Job Vacancies at 54gene Nigeria

Department: Legal & Compliance
Reports to: General Counsel

Position Summary 

• As the Legal Operations Manager, you will report to the General Counsel and be a key member of the legal compliance and information security (LCIS) team in creating processes and practices to improve the day-to-day efficiency and effectiveness of the LCIS team, facilitate change, manage vendor relationships, provide necessary reporting to the department and, in conjunction with the General Counsel, maintain accurate budgets.
• You must be able to adapt to changing priorities and business needs and must be proactive in identifying areas of need and generating action plans.
• You’ll be part of a close-knit, high-performing team that promotes a fun atmosphere and relentless dedication to high-quality work. This role involves direct contact with the business client as well as third parties, so the ability to spot issues and provide viable solutions is key.

Essential Functions 

• Define, develop and implement the department’s legal operations strategy and initiatives to support efficiency and effectiveness, and monitor the latest legal operations trends to continually enhance our legal organization.
• Set specific goals and initiatives for the LCIS department and report on key operational and substantive metrics that will better inform decision-making, including matter and work product analyses.
• Serve as point of contact for clients, both internal and external in regard to LCIS department matters.
• Identify and implement legal department tools to streamline new or existing practices, manage design, rollout, and training for new systems, and generally oversee the LCIS department’s technology strategy (including the selection, implementation, administration, and support of all technology resources related to matter and document management, content and knowledge management, contract management and related legal operations systems), including but not limited to:
  • Uploading and organizing signed contracts, tagging contracts with appropriate data identifiers, calendaring compliance-related tasks, identifying contract management process improvements, and tracking contract flow and status
  • Maintaining agreement templates and contractual clauses 
  • Manage contract signature process
  • Track contract expirations and renewals
  • Administer LCIS matter intake system, assign new matters to appropriate team members, maintain oversight to timeline and track projects to completion
  • Maintain corporate organization/formation documents for company subsidiaries and manage compliance with local annual reporting requirements
• Manage the overall relationship between vendors and the LCIS department, including onboarding new firms/vendors, invoice processing, and coordinating payments with the finance department.
• With oversight of General Counsel, develop accurate departmental budgets and manage the planning, tracking, expense analysis, and forecasting functions.
•  In cooperation with the Senior Director, Quality Assurance and Compliance, develop and implement internal process guidelines and templates and optimize workflows within the legal department.
•  In cooperation with the Senior Director, Quality Assurance and Compliance, develop, implement and maintain company-wide record retention policy.
• Handle other administrative matters as assigned from time to time.

Education & Certifications 

• Associates, BA or B.Sc required.

Experience:

• 6+ years of legal operations, paralegal or legal administrative experience in either big firm or in-house legal departments
• Prior experience developing playbooks and policies, preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Demonstrated ability to independently move projects forward by gaining the support needed from others while working in a cross-functional role.
• Strong experience in developing, implementing, and using legal department technology solutions.
• Excellent business judgment, analytical, problem-solving, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Flexible and adaptable to changing priorities
• Experience working directly with business partners
• Able to thrive in a fast-paced environment and successfully manage multiple deadlines.
• Team player who exhibits personal leadership and leaves things better than you found them

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Department: Legal & Compliance
Reports to: General Counsel

Position Summary 

• We’re looking for an experienced Life Sciences Attorney to join the Legal Compliance and Information Security (LCIS) team. This is a global role, with the option to be based in Lagos, Nigeria, Washington, DC, or work remotely.
• In this role, you’ll handle complex agreements, including those where specialized expertise is required. You'll have breadth and depth in a variety of agreement types that may include Clinical Trial Agreements, Investigator Initiated Studies, Material Transfer Agreements, Sponsored Academic Grants, External Collaborative Research Agreements, Research Services Agreements, Real World Evidence Agreements, Laboratory Agreements, Human Biospecimen Agreements, etc.
• You’ll be part of a close-knit, high-performing team that promotes a fun atmosphere and relentless dedication to high-quality work. This role involves direct contact with the business client as well as third parties, so the ability to spot issues and provide viable solutions is key.

