Legal Counsel

Overview

An international coalition focused on epidemic and pandemic preparedness is seeking a Legal Counsel for a fixed term of 12 months, with a start date expected in July or August. The organization aims to accelerate vaccine development against emerging infectious diseases and ensure equitable access globally.

Responsibilities

• Report directly to the Head of Legal, Business Transactions and Access.
• Serve as lead lawyer for selected projects in formation and implementation phases, including grants and investments in vaccine candidates and platform technologies.
• Support sustainable laboratory and manufacturing networks, clinical trial networks, and pharmacovigilance for vaccine candidates.
• Provide legal advice on collaborations across vaccine and biologics R&D, manufacturing, supply chain, and commercialization.
• Translate commercial terms into contractual commitments, focusing on drafting and negotiating access and commercialization terms in funding agreements.
• Advise on the application of organizational policies and procedures.
• Create and maintain legal and agreement templates, including automation where needed.
• Manage external counsel and internal subject matter experts as required.
• Engage externally with senior stakeholders, legal, commercial, and operations teams, representing the organization in industry or sector bodies as needed.
• Actively contribute to the legal team and support division tasks and ad hoc responsibilities.

Requirements

• 3-7 years post-qualification experience, preferably from a major law firm or as in-house counsel.
• Experience in transactional work is necessary; industry experience in pharma or vaccine development is desirable.
• Common law qualification preferred.
• Strong legal technical skills with a proven track record in drafting and negotiating agreements within cross-functional teams.
• Sound knowledge of contract law, commercial law, and regulatory frameworks applicable to life sciences and public health.
• Familiarity with intellectual property, antitrust, and trade sanctions is advantageous.
• Experience working with business development teams is highly desirable.
• Understanding of R&D, manufacturing, supply chain, or commercialization in pharma/vaccine sectors or access to medicines is strongly preferred.
• Experience in international environments and working within cross-functional, multi-jurisdictional teams.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; additional languages such as Norwegian, Arabic, Hindi, Chinese, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese are a plus.
• Strong engagement and outcome-driven approach.
• Confident communicator capable of influencing at all organizational levels.
• Commitment to knowledge sharing and continuous learning.
• Ability to take ownership and deliver solutions independently.
• Resilient, self-motivated, quick learner able to work autonomously.
• Effective time management and ability to handle competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Curiosity and enthusiasm for new ideas and approaches.
• Ability to diplomatically challenge and commit to agreed paths forward.

Location and Travel

• Position based in the UK, US, or Norway.
• May require working across time zones corresponding to offices in London, Oslo, and Washington DC.
• Infrequent travel to these locations or other countries as needed.

Compensation and Benefits

• Opportunity to work with leading experts on global health challenges.
• Experience contributing to international vaccine development efforts against emerging infectious diseases.
• Diverse and inclusive working environment.

Application Details

• Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis; early submission is advised.
• Deadline for applications: 28th June 2026 at 23:59 CET.
• Background verification will be conducted.

(Note: Contact details and application URLs have been removed.)