Associate Director, Commercial Counsel

Larson Maddox; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Larson Maddox client seeks an Associate Director, Contracts Counsel in the San Francisco area to lead complex commercial agreements and provide strategic legal guidance across multiple business units.

The role partners with Commercial, Market Access, Marketing, Medical Affairs, Compliance, Procurement, and Finance to support product launches, growth, and robust contracting processes, while mentoring junior staff.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school and active bar membership in good standing.
• 6+ years of relevant legal experience in pharma/biotech or life sciences.
• Understanding healthcare regulatory and compliance considerations.

Responsibilities

• Lead drafting, review, negotiation, and management of commercial agreements.
• Provide practical legal advice across Commercial, Market Access, Marketing, Medical Affairs, Compliance, Procurement, and Finance.
• Support contracting around commercialization, distribution, data services, and consulting.
• Assist product launches, commercialization, and growth initiatives through contracting strategies.
• Build contracting infrastructure via templates, processes, and training.
• Mentor junior legal and contracts staff to strengthen risk awareness.

Skills

Commercial contracting

Legal advisory

Cross-functional collaboration

Mentoring

Education

J.D. from an accredited law school

Job description

Our client is a rapidly growing commercial stage Biotech preparing to launch two highly-anticipated therapies. They are seeking an Associate Director, Contracts Counsel to help support commercial operations and strategic business initiatives as the Company continues to expand and evolve.

The successful candidate will serve as a trusted legal advisor to cross-functional stakeholders and lead complex commercial contracting efforts across the business.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the drafting, review, negotiation, and management of a broad range of commercial agreements supporting business operations and growth initiatives
• Partner closely with Commercial, Market Access, Marketing, Medical Affairs, Compliance, Procurement, Finance, and other functional teams to provide practical, solution-oriented legal advice
• Support contracting related to commercialization, market access, distribution, customer engagement, data services, consulting, and other key business activities
• Support product launch, commercialization, and growth initiatives through effective contracting strategies and legal guidance
• Help build and mature contracting infrastructure through process improvements, template development, training, and operational efficiencies
• Mentor and provide guidance to junior legal, contracts, or business personnel, helping strengthen contracting knowledge and risk awareness across the organization

Qualifications:

• J.D. from an accredited law school and active bar membership in good standing
• 6+ years of relevant legal experience, including significant commercial contracting experience within the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, healthcare, or broader life sciences industry
• Understanding of healthcare regulatory and compliance considerations affecting commercial operations.
• Preferred: Experience supporting commercial-stage products, product launches, or commercialization activities.
• Preferred: Familiarity with market access, distribution, patient support, pricing, reimbursement, healthcare compliance, privacy, and related legal frameworks.