Description:

The Opportunity:
We are looking for a seasoned biopharmaceutical attorney, reporting to the General Counsel, to join and collaborate with all functional areas of Avidity in La Jolla, California. The successful candidate will be able to work at all levels of the Company and should have a strong background in biotechnology/pharmaceuticals. This position requires an attorney with strong in-house counsel experience, negotiating high-value agreements for a growing legal department in the pharmaceutical research, development, and commercialization fields. This attorney will have a focus on business-minded advice regarding company legal matters and counsel for senior business leadership on transactional matters, complex legal issues, vendor contracts, providing subject matter expertise on issues arising research and clinical studies, coordinate responses to disputes, participate in due diligence for licensing, financing, and acquisitions, coordinate legal support across all internal functional areas, and develop and implement process improvements for efficient delivery of legal services. The ability to calmly handle and prioritize competing, high-pressure demands is required.

What You Will Contribute
  • Focus on business-minded advice regarding company legal matters and counsel for senior business leadership on transactional matters, complex legal issues, vendor contracts, providing subject matter expertise on issues arising in research and clinical studies.
  • Attorney with strong law firm and/or in-house counsel experience, negotiating high-value agreements for a growing legal department in the pharmaceutical research, development, and commercialization fields.
  • Experience in drafting and negotiating a wide variety of contracts including master services agreements, clinical trial agreements, supply agreements, material transfer agreements, licensing IP in and out, partnerships, service providers, and research collaborations.
  • Apply legally sound and commercially realistic legal advice to balance legal risk, compliance, business and operational objectives and resources to Company transactions.
  • Coordinate with the General Counsel, Legal to manage legal risk and Company strategy.
  • Provide high quality, timely and practical legal advice and guidance, and identify/resolve critical legal and business issues arising from all areas of the organization.
  • Provide practical legal advice relating to contractual obligations, while proactively identifying and helping manage risk associated with Company transactions.
  • Maintain corporate policies across the organization, managing updates as the laws and regulations change.

What We Seek
  • Licensed attorney with 4 years of experience in a leading law firm and/or in-house biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry
  • Demonstrated leadership qualities including experience coordinating with cross-functional teams, as well as providing sound business and legal judgment, and strategic and analytical thinking
  • Prior team management experience preferred.
  • Self-motivated, practical, and interested in working on a wide range of legal matters to lead the Company on legal implications of its business strategy
  • 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

Preferred Education and/or Experience
  • Juris Doctorate from an accredited law school
  • Admitted to practice