Vice President, Legal

Profluent is an AI-first protein design company. Founded in 2022, we develop deep generative models to design and validate novel, functional proteins to revolutionize biomedicine. Based in Emeryville, CA, we are backed by leading investors including Altimeter Capital, Bezos Expeditions, Spark Capital, Insight Partners, Air Street Capital, AIX Ventures, and Convergent Ventures, and have raised over $150M to date.

We are seeking an experienced and business-oriented Vice President, Legal to lead and execute the company's legal strategy, with a primary focus on complex business development transactions. This role will serve as a key partner to Business Development and corporate leadership, enabling growth through high-impact dealmaking while ensuring legal rigor and operational efficiency.

This is not a role designed to memorialize the strategic work of other parties. We are looking for a true thought partner who joins the process before the term sheet and stays engaged through the full contract lifecycle. This person will help determine strategy, triage risk, and develop actionable plans to drive successful outcomes, sitting at the deal table alongside BD and executive leadership, not behind it. 

In the emerging field of AI-first protein design, this person can expect to see variety, volume, scale, and breadth of transactions across multiple industries and deal structures. 

Responsibilities 

BD Transactions (Core Focus)

• Lead legal strategy and execution for complex transactions, including licensing, joint ventures, and strategic collaborations across therapeutics, diagnostics, agriculture, biocatalysis, and manufacturing
• Serve as a genuine thought partner to BD and executive leadership from the earliest stages of deal structuring, not just at the contract execution phase
• Collaborate with R&D teams to critically refine research plans and SOWs to ensure technical objectives are precise, actionable, and aligned with contractual terms
• Draft, negotiate, and advise on a range of mid-to-complex agreements, including IP licenses, options, evaluations, MSAs, revenue sharing agreements, SRAs, and similar instruments
• Develop generalizable deal principles and strategies in partnership with BD, R&D, and executive leadership, including partnering with alliance management through the contract lifecycle
• Triage and communicate risk in ways that are actionable and grounded in evidence, and translate legal considerations into business strategy, not just legal analysis
• Perform effectively in high-stakes, live negotiation settings, including multi-party sessions with sophisticated counterparties

General Contracts Management & Operations

• Oversee and manage external contract consultants handling high-volume, lower-complexity agreements, including CDAs, MTAs, CSAs, and simpler MSAs
• Inherit and refine contract workflows, templates, and playbooks to improve efficiency and consistency
• Ensure appropriate risk management and compliance across all contracting activities
• Lead the development and ongoing maintenance of a comprehensive clause library, standardizing legal language to streamline contract drafting and ensure organizational consistency

External Counsel Management

• Manage outside counsel across key areas, including transactions, corporate, and real estate; current external partners include white-shoe and top-tier firms
• Scope and prioritize external support to ensure high-quality advice while maintaining cost discipline
• Provide clear direction and oversight to external counsel to ensure alignment with company strategy, risk tolerance, and timelines
• Evaluate performance and optimize the panel of firms as the company scales

Corporate Legal (Nice to Have)

Experience in or willingness to grow into supporting corporate activities is a plus, including:

• Equity-related agreements (diligence, financings, equity grants, investor documentation)
• Commercial and operational contracts (e.g., lease agreements, HR agreements)
• General corporate governance and compliance
• Pragmatic legal guidance to support scaling operations

Note: Core corporate legal needs are currently well-covered by outside counsel. This area represents a growth opportunity for the right candidate rather than a day-one requirement.

Who You Are

• You are a genuine thought partner; someone who wants to help shape deal strategy from the start, not execute it after the fact
• You are comfortable taking ownership and working autonomously in a fast-moving, high-stakes environment
• You have a demonstrated track record of cross-functional leadership and managing stakeholders across R&D, BD, finance, and executive leadership
• You translate risk assessments into actionable, operational strategy, using data and concrete scenarios rather than instinct or blanket caution
• You are adept at framing legal risk in terms of business strategy, helping senior leaders understand how contractual decisions affect both near-term and long-term priorities
• You have strong executive presence and are comfortable presenting to and partnering with C-suite leaders and board members
• You perform well in live, complex negotiations, including multi-party, multi-session settings where you may be the sole representative on your side of the table
• You are energized by deal complexity and volume, and are comfortable directing lower-complexity work to appropriate resources while staying focused on the highest-value transactions

Qualifications

Required

• JD from an accredited institution
• Scientific background: a degree in biology, chemistry, or a related field (bachelor's minimum; advanced degree preferred but not required where scientific fluency is demonstrated)
• Significant experience in life sciences transactions, with a demonstrable deal history spanning licensing, joint ventures, strategic collaborations, and similar complex structures
• Experience at a well-regarded law firm (top 10 or equivalent) where you developed high-volume, high-diversity transactional experience across multiple clients and deal types

Strongly Preferred

• In-house legal experience at a biotech, life sciences company, or life sciences-focused VC; candidates who have made the law firm-to-in-house transition bring valuable perspective on operating with internal stakeholders and navigating organizational dynamics
• Experience with gene editing, AI-driven biology, or similarly novel technology areas where contractual complexity around IP, definitions, and technical scope requires domain familiarity

A Plus

• Exposure to a broad range of industries and deal structures beyond therapeutics (e.g., diagnostics, agriculture, manufacturing, biocatalysis)
• Experience supporting equity financings, IPO preparation, or other corporate milestones

What We Offer

• High-growth opportunity with meaningful impact on the future of protein design
• Competitive compensation package with equity participation
• 401(k) with a strong employer match
• Comprehensive benefits including health/dental/vision insurance
• Generous PTO policy and commitment to work-life balance
• Professional development opportunities in a cutting-edge field at the intersection of AI and biology

Profluent Bio, Inc is an equal opportunity employer promoting diversity and inclusion in the workspace. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical conditions, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), sex (which includes pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding), genetic information, taking or requesting statutorily protected leave, or any other basis protected by law.

Work Authorization Requirement

Applicants must have ongoing work authorization in the United States that does not require employer sponsorship. Sponsorship will not be provided now or at any time in the future for this position.

Employment Eligibility Verification

Legal authorization to work in the United States is required. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired must verify their identity and work eligibility and complete the required employment verification form upon hire.