement program.

What This Job Offers

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