Associate Legal Counsel, Europe

At Cytokinetics, each team member plays an integral part in advancing our mission to improve the lives of patients. We are seeking tenacious, compassionate, and collaborative individuals who are driven to make a positive impact.

The Associate Legal Counsel, Europe will be responsible for providing legal support (including, legal advice,  drafting, review, and negotiation of a wide range of commercial agreements) for our Cytokinetics European affiliates.

This position will act as a business partner to the Commercial, Medical Affairs, Market Access, Procurement, and other cross-functional teams supporting our operations Europe (primarily in Switzerland, the UK, Ireland, Spain, Italy, France, and Germany) and will support senior counsel on complex matters This role requires a diverse skill set across contracts, legal operations, and general legal counseling.

The role is based at the Company Regional Headquarter in Zug, Switzerland, and reports to the Head of Legal and Compliance, Europe.

Key Responsibilities

Contract Drafting, Negotiation & Management

• Draft, review, and negotiate a variety of contractual agreements, including:
  • Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs)
  • Master Services Agreements (MSAs) and associated Statement of Work (SOWs)
  • HCP/HCOs agreements Vendor/supplier agreements
  • Event and meeting agreements
  • Distribution/Wholesaler agreements
  • Data protection–related contract terms (in collaboration with Privacy Counsel)
• Ensure contract terms are aligned with Cytokinetics’ legal, compliance, and operational standards and company policies.
• Collaborate with business partners to understand objectives and craft practical, risk-appropriate solutions.

Legal Support & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Provide day-to-day legal support to EU business functions and resolve issues as they arise.
• Advise teams on a range of legal issues and contract processes, company policies, and best practices to manage risks and improve efficiency and compliance.
• Work closely with the US-based legal team to ensure consistency in approach and support and contribute to legal projects and initiatives as required.

Legal Operations

• Assist with developing and maintaining  contract templates, playbooks, and clause libraries for Europe.
• Provide input and support to US-based team to tailor our Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) system to European needs, roll out the implementation and its ongoing management thereafter. Help identify opportunities to streamline contracting workflows and improve operational efficiency.

Compliance & Risk Management

• Identify and provide advice on a range of legal risks appropriately, ensuring our operations comply with applicable EU and country-specific requirements.
• Partner with Head of Legal and Compliance, Compliance Officer, Regulatory, Finance  and Procurement teams when contract matters intersect with finance, regulatory or compliance considerations.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree or other advanced law degree.
• Bar qualification in Switzerland or another European jurisdiction, desirable.
• Approximately 7+ years of experience, in life sciences, healthcare, or related industries with a strong preference for candidates who have experience in the biotech or pharmaceutical industry with direct experience across multiple European jurisdictions.
• Demonstrated ability to proactively identify, analyze, and manage complex legal issues and provide strategic, proactive legal advice and business-oriented solutions.
• Experience working with Privacy and Data Protection matters and deep understanding of the current legislation is highly desirable
• Strong negotiation, drafting, and legal analytical skills with the ability to balance legal risk with practical business needs.
• Solid judgment and business acumen and understanding of business operations, particularly in determining the significance of legal matters in the context of business objectives, assessing risks and benefits and providing innovative business and legal solutions.
• Experience working with Contract Lifecycle Management (CLM) systems.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; fluency in English required, additional fluency in at least another European language is highly valued.
• Enthusiastic, self-motivated and efficient, able to proactively identify short and mid-term business needs, to develop strategies and to manage responsibilities independently as well as to facilitate teamwork and to mentor and guide peers.
• Strong organizational skills in order to prioritize and manage multiple time-sensitive projects simultaneously;
• Able to work accurately with an appropriate sense of urgency and function effectively and efficiently in a fast-paced and dynamic environment
• Strong interpersonal skills, including diplomacy and flexibility, and the ability to interface effectively throughout all levels of the organization as well as with external parties, and adaptable to circumstances and variety of cultures.
• Hands-on, collaborative mindset with a willingness to take on a broad range of responsibilities.

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