Assistant General Counsel, Head of Legal for ViiV R&D, M&A and Licensing

ViiV Healthcare is a global specialty HIV company, the only one that is 100% focused on researching and delivering new medicines for people living with, and at risk of, HIV.

ViiV is highly mission-driven in our unrelenting commitment to being a trusted partner for all people living with and affected by HIV.

Our aim is to think, act, and connect differently through a focus on education and treatment for HIV. We go to extraordinary lengths to deliver the sorts of breakthroughs, both in treatments, care solutions and communities, that really count.

We go beyond the boundaries of medicine by taking a holistic approach to HIV through developing and supporting sustainable community programs and improving access to care.

We are fully committed to push through every challenge until HIV / AIDS is eradicated. ViiV has played a significant part in delivering breakthroughs that have turned HIV into a manageable health condition.

We offer the largest portfolio of HIV medicines available anywhere, and we continue our work to cater for the widest possible range of needs in response to the HIV epidemic.

We are aware of how much is at stake for those affected by HIV and we show up every day 100% committed to the patients. Our work culture is fast-paced, diverse, inclusive, competitive, and caring.

But ViiV isn’t just somewhere to work it’s a place to belong, an invitation to bring your very best, and a team full of impact-driven team members who are hungry to make a difference.

While we have been improving lives of HIV patients for 30 years, this is an especially exciting time to be at ViiV, as we evaluate novel approaches to treatment and prevention that could further reduce the impact of HIV on individuals and communities.

The Assistant General Counsel, Head of Legal for ViiV R&D, M&A and Licensing will be accountable for leading legal support for ViiV’s R&D organization as well as ViiV’s Business Development function at a strategic and operational level.

The role requires sophisticated strategic thinking as well as excellent execution in terms of both quality and quantity.

It works with high autonomy and reports directly to the ViiV General Counsel. The Assistant General Counsel sits on the ViiV Legal and Compliance Leadership Team.

Given the fundamental nature of R&D as the driver of the development of future medicines, and the strategic importance of global M&A, it is a role with high expectations of performance.

• Lead legal support for ViiV R&D including as lead adviser to SVP and Head ViiV R&D
• Lead legal support for ViiV’s M&A and Licensing function, including as senior adviser to VP Business Development
• Strategically advise R&D leadership teams regarding research and development activities across the globe, including CRO arrangements, ICF matters and participant recruitment activities, contract arrangements with investigators, clinical trial supply clinical trial disclosure requirements, drug safety, labelling negotiations, GxP matters, non-commercial HCP engagement, ABAC, and product liability
• Lead and manage the drafting and negotiation of numerous agreement types to support pre-clinical, clinical, licensing, and regulatory activities, with a focus on advising on appropriate strategy to manage legal risk while maximizing business benefit
• Anticipate and proactively support the prevention and management of legal risks facing the company arising under third-party transactions and alliances including actively advising client groups on transactional risks, such as intellectual property ownership, GSK compliance and other policy matters.

Advise on, draft, and negotiate licensing, collaborations, commercial and corporate agreements and other business transactions

• Manage the due diligence process for global transactions
• Lead provision of legal support for ongoing alliance management matters
• Manage disputes and litigation pertinent to areas of responsibility
• Partner with Compliance to proactively mitigate identified areas of risk in the R&D organization
• Manage two paralegals for the Legal team
• Ensure all ViiV activities are conducted in compliance with the governance framework set out in its Shareholder Agreement
• Accountable for the management and development of designated legal talent.
• Accountable for selection and management of external legal counsel in allocated areas of responsibility.

The Assistant General Counsel, Head of Legal for ViiV R&D, M&A and Licensing will be based out of ViiV's Healthcare's US Headquarters in Durham, NC & is eligible for a relocation package to the Cary / Raleigh / Wake Forest / Chapel Hill area.

This role requires a senior legal practitioner, who can anticipate the needs of the business and work proactively together with the business to deliver on objectives.

Strategic thinking and business acumen are as important to this role as legal expertise. This role also requires the provision of legal support across a highly diverse array of matters and jurisdictions.

Basic Qualifications :

• JD, licensed to practice law in at least one US State
• 10 plus years’ post qualification legal experience with working in, or advising as an external lawyer, the pharmaceutical industry
• Leadership experience in a cross-functional matrix environment
• Knowledge of laws and regulations pertaining to the research, development, regulatory approval, manufacture and sale of pharmaceuticals.
• Experience and / or technical knowledge of international markets, particularly US and EU
• Knowledge of the R&D process in the pharmaceuticals business and understanding of the activities of a pharmaceutical business from R&D through to commercialization
• Experience with commercial development objectives into the R&D process
• Experience supporting R&D business operations
• Experience supporting M & A transactions

Preferred Qualifications :

• 3 plus years' working in a major law firm followed by at least 7 years of substantial experience in an in-house role in a multi-national healthcare company
• Broad array of legal expertise including a solid understanding of the following areas of law : research, development, manufacture, registration and regulation of medicinal products, intellectual property and IP licensing, contract, privacy, and contract / transactions
• Ability to interact effectively and confidently with clients at various levels of seniority
• Ability to work and navigate in a matrix organization (often needing to exert significant influence without direct authority)
• Ability to assess and priorities competing business priorities (both within team and across different teams) in order to manage workload appropriately

LI-ViiV