Contracts Associate

biomarin; San Rafael (CA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

BioMarin is seeking a Contracts Associate to join our Legal Department. You will draft, negotiate, track, and manage a high volume of contracts, using established templates and CLM systems to support efficient execution and compliance.

This role is well-suited for recent graduates and offers onsite collaboration with attorneys, GSP, and business partners. Onsite presence is required; BioMarin provides collaborative spaces and a café on campus.

Qualifications

• Must have excellent attention to detail and strong analytical ability.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with stakeholders.
• Proven time management skills in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Draft and negotiate a variety of company agreements including NDAs, MSAs, Amendments, SOWs, and Change Orders using BioMarin templates.
• Utilize CLM systems and playbooks to manage contract lifecycle steps.
• Monitor a high volume of contracts from draft to final signatures.
• Ensure compliance with BioMarin contracting policy and procedures.
• Serve as a liaison among Legal, GSP, business partners and external contracting parties.
• Build collaborative relationships with internal stakeholders to address contracting needs.
• Support templates/playbooks updates and training to improve efficiency.
• Provide support for cross-functional projects within the Legal Department.

Skills

Attention to detail

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Time management

Team collaboration

MS Office proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Contract lifecycle management (CLM) systems

Job description

Who We Are

BioMarin is a leading rare disease biotechnology company focused on genetically defined conditions. Guided by our purpose to develop medicines that make a profound impact on people’s lives, our global teams have delivered a portfolio of therapies since our founding in 1997. Our revolutionary treatments for conditions like achondroplasia (the most common form of dwarfism), PKU (phenylketonuria), CLN2, a form of Batten disease, and a number of forms of MPS (mucopolysaccharidosis) offer new possibilities for patients and families who previously had few, if any, available options. More recently, with the close of the Amicus acquisition, our portfolio has expanded to include therapies for Fabry disease and Pompe disease, expanding our ability to reach more people living with rare genetic conditions. Our success comes from our unwavering commitment to excellence, our deep understanding of patient needs, our scientific expertise, and our world‑class manufacturing capabilities. At the heart of BioMarin is a dedicated team of the brightest minds in the industry working together to deliver innovative therapies to patients and families around the world.

About Corporate Groups

It takes a village, and at BioMarin, our general and admin teams are the village behind our success. From the IT experts who manage our technology to the human resources professionals who hire the people who make it all possible, these teams support our organization and span all areas of operations.

Contracts Associate

BioMarin is seeking a Contracts Associate to join our Legal Department. This role offers an excellent opportunity for an organized, detail‑oriented professional to gain hands‑on experience supporting enterprise‑wide contracting within a dynamic biotechnology company.

The Contracts Associate will work closely with attorneys, Global Sourcing and Procurement (GSP), and business partners across the organization to draft, negotiate, track, and manage a high volume of contracts. Using established templates, playbooks, and procurement and contract management systems, the successful candidate will help facilitate efficient contract execution while ensuring compliance with Legal policies and procedures.

This position is well‑suited for candidates interested in pursuing law school / a legal career. Recent college graduates are eligible to apply.

BioMarin offers competitive salaries and benefits with onsite amenities including collaborative indoor and outdoor spaces and an onsite coffee bar and café.

Contract Associate responsibilities include the ability to:

• Research prior contracting relationships with suppliers and other contracting parties.
• Draft and negotiate a variety of company agreements including Non‑Disclosure Agreements, Master Service Agreements, Amendments, Scopes of Work, and Change Orders, using BioMarin templates, in BioMarin’s procurement and contract lifecycle management (CLM) systems.
• Utilize Legal Department playbooks and approved guidance to negotiate contracts within established parameters.
• Monitor and track a large volume of contracts from draft to final signatures using the CLM.
• Ensure company‑wide compliance with BioMarin's contracting policy and procedures.
• Serve as a liaison among Legal, Global Sourcing and Procurement (GSP), business partners, and external contracting parties to facilitate contract review, negotiation, and execution.
• Build collaborative relationships with internal stakeholders to understand and respond to contracting needs.
• Exercise sound judgment within defined procedures and practices to determine action, including identifying issues and escalating matters to in‑house counsel when appropriate.
• Support Legal Department initiatives, including maintaining templates and playbooks, training users on contract management processes, and improving operational efficiencies.
• Provide support for departmental projects and cross‑functional initiatives as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Ability to work onsite at least two days per week (currently Tuesdays and Thursdays), with occasional additional onsite days as needed.
• Must be detail oriented, self‑motivated, a quick learner, and have a strong work ethic.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Strong proofreading and editing skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally and timely with internal and external stakeholders including suppliers/partners, outside counsel, internal legal team, business partners, GSP, and other stakeholders; proactively communicate relevant issues and deadlines.
• Excellent organization and time management skills required; Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, work effectively in a fast‑paced environment with a heavy workload, and work under pressure.
• Strong technology aptitude and willingness to learn new systems, processes, and enterprise AI tools.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Demonstrated initiative, accountability, sound judgment, and a collaborative approach.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience as a contracts administrator or contracts associate.
• Coursework in legal studies or experience at a law firm or within an in‑house legal department of a public company.
• Experience within biotech/biopharma industry or other contract‑intensive fields.
• Familiarity with Icertis or other contract lifecycle management systems.
• Familiarity with SAP Ariba.

Education

Bachelor's degree required.

Note: This description is not intended to be all‑inclusive, or a limitation of the duties of the position. It is intended to describe the general nature of the job that may include other duties as assumed or assigned.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Veterans / Disabled
An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.