Director, Contracting and Commercial Counsel

Position Summary

The Director, Contracting and Commercial Counsel’s primary role is to partner with the Company’s business functions to negotiate agreements with third parties.  The Director will also serve as a mentor for other attorneys and paralegals on contracting matters.  The Director will also advise the Company’s business teams on a range of issues related to commercialization. The Director will be expected to exhibit a high degree of integrity and professional courtesy, as well as to efficiently manage a significant volume of contracting and other responsibilities.

This position is remote with a corporate headquarters in Foster City, CA and Parsippany, NJ. The Director will report the Executive Director, Senior Commercial Counsel

Primary Responsibilities

• Drafts, negotiates, and advises on all types of agreements related to the commercialization of pharmaceuticals, including complex commercial, finance, and supply agreements.   
• Mentors and provides legal support to other attorneys and paralegals in the negotiation of vendor and consulting agreements.   
• Develops close working relationships with business stakeholders and provides support to facilitate efficient and effective review of relevant contracting and associated business processes 
• Works closely with other members of the Legal and Compliance team to coordinate and support the Company’s commercialization efforts
• At the direction of the Executive Director, Senior Commercial Counsel, partners cross-functionally as needs arise to provide legal counsel on a wide range of issues, including issues related to the promotion of pharmaceutical products and government reporting requirements
• Develops and implements appropriate business processes, templates, and tools to support contracting

Competencies

• Strong negotiation abilities, business sense, and drafting skills
• Ability to maintain a high level of attention to detail without losing sight of the big picture 
• Understanding of healthcare fraud and abuse laws, including the False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statutes
• Ability to deliver effective results with limited resources, under tight timeframes, and with a high degree of accuracy
• Highly collaborative, customer-centric problem solver supporting both external and internal clients while protecting the best interests of the Company
• Ability to respond to rapidly shifting priorities in ambiguous or challenging situations
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills 
• Ability to collaborate effectively in a dynamic, fast-paced environment while managing multiple projects and priorities 
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills that are demonstrated by being articulate, direct, and forthright

Experience

• Juris Doctorate (JD) and bar membership in jurisdiction of practice required
• At least 7 years of legal experience
• Experience drafting and negotiating contracts in a pharmaceutical or biotech company
• Experience negotiating a variety of specialized agreement types, such as supply, software, or clinical trial agreements 
• Experience advising commercial, market access, and/or medical affairs teams on issues related to the commercialization of pharmaceutical products is preferred

EEO Statement: 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. 

Benefit Statement:

All regular-status, full-time employees of Geron are eligible to participate in the Company’s comprehensive benefit program, pursuant to plan terms and conditions.  Plan choices include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, flexible spending accounts, disability insurance, supplemental health insurance, a 401(k) retirement savings plan, and an employee stock purchase plan.  Geron also provides regular-status, full-time employees with a generous time off program that includes the eligibility to accrue 160 hours of vacation during each full year of employment, 64 hours of sick leave, 9 standard paid holiday days off, and paid leave for certain life events. Geron recognizes that its employees work in many different states and therefore may be affected by different laws.  It is Geron’s intention to comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws that apply to the Company’s employees.

Salary Statement:

Offered compensation is determined based on market data, internal equity, and an applicant’s relevant skills, experience, and educational background.  

General Salary Range: $230,000 to $260,000