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Director, Senior Counsel

San Carlos, California, United States

Join our Mission to Protect Humankind!

Vaxcyte is a clinical-stage vaccine innovation company engineering high-fidelity vaccines to protect humankind from the consequences of bacterial diseases, which have serious and costly health consequences when left unchecked. Working to eradicate or treat bacterial infections such as invasive pneumococcal disease, Group A Strep, and Shigella is just the beginning. Our path to success is clear and well-defined, and Vaxcyte is set up to go the distance. 
 
WHAT we do is every bit as important as HOW we do it! Our work together is guided by four enduring core values:
 
*RETHINK CONVENTION: We bring creative and intellectual diversity to every facet of the work we do in order to innovate and re-innovate the way vaccines are delivered.
 
*AIM HIGH: We embody our collectively audacious goal to courageously make the most complex biologics ever attempted to protect humankind.
 
*LEAD WITH HEART: Everyone leads at Vaxcyte with a kindness-first, inclusive approach to collaboration and vigorous debate that advances our business objectives.
 
*MODEL EXCELLENCE:  The magnitude of our challenge requires our shared commitment to demonstrating integrity, accountability, equality and clarity across communications and decision making.

Summary:

Working closely with the General Counsel and reporting to the Executive Director, Associate General Counsel, the Director, Senior Counsel will enjoy a high-visibility and high-impact role supporting cross-functional teams. The emphasis of this role will be on drafting, negotiating, executing, and managing contracts with company vendors as well as industry partners, government agencies, and CROs. Additionally, there will be exposure to other legal areas such as compliance.

Essential Functions:

  • Prepare and negotiate a wide variety of agreements, including commercial, consulting, vendor, supply, master service, licensing, collaboration and development, joint venture, sponsored research, CRO, manufacturing, confidentiality, and other agreements essential to Vaxcyte’s business.
  • Provide counsel to, and participate in strategy discussions with, internal stakeholders to ensure the Company’s contracts meet strategic objectives while mitigating corporate risk.
  • Lead the continuous improvement of law department operations through problem solving, strategic planning, project management, process, and systems improvement (include contracts management systems), and financial/budget management, including through the implementation of new software tools.
  • Define contracting processes and systems and provide necessary reports and project status information to management and other appropriate staff.
  • Oversee outside counsel engagements, manage department budget, and implement cost‑containment and efficiency initiatives.
  • Advise internal clients regarding legal issues, including identifying, managing, and communicating risks and opportunities in commercial transactions.
  • Support continuous improvements of forms, policies and processes to help streamline and simplify deals and product/service terms.
  • Develop and maintain strong working relationships with internal and external business partners as well as other members of the legal team.

Requirements: 

  • Juris Doctor degree with exceptional academic credentials.
  • Must hold and maintain an active law license in a jurisdiction that permits the attorney to lawfully provide the required legal services, in accordance with all applicable laws, regulations, and rules of court.
  • Minimum 6-10+ years of legal experience drafting, structuring, and negotiating agreements, including commercial, consulting, vendor, supply, master service, licensing, collaboration and development, joint venture, sponsored research, CRO, manufacturing, confidentiality, and other agreements essential to Vaxcyte’s business. Other combinations of education and/or experience may be considered.
  • In-house legal experience at a biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or biopharmaceutical company is a plus.
  • Experience managing contracts processes and policies and using contracts lifecycle management (CLM) tools (e.g., Ironclad).
  • Hands‑on experience implementing and administering CLM systems and legal‑tech tools including AI applications; aptitude for leveraging data analytics to drive decisions.
  • Experience handling commercial contract disputes and dispute resolution.
  • Experience driving cost-saving initiatives.
  • Experience using AI tools such as Spellbook and ChatGPT Enterprise.
  • Excellent analytical skills; creative, pragmatic problem-solving abilities in a transactional context; and efficient, precise drafting of customized agreements.
  • Excellent analytical, communication and organizational skills, and demonstrated ability to effectively collaborate and manage several simultaneous projects under deadline pressure.
  • Experience working on FDA regulatory and quality assurance matters is preferred.
Reports to: Executive Director, Associate General Counsel
 
Location: Hybrid/Open to remote with the ability to work West Coast hours
 
Compensation:
The compensation package will be competitive and includes comprehensive benefits and an equity component.
 
Salary Range: $236,000 - $270,000 (SF Bay Area). Salary ranges for non-California locations may vary.

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.

 

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