Assistant General Counsel (Pharma)

TL;DR

Assistant General Counsel (Pharma): Leading the drafting, negotiation, and strategic management of complex commercial supply agreements for API and finished pharmaceutical products with an accent on risk allocation and regulatory compliance. Focus on partnering with cross-functional teams to structure commercially practical agreements and driving digital transformation initiatives within the legal department.

Location: Must be based in the NJ, PA, or DE area

Salary: $140,000 - $210,000

Company

A global provider of R&D and manufacturing services for the pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device industries.

What you will do

• Lead the drafting, review, and negotiation of complex commercial supply agreements for API and finished pharmaceutical products.
• Serve as a principal legal advisor to commercial manufacturing teams, balancing commercial objectives with legal risk.
• Negotiate key provisions including pricing, capacity reservations, quality obligations, and intellectual property.
• Partner with Business Development, Operations, Quality, and Regulatory Affairs on contract execution and customer negotiations.
• Manage outside counsel and ensure contracts align with regulatory requirements and company policies.
• Assess emerging legal risks, including AI governance and data privacy, and update templates accordingly.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• Admission to the bar and in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in life sciences, pharmaceutical, or CDMO legal support.
• Substantial experience as lead counsel for commercial supply agreements involving API or finished products.
• Must be located in or able to work from the Tri-State area (NJ, PA, DE).
• Excellent legal writing, analytical reasoning, and communication skills.

Nice to have

• Experience advising CDMOs on GMP-regulated operations.
• Experience negotiating sophisticated IP provisions in pharmaceutical development.
• Familiarity with AI-assisted drafting tools and legal technology solutions.
• Experience using data and metrics to improve contract cycle times.

Culture & Benefits

• Opportunity to work in a senior role within a global life sciences organization.
• Collaborative environment partnering with diverse cross-functional teams.
• Focus on digital transformation and legal process improvement.
• Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity and inclusion.