Director, Corporate Counsel, Early Research & Development

About the role

BioMarin is seeking an experienced and business-oriented attorney to serve as the lead legal support and strategic advisor for its Early Research & Development (RED) organization. This role will partner closely with scientific, business, and functional leaders to enable innovative research collaborations, advance BioMarin's pipeline, and support the company's long-term strategic objectives.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Legal Partnership
  • Serve as the primary legal advisor to BioMarin's Early Research & Development organization.
    • Provide practical, risk-based legal counsel to scientific and business stakeholders to support research initiatives, external innovation activities, and strategic collaborations.
  • Partner closely with senior leaders across Worldwide Research & Development (WWRD), Business Development, Intellectual Property, Alliance Management, Procurement, and other functions.
    • Develop trusted relationships with executive and senior leadership and contribute to strategic decision-making.
• Transactional Support
  • Lead the drafting, review, negotiation, and execution of a wide variety of agreements supporting research and development activities, including:
    • Confidential Disclosure/Non-Disclosure Agreements (CDAs/NDAs)
    • Master Services Agreements (MSAs)
    • Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs)
    • Sponsored Research Agreements (SRAs)
    • Research Collaboration Agreements
    • Option, License, and Technology Evaluation Agreements
    • Academic and Institutional Collaborations
    • Consulting and Scientific Advisory Agreements
    • Other strategic research and development transactions
  • Advise stakeholders on contractual risk allocation, governance structures, publication rights, ownership of intellectual property, data rights, and commercialization considerations.
• Intellectual Property and Innovation Support
  • Partner with BioMarin's Intellectual Property team to support patent strategy and technology transactions.
    • Provide strategic legal guidance to business stakeholders regarding intellectual property protection, ownership, licensing, and commercialization.
  • Advisory on intellectual property aspects of collaborations with academic institutions, biotechnology companies, vendors, and other external partners.
• Cross-Functional Leadership
  • Collaborate effectively with Legal, Intellectual Property, Compliance, Business Development, Procurement, and Research leadership teams.
    • Support due diligence activities and strategic partnering opportunities involving early-stage science and technology.
  • Develop and improve contracting processes, templates, policies, and training materials to support research and development operations.
    • Monitor legal and regulatory developments affecting research collaborations, innovation partnerships, and intellectual property rights.

Qualifications

• J.D. degree from an accredited law school and active membership in at least one U.S. state bar.
• 7+ years of relevant legal experience, including substantial experience in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, life sciences, or related industry.
• Significant experience negotiating and drafting research, collaboration, licensing, and technology-related agreements.
• Deep understanding of intellectual property principles, including patent, licensing, ownership, and commercialization issues.
• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic legal counsel in a complex and highly collaborative environment.
• Experience partnering directly with scientific teams and translating complex scientific concepts into practical legal advice.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to independently manage a diverse portfolio of sophisticated legal matters.

Preferred

• In-house legal experience within a biotechnology or pharmaceutical company.
• Experience supporting early-stage research, discovery, translational science, or external innovation organizations.
• Familiarity with academic collaborations, sponsored research arrangements, and technology transfer practices.
• Experience supporting business development transactions, licensing activities, and strategic partnerships.
• Advanced scientific training or demonstrated aptitude for understanding complex scientific and technical concepts.
• Leadership Competencies
  • Strategic thinker with strong business judgment.
  • Collaborative and solutions-oriented approach.
  • Ability to influence and build credibility with senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders.
  • Skilled at balancing innovation enablement with appropriate risk management.
  • Strong organizational skills and ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic environment.