Director, Corporate Counsel, Early Research & Development

BioSpace; San Rafael (CA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

BioMarin is seeking an experienced attorney to serve as the lead legal advisor for its Early Research & Development organization. This Director, Corporate Counsel will collaborate with scientific, business, and functional leaders to enable innovative research collaborations and support BioMarin's pipeline and long-term strategy.

The role requires deep IP acumen, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to partner with scientists and senior leaders in a fast-paced life sciences environment.

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited law school and active US bar.
• 7+ years of relevant legal experience in biotech/pharma.
• Experience drafting research, collaboration, licensing, and tech agreements.
• Strong understanding of IP, ownership, licensing and commercialization.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic legal counsel to BioMarin's Early Research & Development.
• Draft, review, and negotiate research and collaboration agreements.
• Structure complex licensing, research, and tech transactions.
• Advise on IP protection, data rights, and commercialization.
• Collaborate with Legal, IP, Compliance, BD, Procurement and R&D leadership.
• Lead due diligence and support strategic partnering opportunities.

Skills

Negotiation

Communication

Stakeholder mgmt

Strategic counsel

IP acumen

Education

J.D. degree

US bar admission

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.

Position Summary

BioMarin is seeking an experienced and business-oriented attorney to serve as the lead legal support and strategic advisor for its Early Research & Development (RED) organization. This role will partner closely with scientific, business, and functional leaders to enable innovative research collaborations, advance BioMarin's pipeline, and support the company's long‑term strategic objectives.

The Director, Corporate Counsel, Early Research & Development will provide proactive legal counsel on a broad range of research, innovation, intellectual property, and transactional matters. The successful candidate will possess deep experience negotiating and drafting complex research and collaboration agreements including licenses, strong intellectual property acumen, and a demonstrated ability to effectively partner with scientists and senior business leaders in a fast‑paced life sciences environment.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Legal Partnership

Serve as the primary legal advisor to BioMarin's Early Research & Development organization.

Provide practical, risk-based legal counsel to scientific and business stakeholders to support research initiatives, external innovation activities, and strategic collaborations.

Partner closely with senior leaders across Worldwide Research & Development (WWRD), Business Development, Intellectual Property, Alliance Management, Procurement, and other functions.

Develop trusted relationships with executive and senior leadership and contribute to strategic decision‑making.

Transactional Support

Lead the drafting, review, negotiation, and execution of a wide variety of agreements supporting research and development activities, including:

• Confidential Disclosure/Non‑Disclosure Agreements (CDAs/NDAs)
• Master Services Agreements (MSAs)
• Material Transfer Agreements (MTAs)
• Sponsored Research Agreements (SRAs)
• Research Collaboration Agreements
• Option, License, and Technology Evaluation Agreements
• Academic and Institutional Collaborations
• Consulting and Scientific Advisory Agreements
• Other strategic research and development transactions

Structure and negotiate complex licensing, research, and collaboration arrangements involving proprietary technologies, intellectual property rights, and scientific data.

Advise stakeholders on contractual risk allocation, governance structures, publication rights, ownership of intellectual property, data rights, and commercialization considerations.

Intellectual Property and Innovation Support

Partner with BioMarin's Intellectual Property team to support patent strategy and technology transactions.

Provide strategic legal guidance to business stakeholders regarding intellectual property protection, ownership, licensing, and commercialization.

Advise on intellectual property aspects of collaborations with academic institutions, biotechnology companies, vendors, and other external partners.

Cross‑Functional Leadership

Collaborate effectively with Legal, Intellectual Property, Compliance, Business Development, Procurement, and Research leadership teams.

Support due diligence activities and strategic partnering opportunities involving early‑stage science and technology.

Develop and improve contracting processes, templates, policies and training materials to support research and development operations.

Monitor legal and regulatory developments affecting research collaborations, innovation partnerships, and intellectual property rights.

Qualifications

Required

• J.D. degree from an accredited law school and active membership in at least one U.S. state bar.
• 7+ years of relevant legal experience, including substantial experience in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, life sciences, or related industry.
• Significant experience negotiating and drafting research, collaboration, licensing, and technology-related agreements.
• Deep understanding of intellectual property principles, including patent, licensing, ownership, and commercialization issues.
• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic legal counsel in a complex and highly collaborative environment.
• Experience partnering directly with scientific teams and translating complex scientific concepts into practical legal advice.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to independently manage a diverse portfolio of sophisticated legal matters.

Preferred

• In‑house legal experience within a biotechnology or pharmaceutical company.
• Experience supporting early‑stage research, discovery, translational science, or external innovation organizations.
• Familiarity with academic collaborations, sponsored research arrangements, and technology transfer practices.
• Experience supporting business development transactions, licensing activities, and strategic partnerships.
• Advanced scientific training or demonstrated aptitude for understanding complex scientific and technical concepts.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic thinker with strong business judgment.
• Collaborative and solutions‑oriented approach.
• Ability to influence and build credibility with senior leaders and cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Skilled at balancing innovation enablement with appropriate risk management.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic environment.

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.