Director R&D Counsel

Viridian Therapeutics, Inc.; Waltham (MA); On-site; USD 190,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

Stock options

Comprehensive benefits

Paid vacation and holidays

Job summary

Viridian Therapeutics, Inc. is seeking a Director, R&D Counsel based in Waltham, MA to support contracting for the Research & Development organization and Technical Operations.

You will collaborate closely with Legal, Technical Operations, Research, Finance, and Quality teams in a fast-moving biotech environment. The ideal candidate will hold a J.D., have 12+ years of transactional experience in life sciences, and excel at drafting and negotiating complex agreements while balancing risk and

Qualifications

• Requires a J.D. degree and active membership in good standing in at least one U.S. state bar.
• 12+ years of experience as a transactional attorney in biotech/pharma or related field.
• Strong background drafting and negotiating life‑sciences agreements with business and regulatory awareness.

Responsibilities

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide variety of agreements for R&D, supply chain, manufacturing and vendor relationships.
• Provide legal and strategic support across contracting lifecycle, including risk assessment and execution.
• Translate business priorities into contracting plans and align stakeholders on timelines.

Skills

Contract drafting

Negotiation

Cross-functional collaboration

Life sciences contracts

Regulatory awareness

Microsoft Office

Education

J.D. degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

At Viridian, we are focused on developing best-in-class medicines for people living with autoimmune and rare diseases. Leveraging our team’s expertise in antibody discovery and engineering, we have created a robust pipeline of differentiated investigational therapeutic candidates for well-validated targets.

Reporting to the VP, Transactions Attorney, the Director, R&D Counsel will support contracting and other matters for the Research and Development organization and the Technical Operations team. The ideal candidate is an attorney with strong cross-functional collaboration skills, creativity in solving legal issues with a business-focused approach, excellent judgment, the ability to manage a high volume of requests and tight timelines, and a comfort operating in a fast-moving, scaling biotech environment. This role requires the ability to be both strategic and tactical.

This role will collaborate closely with other members of the Legal team as well as Technical Operations, Research, Finance, and Quality.

This role is based in our Waltham, MA headquarters. Our office-based employees are required to work in the office three (3) days a week.

Responsibilities (including, but not limited to):

• Draft, review, and negotiate a wide variety of agreements for R&D, Supply Chain, manufacturing related and other vendor agreements; including CDAs, Master Services Agreements, Amendments, Statements of Work, Material Transfer Agreements, Sponsored Research Agreements, Supply and Manufacturing Agreements
• Provide legal and strategic support to internal partners throughout the contracting lifecycle, including drafting, negotiating, risk assessment, and execution
• Translate business priorities into contracting plans, align stakeholders on timelines, and resolve issues that affect delivery
• Provide business counseling to the Research and Development and Technical Operations teams on a variety of business and legal questions and advise cross-functional teams on contractual rights, obligations, compliance considerations, and risk mitigationLead resolution of complex contractual issues within assigned matters, balancing legal risk, business priorities, quality, and urgency; develop actionable recommendations and elevate matters requiring broader Legal leadership decisions
• As part of the Legal team, lead assigned initiatives to develop and implement scalable templates, contracting processes, and playbooks to support Viridian’s rapid growth. Align improvements with recurring business needs and Legal requirements, coordinate stakeholder input, and assess whether changes improve contracting consistency, quality, and efficiency
• Support broader Legal department initiatives and take on special projects aligned with Viridian’s evolving needs

Requirements:

• Requires a J.D. degree and active membership in good standing in at least one U.S. state bar
• 12+ years of experience as a transactional attorney, ideally with a blend of law firm and in-house biotech/pharma experience
• Strong background drafting and negotiating life-sciences agreements (with a focus on early research, supply chain/manufacturing, and or clinical development) and sophisticated understanding of relevant legal, contractual, regulatory, scientific, and commercial considerations
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a team while building strong relationships across functions
• Excellent communication skills, business judgment, and a practical, solutions-oriented approach
• Strong commitment to ethical standards
• Proficient with Microsoft Office suite (i.e., Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint, etc.)
• The salary range for this position is commensurate with experience

Viridian offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Competitive pay and stock options for all employees
• Competitive medical, dental, and vision plans
• Fertility and mental health programs
• Short- and long-term disability coverage
• Life, Travel and AD&D
• 401(k) Company Match with immediate company vest
• Employee Stock Purchase plan
• Generous vacation plan and paid company holiday shutdowns
• Various mental, financial, and proactive physical health programs covered by Viridian

Viridian Therapeutics, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination, harassment, or retaliation of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by Federal, State, and Local laws. Viridian will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Viridian Therapeutics, Inc participates in E-Verify, the federal program for electronic verification of employment eligibility.