Sr. Counsel, Pharma and Biologics Operations Law

Bristol Myers Squibb; Princeton (NJ); Hybrid; USD 221,000 - 268,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Flexible work options

Job summary

Bristol Myers Squibb, a leading biopharma company, seeks a Senior Counsel in Pharma and Biologics Operations Law to advise on strategic, regulatory, and transactional matters across global manufacturing operations.

The role involves drafting and negotiating highly complex transactions (CMO, manufacturing and supply, collaboration agreements) and supporting M&A and business development initiatives, partnering with senior leaders to enable patient access.

Qualifications

• Requires JD and admission to at least one U.S. state bar.
• Significant experience in pharma or life sciences and contract manufacturing.
• Experience drafting and negotiating complex product manufacturing and supply agreements.
• Strong ability to advise and influence senior executives with clear judgement.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a legal advisor to Pharma and Biologics Operations on global manufacturing matters.
• Provide transactional and comprehensive legal support for manufacturing operations and business development.
• Lead drafting and negotiation of highly complex transactions (CMO, manufacturing, supply, collaboration).
• Support M&A and business development transactions, including due diligence and integration.
• Anticipate legal issues with an enterprise view and deliver actionable advice for business decisions.
• Lead and organize working groups to assess significant legal issues.
• Collaborate across Law & Policy and with clients for coordinated advice.

Skills

Legal judgment

Transactional skills

Communication

Collaboration

Regulatory knowledge

Education

JD (or equivalent) and bar admission

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 Senior Counsel, Pharma and Biologics Operations Law provides strategic, regulatory, and transactional counsel across the Company's global pharmaceutical and biologics manufacturing operations, internal and external. This attorney will support some of the Company's most significant manufacturing transactions, including highly complex CMO, manufacturing and supply, and collaboration agreements, and will support the manufacturing, operations, and supply aspects of BMS M&A and business development deals. Decisions about network strategy and external partnerships 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, deep transactional skill, and the ability to translate complex legal issues into clear, practical advice for senior executives, always prioritizing the urgent needs of patients.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as a legal advisor to Pharma and Biologics Operations, advising on complex legal, regulatory, and operational matters across the global manufacturing network.
• Provide transactional and comprehensive legal support for manufacturing operations (internal and external), including PDS Business Development matters.
• Lead the drafting and negotiation of highly complex transactions, including CMO, manufacturing and supply, and collaboration agreements.
• Support the manufacturing, operations, and supply aspects of BMS M&A and business development transactions, including due diligence and integration.
• Anticipate and proactively identify legal issues with an enterprise view, and deliver clear, operational, and effective advice that supports informed business decisions.
• Lead and organize functional and substantive working groups assessing significant legal issues.
• 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.
• 10 or more years of legal experience across law firm, in-house, and/or government roles, including significant experience in the pharmaceutical or life sciences industry and familiarity with contract manufacturing.
• Experience drafting and negotiating complex agreements relevant to product manufacturing and supply (e.g., clinical and commercial manufacturing and supply agreements; direct material purchase agreements; capital equipment purchase and maintenance agreements; service, license, and collaboration agreements).
• 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

Compensation Overview

Madison - Giralda - NJ - US: $221,340 - $268,212 Princeton - NJ - US: $221,340 - $268,212

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 workplaceaccommodations/adjustmentsand ongoing support in their roles. Applicants can request a reasonable workplaceaccommodation/adjustmentprior to accepting a job offer. If you require reasonableaccommodations/adjustmentsin 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.

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] with 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.