Senior Counsel, Business Development and Alliance Management - Bristol Myers Squibb

Working with Us
Challenging. Meaningful. Life-changing. Those aren’t words that are usually associated with a job. But working at Bristol Myers Squibb is anything but usual. Here, uniquely interesting work happens every day, in every department. From optimizing a production line to the latest breakthroughs in cell therapy, this is work that transforms the lives of patients, and the careers of those who do it. You’ll get the chance to grow and thrive through opportunities uncommon in scale and scope, alongside high-achieving teams rich in diversity. Take your career farther than you thought possible.

Bristol Myers Squibb recognizes the importance of balance and flexibility in our work environment. We offer a wide variety of competitive benefits, services and programs that provide our employees with the resources to pursue their goals, both at work and in their personal lives. Read more: careers.bms.com/working-with-us.

Position Overview:

This position will be primarily responsible for providing legal advice, guidance and support for Alliance Management and Business Development transactions primarily for Translational Medicine, Digital Health and Research Enabling Transactions.   M&A transactions and equity investments will be part of the responsibility.

Position will report to the Assistant General Counsel, Business Development and Alliance Management.

Responsibilities:

• Lead negotiations and provide direct counseling to internal clients on routine, moderate and complex Business Development transactions primarily for Translational Medicine, Digital Health and Research Enabling Transactions.  

• Provide legal advice and legal interpretation on rights and obligations under executed agreements overseen by Alliance Management.

• Assist with resolution of disputes under executed agreements overseen by Alliance Management.

• Lead negotiations for new agreements that expand the relationship with existing collaborators that are parties to executed agreements overseen by Alliance Management.

• Advise internal clients in structuring and advising on various transactions in a way that advances the company’s strategy while addressing legal risks.

• Draft, negotiate and finalize routine, non-routine, complex and novel contracts in an effective, efficient and time-sensitive manner.

• Identify and resolve critical legal issues and identify and help resolve critical business issues arising from transactions.

• Assist with negotiating and drafting agreements for some M&A transactions and some equity investments.

• Proactively advise internal clients regarding transaction issues in close collaboration with lawyers from other practice areas and relevant subject matter experts throughout the company.

• Demonstrate a service-oriented approach to advising internal client groups. 

• Demonstrate full commitment to Bristol-Myers Squibb’s mission and values.

Qualifications/Competencies:

• Law degree from recognized university. Qualification to practice law in New Jersey or ability to obtain a NJ in-house counsel limited license.

• Minimum of 10 years of legal experience.

• Experience drafting and negotiating Business Development agreements related to the bio/pharmaceutical or life-sciences industry, including license agreements, collaboration agreements, sponsored research agreements, master research and development agreements and complex agreements for diagnostic products for therapeutics.

• Understanding of health care industry.

• Has excellent interpersonal skills and can successfully manage internal client expectations and can work/operate well with a variety of personalities/capabilities in cross-functional teams, matrix environment.

• Creative, thoughtful and practical problem-solving skills.

• Must have high integrity, ability to assess risk, ability to make decisions and think strategically while applying knowledge of applicable legal issues.

• Listens to internal client needs and communicates with clients with confidence and diplomacy.

• Excellent verbal and writing skills and business judgment are required.

• Ability to communicate effectively with management and senior management personnel.

• Ability to train and develop the other members of the team.

• Ability to work independently, effectively and efficiently and perform against broad objectives.

• Possess strong work ethic.

• Preference for candidates with a strong scientific background, especially in biology, chemistry or biochemistry, and with experience supporting Alliance Management and drafting and negotiating complex Translational Medicine and Digital Health agreements.

The starting compensation for this job is a range from $205,000 - $257,000, plus incentive cash and stock opportunities (based on eligibility).

The starting pay rate takes into account characteristics of the job, such as required skills and where the job is performed. 

Final, individual compensation will be decided based on demonstrated experience. 

Eligibility for specific benefits listed on our careers site may vary based on the job and location. For more on benefits, please visit https://careers.bms.com/life-at-bms/.

Benefit offerings aresubject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans then in effect and may include the following: Medical, pharmacy, dental and vision care. Wellbeing support such as the BMS Living Life Better program and employee assistance programs (EAP). Financial well-being resources and a 401(K). Financial protection benefits such as short- and long-term disability, life insurance, supplemental health insurance, business travel protection and survivor support. Work-life programs include paid national holidays and optional holidays, Global Shutdown Days between Christmas and New Year’s holiday, up to 120 hours of paid vacation, up to two (2) paid days to volunteer, sick time off, and summer hours flexibility. Parental, caregiver, bereavement, and military leave. Family care services such as adoption and surrogacy reimbursement, fertility/infertility benefits, support for traveling mothers, and child, elder and pet care resources. Other perks like tuition reimbursement and a recognition program.

If you come across a role that intrigues you but doesn’t perfectly line up with your resume, we encourage you to apply anyway. You could be one step away from work that will transform your life and career.

Uniquely Interesting Work, Life-changing Careers
With a single vision as inspiring as “Transforming patients’ lives through science™ ”, every BMS employee plays an integral role in work that goes far beyond ordinary. Each of us is empowered to apply our individual talents and unique perspectives in an inclusive culture, promoting diversity in clinical trials, while our shared values of passion, innovation, urgency, accountability, inclusion and integrity bring out the highest potential of each of our colleagues.

On-site Protocol

BMS has a diverse occupancy structure that determines where an employee is required to conduct their work. This structure includes site-essential, site-by-design, field-based and remote-by-design jobs. The occupancy type that you are assigned is determined by the nature and responsibilities of your role:

Site-essential roles require 100% of shifts onsite at your assigned facility. Site-by-design roles may be eligible for a hybrid work model with at least 50% onsite at your assigned facility. For these roles, onsite presence is considered an essential job function and is critical to collaboration, innovation, productivity, and a positive Company culture. For field-based and remote-by-design roles the ability to physically travel to visit customers, patients or business partners and to attend meetings on behalf of BMS as directed is an essential job function.

BMS is dedicated to ensuring that people with disabilities can excel through a transparent recruitment process, reasonable workplace accommodations/adjustments and ongoing support in their roles. Applicants can request a reasonable workplace accommodation/adjustment prior to accepting a job offer. If you require reasonable accommodations/adjustments in completing this application, or in any part of the recruitment process, direct your inquiries toadastaffingsupport@bms.com. Visitcareers.bms.com/eeo-accessibilityto access our complete Equal Employment Opportunity statement.

BMS cares about your well-being and the well-being of our staff, customers, patients, and communities. As a result, the Company strongly recommends that all employees be fully vaccinated for Covid-19 and keep up to date with Covid-19 boosters.

BMS will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, pursuant to applicable laws in your area.

If you live in or expect to work from Los Angeles County if hired for this position, please visit this page for important additional information: https://careers.bms.com/california-residents/

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