Director, Legal - Corporate Transactions

Job Description

The Legal Counsel, Corporate Transactions will provide legal support and counseling for a broad range of complex transactions on behalf of the Company, including public and private mergers and acquisitions; joint ventures; research, development and commercial collaborations; corporate licensing; manufacturing and supply and other business development transactions.

Responsibilities:

• Work closely with management in business development and licensing functions on complex legal transactions led by the Company’s Corporate, Research & Development, Human Health, Manufacturing and Animal Health Divisions
• Provide legal, deal and strategic advice to business development, management and executive clients
• Negotiate and draft highly sophisticated M&A, divestiture, joint venture, licensing, collaboration and other agreements, often where no precedents exist
• Advise as needed on relevant antitrust, securities and corporate laws impacting various projects
• Supervise activities and manage the relationship with outside counsel, as needed, to support transactions
• May train and supervise paralegal
• Provide legal services, advice and guidance that is consistent with law and Company policy
• Work collaboratively and cross-functionally to further business objectives and appropriately balance divisional/functional/corporate business objectives and legal risks
• Exercise judgment to drive decisions on routine and non-routine matters within area of practice
• Some domestic and international travel required
• Report to AVP, Corporate Transactions Legal
• Hybrid work arrangement in place, with minimum of three days per week in-office required

Position Qualifications:

Education Minimum Requirement:

• An Undergraduate degree from an accredited institution
• Graduate of an accredited U.S. law school, with admission to the Bar of New Jersey or another state

Prerequisites:

• Four (4) or more years of legal experience in a law firm or corporate setting
• Experience drafting sophisticated legal transactional documents
• Excellent teamwork, communication (written and oral) and analytical skills, and a high degree of business acumen
• Experience in managing a significant workload, with the ability to juggle multiple transactions simultaneously
• Ability to be proactive and work independently with high level of initiative, self-motivation and intellectual curiosity
• Willingness to embrace development opportunities, which may include assuming other related roles and assignments

Preferred Experience and Skills:

• Experience in independently handling complex transactional matters in the pharmaceutical industry or other regulated industries
• Experience in advising management on business and legal risks in specific transactions
• Experience operating in ambiguous circumstances
• Experience in working collaboratively with colleagues to set project plan and timelines
• We partner with the business to ensure we maintain our company’s values and high ethical standards, comply with the law, protect our people and enhance our reputation. We strive to foster an environment that is inspiring, supportive and diverse.

Current Employees apply HERE

Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

US and Puerto Rico Residents Only:

Our company is committed to inclusion, ensuring that candidates can engage in a hiring process that exhibits their true capabilities. Please click here if you need an accommodation during the application or hiring process.

As an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, we provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.  As a federal contractor, we comply with all affirmative action requirements for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.  For more information about personal rights under the U.S. Equal Opportunity Employment laws, visit:

EEOC Know Your Rights

EEOC GINA Supplement​

We are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing together, talented, and committed people with diverse experiences, perspectives, skills and backgrounds. The fastest way to breakthrough innovation is when people with diverse ideas, broad experiences, backgrounds, and skills come together in an inclusive environment. We encourage our colleagues to respectfully challenge one another’s thinking and approach problems collectively.

Learn more about your rights, including under California, Colorado and other US State Acts

U.S. Hybrid Work Model

Effective September 5, 2023, employees in office-based positions in the U.S. will be working a Hybrid work consisting of three total days on-site per week, Monday - Thursday, although the specific days may vary by site or organization, with Friday designated as a remote-working day, unless business critical tasks require an on-site presence.This Hybrid work model does not apply to, and daily in-person attendance is required for, field-based positions; facility-based, manufacturing-based, or research-based positions where the work to be performed is located at a Company site; positions covered by a collective-bargaining agreement (unless the agreement provides for hybrid work); or any other position for which the Company has determined the job requirements cannot be reasonably met working remotely. Please note, this Hybrid work model guidance also does not apply to roles that have been designated as “remote”.

The Company is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the salary range for this job in certain states and cities within the United States. Final determinations with respect to salary will take into account a number of factors, which may include, but not be limited to the primary work location and the chosen candidate’s relevant skills, experience, and education.

Expected US salary range:

Available benefits include bonus eligibility, long term incentive if applicable, health care and other insurance benefits (for employee and family), retirement benefits, paid holidays, vacation, and sick days. A summary of benefits is listed here.

San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance

Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully 
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company.  No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails. 

Employee Status:

Relocation:

VISA Sponsorship:

Travel Requirements:

Flexible Work Arrangements:

Shift:

Valid Driving License:

Hazardous Material(s):

Job Posting End Date:

*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.