Corporate Counsel

Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. is seeking a Corporate Counsel to provide practical, business-focused legal guidance across corporate functions, supporting contracting, compliance, and risk management within a life sciences context.

You will collaborate with internal stakeholders to draft, review, and negotiate a range of agreements, manage outside counsel, and ensure governance aligned with company policies and regulatory requirements. JD required; 6+ years of experience in a life sciences setting.

Qualifications

• JD degree with 6+ years of attorney experience in life sciences or top law firm
• Active license to practice law in any state
• Foundational knowledge of corporate contracting and transactions
• Ability to analyze legal issues and assess business impact with guidance
• Pharmaceutical/biotech industry practices preferred
• AI/IT/data governance initiatives preferred
• Ability to provide practical, business-oriented legal advice on complex issues
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong communication, influencing, collaboration, and organizational skills
• Ability to operate independently and escalate as needed

Responsibilities

• Provide clear, practical legal advice and risk guidance to business partners
• Draft, review, and negotiate a variety of agreements (confidentiality, consulting, master service, licensing, collaboration)
• Support corporate transactions including financing, licensing, collaboration
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to understand business needs and provide responsive legal support
• Identify potential legal risks and contribute to compliance processes
• Assist in development and maintenance of legal templates, processes, and tools
• Manage outside counsel as directed

Skills

Legal analysis

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

JD degree

Job description

Who We Are:

Neurocrine Biosciences is a leading biopharmaceutical company with a simple purpose: to relieve suffering for people with great needs. We are dedicated to discovering, developing and commercializing life-changing treatments for patients with under-addressed neurological, psychiatric, endocrine and immunological disorders. The company's diverse portfolio includes FDA-approved treatments for tardive dyskinesia, chorea associated with Huntington's disease, classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia, hyperphagia in Prader-Willi syndrome, endometriosis* and uterine fibroids*, as well as a robust pipeline including multiple compounds in mid- to late-phase clinical development across our core therapeutic areas. For more than three decades, we have applied our unique insight into neuroscience and the interconnections between brain and body systems to treat complex conditions. We relentlessly pursue medicines to ease the burden of debilitating diseases and disorders, because you deserve brave science. For more information, visit neurocrine.com , and follow the company on LinkedIn , X , Facebook and YouTube . ( *in collaboration with AbbVie )

About the Role:

A Corporate Counsel provides legal support to the Company's corporate functions and business operations by advising on complex legal matters and increasingly complex legal issues within defined areas of responsibility. Works under the guidance of more senior attorneys to deliver practical, business-oriented legal advice, support contracting activities, and ensure compliance with applicable laws and Company policies. Executes assigned legal workstreams and contributes to the effective delivery of legal services across corporate initiatives. _

Your Contributions (include, but are not limited to):

Legal Advice & Execution

Provides clear, practical legal advice and risk guidance to business partners on complex matters that inform legal strategy for assigned business areas

Supports business activities, potentially including:

• Clinical development and research activities
• Business development and alliance management activities
• Corporate and operational matters
• Artificial intelligence, information technology, and data governance initiatives

Applies applicable laws and regulations, as well as industry requirements

Contracting & Transactional Support

• Drafts, reviews, and negotiates a variety of agreements, including:
• Confidentiality agreements
• Consulting and master services agreements
• Clinical trial and research-related agreements
• Licensing, collaboration, and vendor agreements
• Other routine corporate and transactional documents

Supports corporate transactions, including financing, licensing, collaboration, and business development activities

Ensures agreements align with Company policies, templates, governance requirements, and risk tolerance

Business Partnership

Collaborates with internal stakeholders to understand business needs and provide responsive legal support

Escalates complex or high-risk issues to senior attorneys, as appropriate

Leads assigned legal workstreams and contributes to cross-functional projects. Maintains strong relationships with business clients and third-party contracting parties to support Company objectives.

Compliance & Risk Awareness

Identifies potential legal risks and brings issues forward for review

Supports implementation of compliance processes and legal guidance

Stays current on relevant legal and regulatory developments

Operational Support

Assists in development and maintenance of legal templates, processes, and tools

Supports management of outside counsel as directed

Performs other duties as assigned

Requirements:

Juris Doctor (JD) degree and 6+ years practice as an attorney in a well-regarded law firm and in-house experience with a life sciences company, and/or a reputable, highly rated law firm with a focus on representing life science companies

An active license to practice law in any state

Foundational knowledge of: Corporate contracting and transactions

Ability to analyze legal issues and understand business impact with guidance

Pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry practices (preferred)

Artificial intelligence, information technology, and data governance initiatives (preferred)

Demonstrated ability to provide practical, business-oriented legal advice on complex issues.

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with demonstrated ability to assess ambiguous or complex issues, prioritize risk, and exercise sound judgment

Strong communication, influencing, collaboration, and organizational skills, with demonstrated ability to manage multiple complex priorities and build effective relationships across functions and levels

Demonstrated ability to operate independently, exercise sound judgment, and recognize matters requiring broader Legal, Compliance, or senior-leadership alignment

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Neurocrine Biosciences is an EEO/Disability/Vets employer.

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