Profluent - Vice President, Legal
Requirements
• 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. • 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 • 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) • 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 • 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
Responsibilities
• 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
Benefits
• 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 • $275,000—$380,000 USD
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