Counsel-CDMO

Unlock Employer

Posted Oct 2, 2026

Remote · US · ask about Worldwide Full Time

$135K – $187K/yr

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Overview

Counsel will provide practical, business-focused legal advice and support on a broad range of matters impacting the organization’s affiliated global CDMO business, including locations in North Carolina, Texas, the United Kingdom, and Denmark. This role will work independently on assigned matters and collaborate with senior attorneys and subject-matter experts on higher-risk or novel issues.

The position drafts and negotiates commercial agreements, identifies and helps mitigate legal and business risk, and supports strategic customer programs and cross-functional initiatives. The work combines knowledge of commercial contracting, life-sciences considerations, and intellectual property principles to deliver timely, customer-focused outcomes while protecting legal rights. Counsel also contributes to consistent contracting standards, templates, training, legal-process improvements, and global alignment, escalating material issues as appropriate.

Responsibilities

Draft, review, and negotiate commercial agreements, including MSAs, SOWs, supply, development, manufacturing and services agreements, quality-related agreements, licenses, and NDAs, aligned with business objectives, approved positions, and risk appetite.
Advise Commercial, Program Management, and other business teams on legal and contractual issues arising from customer collaborations, bids, and ongoing programs; support timely issue resolution and deal closure.
Identify legal, regulatory, and business risks relevant to CDMO and life-sciences operations; recommend practical mitigation strategies.
Manage an assigned caseload with appropriate independence by prioritizing work based on business need, risk, and deadlines, and communicating status and recommendations clearly.
Provide advice on non-contentious intellectual property provisions, including licenses, background and foreground IP, know-how, and related allocation issues, in coordination with patent counsel or other specialists as needed.
Prepare clear briefings and practical recommendations for business stakeholders and management on contractual, legal, and compliance matters.
Develop, maintain, and improve templates, playbooks, guidance, and contracting standards for use across the CDMO organization, with attention to consistency across functions and jurisdictions.
Develop and deliver legal training for business stakeholders on contracting, use of precedents, legal processes, and relevant compliance topics.
Support legal-process and technology improvements, including contract lifecycle management, document management, data insights, and responsible use of emerging technologies to improve efficiency, quality, and consistency.
Coordinate with internal subject-matter experts and, when authorized, outside counsel on specialized matters such as regulatory, employment, disputes, real estate, privacy, competition, and corporate matters.
Support dispute avoidance and resolution and provide ancillary legal support to functions including HR, EHS, Quality, Capital Projects, and Compliance.
Collaborate with legal, compliance, and business colleagues in the United States, United Kingdom, Denmark, and globally to promote consistent standards, precedents, governance, and risk positions.

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Requirements

College degree and Juris Doctor from an accredited law school; academic honors preferred.
Admitted in good standing to at least one U.S. state bar; North Carolina admission preferred.
3-8 years of relevant experience in a law firm, in-house legal department, or a combination of both; preferably supporting CDMO, life-sciences, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or health-care businesses.
Strong commercial-contracting experience, including drafting and negotiating complex services, development, manufacturing, supply, licensing, and confidentiality agreements.
Strong judgment and ability to resolve issues independently within established frameworks while recognizing when escalation or specialist input is required.
Strong negotiation, written communication, and presentation skills, including the ability to explain legal concepts and influence cross-functional stakeholders.
Pragmatic, analytical, and customer-focused problem solving that balances timely business outcomes with legal and compliance requirements.
Ability to manage substantial workload, prioritize critical matters, and meet deadlines in a dynamic, global, matrixed environment.
Familiarity with life-sciences legal and compliance topics is preferred, including GMP interfaces, data privacy, competition, anti-bribery, and pharmaceutical regulation.
Familiarity with international contracting and multi-jurisdictional issues is preferred.
Proficiency with modern legal technology, including document management, e-signature, collaboration platforms, and contract lifecycle management tools; willingness to explore responsible use of AI and emerging technologies.