Counsel, Global Product Development

Bristol-Myers Squibb; Princeton (NJ); On-site; USD 202,000 - 245,000; Full time

Job summary

Bristol Myers Squibb is seeking a Counsel for Global Product Development in New Jersey. This role provides strategic, regulatory, and transactional counsel across product development, supply, and manufacturing.

You will negotiate complex development and commercial agreements, support due diligence for BD opportunities, and advise senior executives on high‑impact matters. The candidate should have a JD and bar admission, 6+ years of relevant experience in pharma or life sciences, and strong

Qualifications

• JD and active bar admission in at least one US state.
• 6+ years of legal experience in pharma or life sciences.
• Experience drafting complex development and commercial agreements.
• Ability to advise senior executives with clarity and judgment.
• Strong interpersonal and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Act as lead legal advisor to Global Product Development for senior executives.
• Negotiate and draft material development and supply agreements (CMO/CDMO).
• Support due diligence and asset integration in M&A and BD deals.
• Draft and negotiate secondary agreements arising from BD transactions.
• Guide IP strategy and streamline transactional legal support enterprise-wide.
• Collaborate with Law & Policy and business clients to deliver coordinated advice.

Skills

Contract drafting

Negotiation

Regulatory affairs

Communication

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

Bar admission (US)

Job description

At Bristol Myers Squibb, our employees often ask, “Who are you working for?”—a question that fuels collaboration, accountability, and urgency in our work. Our purpose-driven culture inspires us to discover, develop, and deliver innovative medicines to prevail over serious diseases. We offer uniquely interesting and meaningful work, opportunities for growth, and a supportive environment that values inclusion, wellbeing, flexibility, and comprehensive benefits. This is work that transforms the lives of patients, and the careers of those who do it.

The Counsel, Global Product Development provides strategic, regulatory, and transactional counsel across the Company’s pharmaceutical and biologics product development and clinical supply activities. This attorney will support some of the Company’s most significant transactions, including complex, high-value alliance and collaboration agreements. Decisions about product development strategy and how to turn a newly discovered molecule into a manufacturable, testable, regulatory‑approvable medicine, sit at the center of how BMS delivers medicines to patients, and this attorney will be a trusted partner to senior business leaders as those decisions are made.

The role sits within the Product Development & Supply (PDS) Law team, a collaborative and dynamic group within the Global Drug Development, Manufacturing & Corporate Transactions (GDMCT) legal team at BMS. The PDS Law team provides comprehensive legal support for internal and external manufacturing operations, product development, supply chain, human rights, customs and trade, engineering, real estate, and EOHSS. The broader GDMCT legal team also supports Drug Development, Global Quality, and transactional support across the enterprise. This attorney will work alongside colleagues with deep subject matter expertise across manufacturing, quality, regulatory, and transactional practices, on work that is directly connected to the delivery of medicines to patients.

The successful candidate brings excellent legal judgment, strong business development and transactional skill, and the ability to translate complex legal issues into clear, practical advice for senior executives, always prioritizing the urgent needs of patients. Serve as the lead legal advisor to Global Product Development, counseling senior executives on business strategies and complex and high‑value transactions across the pharmaceutical and biologics pipeline. Negotiate, structure, and draft material development and supply transactions, including contract manufacturing (CMO/CDMO), that enable PD's internal sites and external manufacturing partners. Support legal due diligence on business development opportunities and support the manufacturing, operations, and supply aspects of BMS M&A and BD deals, including asset integration into the PD network. Draft and negotiate secondary agreements arising out of business development deals, including assignment, manufacturing, material transfer, and bill of sale agreements. Negotiate, structure, and draft material business transactions that drive revenue growth and operational improvements, including drug development, procurement, manufacturing, laboratory, and research agreements, and advise on enterprise‑wide manufacturing strategy. Collaborate cross‑functionally to identify potential risks and establish mitigation strategies, including guiding the PDS team through alliance‑related issues. Partner with IP colleagues to protect and leverage PD's innovations. Lead process optimization and integration initiatives, including intellectual property strategy, asset integrations, and the streamlining of transactional legal support across the enterprise. Collaborate across the Law & Policy Department and with business clients and colleagues to deliver coordinated, comprehensive legal advice.

