Vice President, Corporate Transactions

Tessera Therapeutics

$269K — $345K *
Pharmaceuticals & Biotech
11 - 15 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • J.D. from an accredited law school.
  • 15+ years of industry experience, with 5+ years in-house at a biopharmaceutical company focusing on rare diseases.
  • Licensed to practice law in one or more U.S. states in good standing.
  • Expertise in licensing, M&A, and complex contracts drafting and negotiation.
  • Demonstrated sound judgment, high integrity, and commitment to ethical conduct.
  • Exceptional analytical, written, and verbal communication skills.
  • Strong project management and multi-tasking abilities.

Responsibilities

  • Act as a business partner to senior management, providing legal advice and risk assessments.
  • Collaborate on strategic transactions, leading legal due diligence activities.
  • Oversee corporate law functions, including reporting and compliance.
  • Advise HR and Finance teams on equity programs and other matters.
  • Partner with teams to develop communication strategies and review related materials.
  • Work with senior leaders on matters related to the Board of Directors and corporate governance tasks.
  • Manage outside counsel and department budget effectively.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, vision, and dental insurance.
  • Group life and disability insurance.
  • 401(k) plan with company contribution.
  • Tuition reimbursement program.
  • Eligibility for annual incentive bonuses and equity grants.
Full Job Description
Your experience includes...
  • J.D. from a fully accredited law school.
  • 15+ years of industry-related experience with 5+ years in-house experience at a biopharmaceutical company with rare diseases business strongly preferred.
  • Good standing and licensed to practice law in one or more U.S. states.
  • Experience in drafting and negotiating licensing, M&A and complex contracting arrangements.
  • Sound judgment, mission driven, high integrity, and dedication to ethical conduct.
  • Excellent analytical, written, and verbal communication skills.
  • Strong contract drafting and negotiation skills.
  • Strong project management skills and ability to multi-task while still meeting high quality and timeliness standards.
  • A roll-up-your-sleeves, player-coach with the ability to work collaboratively with a pragmatic approach and a positive attitude in a results-driven, highly accountable environment.

It's a bonus if you have...
  • Strong people leader experience effectively recruiting, leading, and retaining teams and inspiring others to maximize engagement and performance.
  • Experience in the preparation and review of SEC filings and compliance with SEC requirements
  • Experience advising on investor relations matters, including review of earnings announcements, earnings scripts, press releases, investor presentations, investor communications, and other communications.
  • Ability to manage corporate governance and corporate secretarial duties for meetings of the company's Board of Directors and its committees.
  • Experience supporting capital markets transactions, including equity offerings.
  • Knowledge of Internal Audit with SOX compliance matters.
  • Ability to manage outside counsel effectively and efficiently and adhere to a budget.

You are interested in...
  • Acting as a business partner to senior management and internal constituencies (such as Business Development, Finance, Human Resources and R&D), providing solution-oriented legal advice, risk assessments and interpretations of sophisticated agreements.
  • Collaborating on strategic transactions, including capital markets and business development activities; leading legal due diligence activities; and drafting, reviewing and negotiating transaction-related documents.
  • Overseeing general corporate law functions, including with respect to reporting and compliance, corporate governance, contracting, transactions and real estate.
  • Advising the Human Resources and Finance teams with respect to a variety of matters, including the company's equity incentive programs.
  • Partnering with cross-functional teams to develop communication strategies and reviewing communication materials, including press releases, scripts, and investor relations presentations.
  • Working closely with the General Counsel, Human Resources, Finance, and others on matters related to the Board of Directors and its committees, including drafting resolutions and minutes, and attend meetings according to business needs.
  • Overseeing cross-functional efforts to develop and implement policies and procedures and train employees contracting requirements, and other matters.
  • Managing outside counsel and the relevant portions of the Legal department's budget.
  • Maintaining a solid understanding of applicable laws, regulations, and enforcement actions to identify emerging risks, keep management advised, and implement policies and training programs, as needed

About you:

You are a strategic and business-oriented legal leader who thrives in a fast-paced, innovative environment. You have deep experience advising public companies on securities law, corporate governance, and complex corporate transactions, and you are skilled at translating legal requirements into practical business solutions. You are a trusted partner who can navigate ambiguity, exercise sound judgment, and provide clear, pragmatic guidance to senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders.

As a key member of the Legal Leadership team, you will lead and support a broad range of corporate matters, including SEC and Nasdaq compliance, capital markets activities, business development transactions, external communications, contracting, and governance initiatives. You enjoy working across functions, influencing strategic decisions, and helping drive the continued growth and success of a publicly traded biotechnology company.

Leadership Structure:

All inquiries regarding the posted position should be directed to the Talent Partner (see below). Interested individuals must apply directly to be considered for the opening.

Meet your Talent Partner:

Ben Hoogheem - Senior Director, Head of Talent Management

As Head of Talent Management at Tessera Therapeutics, Ben leads Tessera's talent strategy across talent acquisition, performance management, and talent mobility.

Ben began his career as an in vivo Pharmacologist, which gave him a lasting appreciation for the rigor, creativity, and collaboration that drive scientific discovery. That foundation continues to shape how he helps build organizations designed to enable science thrive.

Ben is focused on aligning exceptional people with bold science - creating the structure, clarity, and culture that empower teams to scale effectively and achieve meaningful impact.

Compensation:

The stated base salary range represents Tessera's good-faith estimate for this role. Actual compensation will be determined based on a number of factors, including but not limited to individual qualifications, years of relevant experience, internal compensation alignment, and external market data.

Tessera offers a competitive package of base and incentive compensation as well as a comprehensive benefits program designed to support the health, wellness, and financial security of our employees and their families. Benefits currently include group medical, vision, and dental coverage; group life and disability insurance; a 401(k) plan with company contribution; tuition reimbursement; and more.

This position is also eligible for an annual incentive bonus and equity grants as part of Tessera's total rewards program.

Per Year Salary Range: $269,000 - $345,000

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