Director, Corporate Counsel, Early Research & Development
BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.
August 31, 2026
Remote friendly (San Rafael, CA)
United States
$204,000 - $280,500 USD yearly
Corporate Functions
Position Summary:
BioMarin seeks an experienced, business-oriented attorney to serve as lead legal support and strategic advisor for its Early Research & Development (RED) organization.
Key Responsibilities:
- Serve as the primary legal advisor to Early Research & Development.
- Provide practical, risk-based legal counsel to scientific and business stakeholders to support research initiatives, external innovation activities, and strategic collaborations.
- Partner with senior leaders across Worldwide Research & Development (WWRD), Business Development, Intellectual Property, Alliance Management, Procurement, and other functions.
- Provide proactive counsel on research, innovation, intellectual property, and transactional matters.
- Lead drafting, review, negotiation, and execution of research & development agreements, including CDAs/NDAs, MSAs, MTAs, SRAs, research collaboration agreements, option/license/technology evaluation agreements, academic/institutional collaborations, and consulting/scientific advisory agreements.
- Structure and negotiate complex licensing, research, and collaboration arrangements.
- Advise on contractual risk allocation, governance, publication rights, IP/data ownership and rights, and commercialization considerations.
- Partner with IP team on patent strategy and technology transactions; advise on IP protection, ownership, licensing, and commercialization.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Legal, IP, Compliance, Business Development, Procurement, and Research; support due diligence and strategic partnering; improve contracting processes/templates/training; monitor legal/regulatory developments.
Qualifications:
Required:
- J.D. from an accredited law school; active membership in at least one U.S. state bar.
- 7+ years relevant legal experience in biotechnology/pharmaceutical/life sciences or related industry.
- Significant experience negotiating and drafting research, collaboration, licensing, and technology-related agreements.
- Deep IP understanding (patent, licensing, ownership, commercialization).
- Ability to provide strategic legal counsel in a highly collaborative environment.
- Experience partnering with scientific teams and translating complex scientific concepts into legal advice.
- Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management.
- Ability to independently manage a diverse portfolio of sophisticated matters.
Preferred:
- In-house legal experience in biotech/pharma.
- Experience supporting early-stage research/discovery/translational science or external innovation.
- Familiarity with academic collaborations, sponsored research, and technology transfer.
- Experience with business development transactions, licensing, and strategic partnerships.
- Advanced scientific training or aptitude for scientific/technical concepts.
Leadership Competencies:
- Strategic thinking and strong business judgment.
- Collaborative, solutions-oriented; ability to influence senior leaders.
- Balance innovation enablement with risk management.
- Strong organizational skills and ability to manage competing priorities.
BioMarin seeks an experienced, business-oriented attorney to serve as lead legal support and strategic advisor for its Early Research & Development (RED) organization.
Key Responsibilities:
- Serve as the primary legal advisor to Early Research & Development.
- Provide practical, risk-based legal counsel to scientific and business stakeholders to support research initiatives, external innovation activities, and strategic collaborations.
- Partner with senior leaders across Worldwide Research & Development (WWRD), Business Development, Intellectual Property, Alliance Management, Procurement, and other functions.
- Provide proactive counsel on research, innovation, intellectual property, and transactional matters.
- Lead drafting, review, negotiation, and execution of research & development agreements, including CDAs/NDAs, MSAs, MTAs, SRAs, research collaboration agreements, option/license/technology evaluation agreements, academic/institutional collaborations, and consulting/scientific advisory agreements.
- Structure and negotiate complex licensing, research, and collaboration arrangements.
- Advise on contractual risk allocation, governance, publication rights, IP/data ownership and rights, and commercialization considerations.
- Partner with IP team on patent strategy and technology transactions; advise on IP protection, ownership, licensing, and commercialization.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with Legal, IP, Compliance, Business Development, Procurement, and Research; support due diligence and strategic partnering; improve contracting processes/templates/training; monitor legal/regulatory developments.
Qualifications:
Required:
- J.D. from an accredited law school; active membership in at least one U.S. state bar.
- 7+ years relevant legal experience in biotechnology/pharmaceutical/life sciences or related industry.
- Significant experience negotiating and drafting research, collaboration, licensing, and technology-related agreements.
- Deep IP understanding (patent, licensing, ownership, commercialization).
- Ability to provide strategic legal counsel in a highly collaborative environment.
- Experience partnering with scientific teams and translating complex scientific concepts into legal advice.
- Excellent negotiation, communication, and stakeholder management.
- Ability to independently manage a diverse portfolio of sophisticated matters.
Preferred:
- In-house legal experience in biotech/pharma.
- Experience supporting early-stage research/discovery/translational science or external innovation.
- Familiarity with academic collaborations, sponsored research, and technology transfer.
- Experience with business development transactions, licensing, and strategic partnerships.
- Advanced scientific training or aptitude for scientific/technical concepts.
Leadership Competencies:
- Strategic thinking and strong business judgment.
- Collaborative, solutions-oriented; ability to influence senior leaders.
- Balance innovation enablement with risk management.
- Strong organizational skills and ability to manage competing priorities.