Qualifications JD (or equivalent) and admission in good standing to at least one U.S. state bar; qualified, or able to become qualified, to practice in‑house in New Jersey. 6 or more years of legal experience across law firm, in‑house, and/or government roles, including experience in the pharmaceutical or life sciences industry. Experience drafting and negotiating complex product development and commercial agreements relevant to product development and supply (e.g., alliance, collaboration, licensing, and merger and acquisition agreements; drug development, procurement, manufacturing, laboratory, and research agreements) is preferred. Familiarity and experience with intellectual property law is preferred. Demonstrated ability to build strong relationships and to advise and influence senior executives on high‑impact legal and business matters. Excellent judgment and objectivity, with strong attention to detail and the ability to navigate complex legal issues. Excellent verbal and written communication and collaboration skills; proactive, with the ability to independently prioritize and manage multiple projects and clients. Highly collaborative, with the ability to earn the trust of others, build productive internal and external relationships, and operate effectively in a multi‑cultural, matrixed environment. Pragmatic and solutions‑oriented, with a commitment to an inclusive workplace and superior personal integrity and ethics.

#LI‑Hybrid

We hire for skills and capabilities, not just credentials – if this role excites you, but doesn’t perfectly match your resume, we encourage you to apply anyway.

Compensation Overview:

Madison - Giralda - NJ - US: $202,050 - $244,831Princeton - NJ - US: $202,050 - $244,831

The starting pay range(s) listed above is for full‑time employees (FTE). You may also be eligible for additional discretionary incentive cash and stock opportunities. We determine starting pay thoughtfully – carefully considering the nature of the role, required skills, work location, schedule and the knowledge and experience you bring. Final compensation is guided by pay equity principles and applicable employment laws. Compensation programs are reviewed on an ongoing basis and may be adjusted over time to reflect evolving market factors, and individual, team or Company performance.

Benefits:

• Subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans then in effect, you may be eligible to participate in our comprehensive benefit plans – including wellbeing support, retirement and financial protection benefits, and insurance offerings (medical, dental, vision, life and disability).
• U.S.-based exempt employees are eligible for Flexible Time Off (FTO), which provides paid time off without a set accrual limit, subject to manager approval, along with 11 paid company holidays each year.
• Non‑exempt employees, RayzeBio employees, and employees located in Puerto Rico receive 160 hours of paid vacation annually for new hires (subject to manager approval), 11 paid company holidays, and 3 optional holidays.
• Depending on eligibility, employees may also have access to additional time‑off benefits, including paid sick leave, up to two paid volunteer days per year, summer hours flexibility, and leaves of absence for medical, personal, parental, caregiver, bereavement, or military needs.
• Eligible employees also enjoy an annual Global Shutdown between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

U.S.-based job seekers can explore full benefit offerings at https://careers.bms.com/benefits

How We Work

Where you work matters – because collaboration, innovation and patient impact happen in many settings. Our roles are structured across four work models: site‑essential, site‑by‑design, field‑based and remote‑by‑design. The model assigned to this role is based on its core responsibilities. Learn more at https://careers.bms.com/ways‑of‑working.

Supporting People with Disabilities

BMS is dedicated to ensuring that people with disabilities can excel through a transparent recruitment process, reasonable workplace accommodations/adjustments and ongoing support in their roles. Applicants can request a reasonable workplace accommodation/adjustment prior to accepting a job offer. If you require reasonable accommodations/adjustments in completing this application, or in any part of the recruitment process, direct your inquiries to [e-mail]. Visit careers.bms.com/eeo-accessibility to access our complete Equal Employment Opportunity statement.

Candidate Rights

BMS will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, pursuant to applicable laws in your area. For roles based in Los Angeles County only: If you live in or expect to work from Los Angeles County if hired for this position, please visit this page for important additional information: https://careers.bms.com/california‑residents/

Data Protection

We will never request payments, financial information, or social security numbers during our application or recruitment process. Learn more about protecting yourself at https://careers.bms.com/fraud‑protection. Any data processed in connection with role applications will be treated in accordance with applicable data privacy policies and regulations. If this posting is missing required information required by local law or incorrect, contact BMS at [e-mail] the Job Title and Requisition number. Do not send application‑related inquiries to this email. To check your application status, please login to your Candidate Home Account. R1606357 : Counsel, Global Product Development Data Privacy Link

We’re creating innovative medicines for patients fighting serious diseases. We’re also nurturing our own diverse team with inspiring work and challenging career options. No matter the role, each one of us makes a contribution. And that makes all the difference.