Senior Corporate Counsel (Transactional)

Internal Revenue Service; San Diego (CA); Hybrid; USD 175,000 - 215,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a respected legal team at a leading medical diagnostics company focused on providing strategic support for complex agreements and business transactions. This role offers the opportunity to make a significant impact in the medical and life sciences sectors while engaging with cross-functional teams in a dynamic environment. Candidates will leverage their extensive legal experience and strong business acumen to guide innovative initiatives and ensure compliance in a fast-paced corporate setting.

Benefits

Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance

401(k) plan

Employee assistance program

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

Paid time off (including sick time)

Paid Holidays

Qualifications

• 10+ years of legal experience required, including national law firm and in-house corporate experience.
• Experience in healthcare, medical devices, or life sciences is preferred.
• Ability to draft and negotiate complex agreements.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal services for R&D and business development, including contract drafting and negotiations.
• Advise on strategic business development initiatives and handle legal due diligence.
• Collaborate with corporate development and executive leadership on M&A strategies.

Skills

Negotiation

Interpersonal skills

Analytical skills

Risk Analysis

Education

JD degree or equivalent

Job description

The Opportunity

QuidelOrtho unites the strengths of Quidel Corporation and Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, creating a world-leading in vitro diagnostics company with award-winning expertise in immunoassay and molecular testing, clinical chemistry and transfusion medicine. We are more than 6,000 strong and do business in over 130 countries, providing answers with fast, accurate and consistent testing where and when they are needed most – home to hospital, lab to clinic.

Our culture puts our team members first and prioritizes actions that support happiness, inspiration and engagement. We strive to build meaningful connections with each other as we believe that employee happiness and business success are linked. Join us in our mission to transform the power of diagnostics into a healthier future for all.

The Role

Join a dynamic in-house legal team at QuidelOrtho an innovative medical device diagnostics company. You will play a key part in supporting a wide range of transactional matters, focusing on complex agreements. You will be responsible for providing strategic legal support to R&D, Business Units, and Business Development teams on licensing, OEM, manufacturing, and other commercial transactions.

You must be able to collaborate across cross-functional teams and deliver risk-informed legal guidance that supports innovation while ensuring compliance. You will also contribute to internal training initiatives, participate in legal and business project meetings, and support colleagues across legal, compliance, and privacy functions. This is an opportunity to make a significant impact and help the company properly structure its deals for successful development and commercialization.

This position is remote eligible with HQ in San Diego, CA. Candidates local to San Diego is preferred for some onsite presence.

The Position

• Provide legal services related to supporting the Company’s R&D, Business Unit, and Business Development efforts, including, but not limited to, contract drafting and negotiations; complex supply, licensing, and product development transactions; joint ventures and distribution agreements; acquisitions and divestures support; and other general legal support all within the medical diagnostic device and life sciences fields.
• Demonstrate strong business acumen and ability to draft and negotiate various contracts, including development deals, collaborations, licensing agreements, and other complex transactional agreements.
• Work on complex and abstract problems in which the analysis of legal business matters requires an in-depth evaluation of various factors. Identify and evaluate fundamental issues for major functional areas and the overall corporation.
• Advise on strategic business development initiatives, including evaluating, structuring, and assessing the legal risks of potential targets, partnerships, and investment opportunities.
• Collaborate closely with corporate development, finance, and executive leadership teams to drive M&A strategy and execution aligned with company growth objectives.
• Conduct and coordinate legal due diligence, identifying key legal risks and mitigation strategies related to target companies’ corporate, contractual, regulatory, and, preferably, intellectual property matters.
• Manage post-closing legal integration efforts, including contractual obligations, transition services, and ongoing risk management.
• Identify legal issues and business risks and escalate appropriately.
• Effectively communicate with all levels of the organization and provide business clients with clear, precise, and practical guidance on business, compliance, and legal risks.
• Collaborate with subject matter experts cross-functionally.
• Identify opportunities for process improvements and efficiencies.
• Demonstrate a commitment to promoting an ethical workplace culture and supporting compliance processes and programs.
• Perform other work-related duties as assigned.

The Individual

Required:

• JD degree or equivalent required
• License to practice law in any of the 50 US states, preferably from CA, NY, or NJ.
• 10+ years of legal experience, with 5+ years of national law firm experience with corporate/M&A background and 5+ years of relevant in-house corporate experience, including business development, complex technology development, and transfer deals.
• Healthcare, medical device, medical and applied sciences, biotech, life sciences, or biopharma industry experience.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, such as persuasion, negotiation, cooperation, diplomacy, strong planning, organizational and coordinating skills, and internal consulting skills.
• Ability to develop good working relationships with business clients and work collaboratively throughout a large global public company.
• Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously and manage timelines with business stakeholders.
• Ability to deliver practical, understandable, and actionable legal advice and risk analyses to internal business clients.
• Demonstrable working knowledge and commercial contract experience across various contract types.
• Strong drafting, negotiating, and communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex topics in an easily understandable manner to non-lawyers; the ability to communicate effectively with businesses to ensure the contract reflects the desired product or service.
• In-depth knowledge of intellectual property law and contracting, including IP licensing (both in- and out-licensing) and complex development transactions involving new IP development.
• Ability to analyze complex problems requiring detailed evaluation of various factors and demonstrated good judgment in recommending courses of action.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while acting with an appropriate sense of urgency in a fast-paced environment is a must. Timely and consistent communications to internal customers concerning anticipated turnaround times and updates on the status of each request are also essential.
• Applies advanced knowledge and understanding of legal concepts and principles to manage various projects.
• This position is not currently eligible for visa sponsorship.

Preferred:

• Scientific background/understanding sufficient to quickly learn and assimilate the company’s technologies.
• Familiarity with general compliance matters, including relevant advertising, fraud & abuse, and diagnostic industry guidelines

The Key Stakeholders

Internal Partners:

• This position reports to the Vice President, Associate General Counsel, and interacts with internal legal counsel, mid-level and senior-level leadership, business development, business units, procurement, operations, supply and commercial teams, IT, and finance internally

External Partners:

• Customers and vendors

Physical Demands

No strenuous physical activity, though occasional light lifting of files and related materials is required. Approximately 55-60% of the time is in meetings, working with various teams, talking on the phone, or drafting and sending correspondence. Approximately 40-45% of the time is spent at the desk on a computer, doing analytical work, drafting, or reviewing documents. Occasional travel required. Travel may include airplane, automobile travel, and overnight hotel stays.

Salary Transparency

The salary range for this position takes into account a wide range of factors including education, experience, knowledge, skills, geography, and abilities of the candidate, in addition to internal equity and alignment with market data. At QuidelOrtho, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. The salary range for this position is $175,000 to $215,000 and is bonus eligible. QuidelOrtho offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, along with a 401(k) plan, employee assistance program, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, paid time off (including sick time), and paid Holidays. All benefits are non-contractual, and QuidelOrtho may amend, terminate, or enhance the benefits provided, as it deems appropriate.

Equal Opportunity

QuidelOrtho believes in Equal Opportunity for all and is committed to ensuring all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, have an opportunity to apply for those positions that they are interested in and qualify for without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic. QuidelOrtho is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals so that an individual can perform the duties. If you are interested in applying for an employment opportunity and require special assistance or an accommodation to apply due to a disability, please contact us at [e-mail].