Senior Director, Corporate Law & TransactionsDepartment: Legal | Reports To: Vice President, Corporate Law and Head of Transactions | Location: South San Francisco, CA or Princeton, NJ – On-site 4 days per week (Mon to Thurs)Job OverviewSenior Director, Corporate Law & Transactions to serve as a key strategic legal leader and trusted business partner across the organization. The role combines transactional responsibilities with strategic initiatives to support growth and operational excellence, including partnership management, policy development, and technology-enabled legal frameworks.Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesStakeholder ManagementPartner closely with Business Development, Technical Operations, Supply, R&D, and other key functions to provide proactive, solutions-oriented legal support on strategic initiatives, new business opportunities, and alliance management.Develop and evolve Kardigan's alliance management framework, including governance structures, decision-making processes, escalation pathways, and management of strategic collaborations.Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, shaping commercial, operational, and strategic decisions while ensuring Legal is viewed as an enabler of growth.Collaborate with HR on strategic legal initiatives, including a comprehensive framework for contractor and contingent workforce management.Strategic Initiatives & Business PartnershipIdentify operational, compliance, governance, and commercial challenges as the company scales.Partner directly with senior leadership to evaluate and execute strategic business initiatives, shaping decisions related to external partnerships, operational priorities, risk management, and organizational growth.Build scalable policies, frameworks, and processes across the organization.Lead or support cross-functional special projects involving Legal, HR, Finance, Compliance, Clinical Operations, Technical Operations, and Business Development.Provide legal and strategic guidance on workforce models, consultant and contingent worker engagement, and other operational matters.Assist in evaluating and implementing systems, technology, and process improvements that enhance business efficiency and reduce legal risk.Act as advisor and thought partner to senior leadership on emerging business needs and organizational priorities.Contract NegotiationsLead the negotiation and drafting of high-value, complex strategic agreements, including collaboration agreements, alliance agreements, licensing and co-development transactions, technical agreements, supply and manufacturing agreements, service agreements, sponsored research agreements, material transfer agreements, and other commercial and strategic transactions.Provide strategic counsel on structure, risk allocation, and terms to optimize business outcomes and protect company interests.Develop and maintain contract templates, playbooks, and standardized contract terms.Identify and mitigate legal risks in business operations and commercial relationships, with emphasis on strategic and general transactions, intellectual property, data protection, and regulatory considerations.Update and improve contract policies and procedures.Train business teams on contract policies, procedures, risk management, and other legal practices.Function BuildingShape the future structure, processes, and operating model of the Legal transactions function, including development of playbooks, contracting frameworks, AI-enabled workflows, and legal technology solutions.Establish metrics and reporting systems to track efficiencies and effectiveness of contracting procedures and other legal practices.Manage outside legal consultants and counsels for specialized matters and overflow work, as needed.QualificationsJD degree from an accredited law school with admission to practice law.Minimum of 12 years of legal experience with a mix of law firm and in‑house experience at pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or medical device companies focusing on contracts and commercial transactions, including substantial experience with clinical development agreements.Ability to influence business decisions and serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, balancing legal, operational, and commercial considerations in a growth‑stage environment.Expertise in drafting and negotiating complex agreements.Experience providing legal counsel for managing external business relationships and collaborations.Solid understanding of intellectual property, licensing, privacy, and data protection laws as they relate to strategic agreements and life‑science transactions.Knowledge of healthcare, FDA regulations, and other relevant laws applicable to life‑science business transactions, including laws impacting clinical research.Strong systems‑thinking approach to understand complex interdependencies and anticipated downstream effects of legal or business decisions.Proven track record of translating complex legal concepts into practical business implications.Skilled at facilitating cross‑functional dialogue to ensure alignment between legal strategies and business objectives.Experience serving as a bridge between technical, business, and legal stakeholders to drive solutions.Strong organizational and planning skills, ability to manage changing priorities and workflow, and to advance multiple simultaneous projects.Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, collaborating positively with individuals at all levels inside and outside the organization.Ability to operate in a fast‑paced, rapidly growing workplace with a keen interest in providing a consistently high level of service.Able to work independently while exercising initiative and good judgment.Motivated and enthusiastic, with a proactive approach to solving legal and business challenges.Perform other duties as directed by the manager.Compensation Range$263,000 - $357,000 USD plus benefits. Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.Equal Employment OpportunityAs set forth in Kardigan's Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.#J-18808-Ljbffr