Essential Functions 

• Reviewing, drafting, and negotiating sophisticated commercial, research, and clinical contracts.
• Negotiate clinical and research agreements across a variety of jurisdictions and internal client teams.
• Create and update templates with mandatory clauses to ensure best-in-class contract types.
• Manage a high-complexity workflow and track data related to the contracting and negotiating process and ensure the timely negotiation of contracts on a fixed deadline with high business impact
• Take personal accountability in delivering value and results to the business client and company.

Education & Certifications 

• Bachelor's Degree and Juris Doctor Degree required.

Experience:

• 5+ years of negotiation experience in a fast-paced environment with a focus on complex language
• Previous pharmaceutical, life sciences, or lab services experience in a legal, procurement, or university setting.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Knowledge of industry regulations including GxP
• Possess and provide expert knowledge in life sciences projects
• Exemplify and inspire knowledge of complex principles, practices, and procedures of contract drafting and negotiation
• Have a mindset of continuous improvement and identifying new opportunities to enhance the company’s business
• Adaptable, authentic, accountable, and values-driven.
• Team player who exhibits personal leadership and leaves things better than you found them. 
• Great attention to detail, knowledge of complex contract drafting, the ability to adapt to the needs of the client, and the determination to deliver high-quality work, with minimal oversight and under strict deadlines,  to work successfully as part of a team.
• Strong analytical and drafting abilities; the ability to research, draft, and articulate legal and business terms for a wide variety of commercial and research contracts in the life sciences industry
• A client service-oriented approach; the ability to collaborate closely with stakeholders from different disciplines
• Demonstrated aptitude for following several evolving processes in a technology-driven environment; meticulous attention to detail and the willingness to effectively track agreement status
• A successful track record of client-facing experience and examples of handling escalations and questions from varying experienced parties with grace and professionalism.

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Department: Legal & Compliance
Reports to: General Counsel

Position Summary 

• We’re looking for an experienced Business Development Attorney to join the Legal Compliance and Information Security (LCIS) team. This is a global role, with the option to be based in Lagos, Nigeria, Washington, DC, or work remotely.
• In this role, you will counsel clients in business development and other areas of the company on the legal implications of transaction initiatives and strategies, with a focus on inbound and outbound licensing and collaboration agreements, strategic alliances, joint ventures, development agreements, and mergers and acquisitions.
• You’ll be part of a close-knit, high-performing team that promotes a fun atmosphere and relentless dedication to high-quality work. This role involves direct contact with the business client as well as third parties, so the ability to spot issues and provide viable solutions is key.

Essential Functions 

• Provide operational support to the Business Development team 
• Serve as the Primary responsible attorney on strategic transactions by leading legal due diligence, counseling on transaction structures and business terms, assisting with the preparation of non-binding term sheets, and ensuring the preparation and final negotiation of definitive, legally binding documentation manifesting 54gene’s business and legal objectives.
• Collaborate with colleagues in the business development, finance, research and development, and commercial functional areas of the company, as well as with subject matter experts in the legal department and outside counsel when their knowledge and expertise is required.
• In conjunction with the General Counsel, manage the effectiveness of 54gene’s outside law firms when engaged in strategic matters with ultimate accountability for the management of law firm budgets and the overall quality and timeliness of such firms’ output.

Education & Certifications 

• Bachelor's Degree and Juris Doctor Degree required.
• Active bar licensure.

Experience:

• 7+ years experience in the bio/pharma life sciences department at a law firm and/or corporate law department.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Strong legal background in biotechnology/pharmaceutical research and development.
• Experience with M&A, collaborations, consortiums, and license agreements.
• Experience with transactions in Africa preferred
• Exceptional: intellectual capacity; business counseling gravitas; decision-making intuition; communication skills; and capabilities in establishing business practices to manage legal and other risks.
• Have a mindset of continuous improvement and identifying new opportunities to enhance the company’s business
• Adaptable, authentic, accountable, and values-driven.
• Team player who exhibits personal leadership and leaves things better than you found them. 
• Demonstrated aptitude for following several evolving processes in a technology-driven environment; meticulous attention to detail.