Senior Specialist, Legal Support

Job Description

Description

We are currently seeking a Paralegal III to join the Corporate Transactions organization in the Offices of the General Counsel to provide support for our Company’s Business Development & Licensing organization and other Corporate Transactions client organizations, including reviewing, drafting and advising on confidential disclosure agreements, research agreements, material transfer agreements and service agreements.

Responsibilities

• Analyzes and advises transactional clients regarding agreement provisions and drafts and negotiates agreement language for agreements supporting global operations. 

• Consults with and advises transactional clients and our Company scientists regarding the business implications of agreement provisions. 

• Agreements range from routine confidential disclosure agreements to research agreements, services agreements, evaluation agreements, consortia agreements, material transfer agreements, license agreements, master services agreements and other agreements involving granting and/or receiving intellectual property rights from third parties. 

• Requires a solid understanding of contract drafting and interpretation of issues involved in commercial transactions, and the ability to apply a sophisticated approach to solving issues that arise in negotiating these types of agreements. 

• Requires ability to adapt language to solve specific issues that arise in negotiations and apply knowledge to respond to counterparty’s language. 

• Requires understanding of our Company stakeholder needs and priorities, and the ability to balance those with competing priorities. 

• Applies knowledge of industry to adjust negotiations and drafting based on counterparty (universities, government agencies, or biotechs). 

• Responsible for identifying and addressing necessary updates to templates.

• Hybrid work arrangement with a minimum of 3 days per week in person in the office.

The successful candidate will be expected to:

• Review, draft and/or develop legal documents and communications independently.

• Independently handle legal and/or factual research, as appropriate.

• Independently negotiate a wide array of legal documents.    

• Screen requests for legal advice/support, and review information provided from client for completeness, as needed.

• Respond to questions and inquiries with sound advice on complex issues under the direction of an attorney, as appropriate. 

• Lead and/or guide delivery of a broad range of initiatives to streamline processes and tools that improve overall productivity of legal support.

• Cultivate, maintain and influence relationships with stakeholders, and lead negotiations.

• Coach others to critically evaluate data to identify issues and provide counsel under the direction of an attorney, as appropriate.  

Qualifications

Education:

• High School degree required

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience

• Bachelor’s degree required

• Paralegal certificate preferred.

Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge of legal principles, strategies and technology, and advanced legal advisory skills.

• Highly effective at communicating sound advice to employees and third parties under the direction of an attorney, as appropriate.

• Understanding of the specific legal challenges around a specialty area and ability to use that knowledge to shape decisions that support appropriate business goals.

• Accuracy and attention to detail in analyses, drafting and communications

• Ability to speak and write clearly and succinctly, including ability to explain/ articulate complex legal issues to a wide range of audiences.  

• Ability to craft and deliver effective and influential communications that are tailored to the target audience, and ability to emphasize key points and ideas in communications.

• Effective time management to meet deadlines including project management skills, prioritization, and consistent delivery of commitments, and ability to organize information and build upon ideas of others.

• Ability to foresee possible risks to project goals and deadlines and create pre-emptive solutions.

• Autonomy on complex tasks as well as ability to recognize need for direction and seek further advice from an attorney.

• Discrete in handling sensitive and confidential information, and a high level of integrity.        

• Clear motivation and focus on achieving measurable, tangible results.

• Willingness to adopt change.

• Advanced Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel).

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:

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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:

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