Lead Affiliate Counsel

Overview

This role serves as the Lead Affiliate Counsel, acting as the primary legal contact for one or more affiliates within a biopharmaceutical organization focused on rare diseases. The position requires managing the full spectrum of legal matters—commercial, compliance, employment, contracts, and operational issues—while coordinating with internal legal specialists and cross-functional teams. The Lead Affiliate Counsel ensures affiliates receive timely, high-quality legal support to operate confidently and compliantly.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the single point of legal contact for affiliate leadership on all legal matters.
• Manage and coordinate legal support across the internal legal team, determining when to handle issues directly or involve specialists.
• Provide strategic legal counsel across commercial strategy, healthcare provider and organization engagement, promotional materials, patient programs, payer and market access, contracts, and operational matters.
• Collaborate with Commercial, Medical Affairs, Finance, HR, Compliance, and Regulatory teams to resolve issues efficiently.
• Participate in the Material Review Committee (MLR) to ensure promotional and scientific materials are accurate, balanced, and compliant.
• Partner with Compliance and Regulatory teams to develop and improve MLR processes suitable for a growing multi-product commercial organization.
• Proactively identify and flag legal and reputational risks, working with appropriate legal specialists to address them.
• Collaborate with the Head of Compliance on healthcare fraud and abuse matters, including Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) and False Claims Act (FCA) considerations.
• Maintain responsiveness, decisiveness, and clarity in a fast-paced commercial environment, balancing speed and caution as needed.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from a nationally recognized law school.
• Admission to practice law in the United States.
• Minimum of 10 years of legal experience in pharmaceutical or biotechnology sectors.
• Significant exposure to commercial operations, product launches, and cross-functional legal support.
• Broad legal knowledge including commercial healthcare law, AKS, FCA, FDA promotional regulations, contracts, employment, intellectual property, and operational matters.
• Experience supporting at least one commercial product launch, understanding the pace and cross-functional dynamics involved.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to advise diverse audiences, including field teams, affiliate leadership, and senior legal counsel.
• Proven ability to build trusted relationships and serve as a reliable legal advisor.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a multi-product, multi-affiliate environment with resilience and intellectual curiosity.
• Bay Area (Palo Alto or San Francisco) location strongly preferred; remote candidates must commit to regular Bay Area travel. Relocation support is available for the right candidate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in both law firm and in-house legal environments.
• Demonstrated ability to lead legal frameworks that scale with organizational growth.
• Familiarity with healthcare fraud and abuse laws and compliance programs.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range for California-based candidates: $305,000 to $350,000 USD annually.
• Market-competitive total rewards package including base pay, annual performance bonus, and company equity.
• 401(k) plan with employer match.
• Employee Stock Purchase Program (ESPP).
• Pre-tax commuter benefits for transit and parking.
• Referral bonuses for hired candidates.
• Subsidized lunch and parking on in-office days.
• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision premiums for employees and dependents.
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer contributions and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).
• Fertility and family-forming benefits.
• Expanded mental health support including therapy and coaching.
• Hybrid work model with flexible scheduling.
• Flexible paid time off and company-paid holidays.
• Comprehensive paid medical and parental leave.
• Opportunities for skill development, career pathing, and internal mobility through continuous education and professional development programs.

Location

• Bay Area, California (Palo Alto or San Francisco) preferred.
• Remote candidates considered with commitment to regular Bay Area travel.
• Relocation support available for qualified candidates.