Senior Contracts Attorney

Synthego; Redwood City (CA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Synthego is seeking a Senior Contracts Attorney to provide comprehensive commercial legal support across contract and transactional matters. You will report to the Chief Legal Officer and manage the contract database with significant autonomy.

You will draft, review, and negotiate GMP-related agreements, license and sublicense arrangements, NDA, leases, vendor contracts, and MCAs, while guiding internal stakeholders on risk and resolution.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree required.
• 6+ years of transactional contract experience.
• Active state bar license; California Bar preferred.
• Experience with GMP agreements and technology licensing.
• Ability to manage a high-volume workload independently and exercise sound judgment.
• Strong drafting and negotiation skills; ability to work with all levels of the organization.
• IP concepts including patent law experience.

Responsibilities

• Advise on corporate, commercial, transactional, and contract matters.
• Draft, review, negotiate, and execute broad range of commercial agreements.
• Own end-to-end deal management for various counterparties.
• Partner with QA/QC on Quality Technical Agreements for GMP engagements.
• Identify and communicate legal/commercial risk to stakeholders.
• Build and maintain contract templates and the internal contract system.
• Negotiate with internal clients and third parties.
• Assist with IP issues such as TM management and freedom-to-operate inquiries.
• Track metrics related to the legal contracts function.
• Strategically manage complex matters and maintain leadership.

Skills

Contract drafting

Negotiation

Legal advising

GMP agreements

IP concepts

Cross-functional collaboration

High-volume workload management

Education

Juris Doctor (JD)

California Bar

Tools

Contract management software

Job description

The Senior Contracts Attorney provides commercial legal support across all contract and transactional aspects of the business, working closely with business teams to contribute to the company's financial and operational success. Reporting directly to the Chief Legal Officer, this role operates with significant autonomy and manages the company's contract database.

What You'll Do:

• Serve as a direct legal advisor to all business units regarding corporate, commercial, transactional, and contract matters
• Draft, review, negotiate, and execute a broad range of commercial agreements including GMP supply agreements, technology license and sublicense agreements, quality technical agreements, OEM and distribution agreements, master services agreements, confidentiality agreements, consulting agreements, leases, and vendor agreements
• Own end-to-end deal management for biopharma, CDMO, academic, and institutional counterparties
• Partner with QA/QC on Quality Technical Agreements for GMP customer engagements
• Identify and communicate legal and commercial risk to internal stakeholders and provide guidance for resolution
• Build and maintain contract templates and the internal contract management system
• Participate in commercial negotiations with internal clients and third parties
• Assist with and/or manage intellectual property related issues as needed such as TM management and freedom-to-operate inquiries
• Manage performance related metrics related to the legal contracts function including legal intake and contract turn around metrics
• Strategically manage and facilitate resolution of complex matters, both within and outside of the company
• Exemplify leadership, ethical advocacy and serve as a trusted subject matter resource to colleagues
• Manage competing priorities and communicate effectively with stakeholders

About You:

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree; science background preferred
• Minimum 6+ years of transactional and contract drafting and negotiating experience at a law firm and/or life sciences company
• Member in good standing of a state bar association; California Bar preferred
• Experience with GMP agreements, quality technical agreements, and technology licensing preferred
• Able to manage a high-volume workload independently and exercise sound judgment, including knowing when to elevate issues
• Works effectively with all levels of the organization
• Experience with intellectual property concepts including patent law

Soft Skills:

Strategic judgment, problem solving, strong written and verbal communications, diplomacy, teamwork and collaboration, high attention to detail, self-starter, ability to prioritize, organizational skills, adaptability, ability to manage and use outside counsel resources strategically, ability to navigate conflict effectively

Additional Information:

• Hybrid or remote (with internal approval) position with periodic travel as required
• Position may require flexibility in working hours to support deal timelines

Our Mission

Synthego is a pioneering force in the biotechnology industry, dedicated to advancing the frontiers of CRISPR cell and gene therapies through cutting-edge CRISPR technology and expertise. Our mission is to provide unparalleled access to best-in-class CRISPR solutions at scale, empowering agility in life science research and development from discovery through clinical trials. From streamlined approaches to licensing through full technical and regulatory support from our industry-leading experts, Synthego is enabling greater access to CRISPR technology driving to improved outcomes in patient therapeutic treatments.