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Senior Director, Legal Operations & Contracts

South San Francisco, California, United States, Princeton, New Jersey, United States

About Us 

Kardigan is a heart health company working to make cardiovascular disease preventable, curable and no longer the leading cause of death in the world. It is our mission to develop multiple targeted treatments in parallel that bring people with cardiovascular diseases to the cures they deserve. 

At Kardigan, we are motivated by our values which guide how we work, interact, and achieve our goals. Driven by patients and their families, we are deeply committed to improving the lives of patients and prioritizing their needs above all else. We believe in being authentic—leading with truth to bring out the best in others by creating an environment where every person knows they will be fully accepted. With an eagerness to learn, we encourage the highest levels of curiosity and are open to changing our minds. We are committed to winning as a team with urgency, excellence, and intention, and support each other no matter what role we play or where we sit. Lastly, we strive to enable the impossible because patients are counting on us. We are not afraid to take risks to unlock innovation and advance scientific discoveries.   

These values are the foundation of our work, empowering us to make a real difference, every day.  

 

Position Title: Senior Director, Legal Operations & Contracts 

Department: Legal 

Reports To: General Counsel & Corporate Secretary 

 

Job Overview 

Kardigan is seeking an experienced and collaborative Senior Director, Legal Operations and Contracts to build and lead our legal contracts operations and processes, playing a critical role in our company’s success. As the Senior Director, Legal Operations and Contracts, you will build, lead and manage the legal contracts function, including reviewing and negotiating contracts, setting up and optimizing contract processes, and collaborating closely with cross-functional teams. This position requires a strong foundation in contract management, legal operations, systems implementation, and process optimization. You will oversee the contracts lifecycle, establish best practices in legal processes, and ensure compliance with company policies and industry regulations. 

 

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

  • Contract Review and Negotiation: Lead the drafting, review, interpretation, negotiation, and execution of day-to-day, high-risk vendor-based agreements such as master services agreements, supply/purchase agreements, technology transfer agreements, and material transfer agreements in alignment with business goals. Serve as liaison between outside counsel and business owners for high-risk/high-value transactions and escalate appropriate issues for senior-level decision-making 
  • Operational Excellence: Develop, implement, and enhance contract processes to improve efficiency, scalability, and risk mitigation. Drive continuous improvement in legal operations, policies, and procedures to support company growth. 
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Finance, Procurement, Development Operations and other internal stakeholders to align contract operations with business objectives, ensuring seamless integration of legal processes into organizational workflows. Lead the continuous improvement of the Legal function’s operations through problem-solving, strategic planning, project management, process and systems improvement, and financial/budget management 
  • Contract Management Systems: In collaboration with other key stakeholders implement, customize, and optimize of contract lifecycle management (CLM) systems and other legal tools to enhance visibility, efficiency, and reporting capabilities. 
  • Legal Process Development: Design and refine legal processes, including compliance frameworks, contract templates, and approval workflows, to support scalability and adherence to industry best practices. 
  • Biotechnology Expertise: Leverage experience in the biotech industry to address the unique contractual and operational needs of a life sciences company, particularly in areas such as clinical trials, manufacturing, and partnerships. 

 

Qualifications and Preferred Skills 

  • JD is required with a minimum of 15+ years of experience in contract management and legal operations. 
  • Demonstrated expertise in reviewing and negotiating a broad range of contracts in the biotechnology or pharmaceutical industry. 
  • Experience with contract lifecycle management systems and other legal tools. 
  • Proven ability to design, implement, and optimize legal processes in a growing organization. 
  • Effective time and project management skills, with a track record of driving multiple initiatives simultaneously. 
  • Self-motivated team player with strong business partnership skills and the ability to influence and collaborate across functions. 
  • Exceptional analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a focus on operational efficiency and risk mitigation. 
  • Detail oriented and organized. 
  • Able and willing to take on additional roles and functions to support the law department and company operations. 
  • Understands and supports a “patient-first” mentality. 

 

 

Exact Compensation may vary based on skills, experience and location.

Pay range

$251,000 - $340,000 USD

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