Strategic Transactions Counsel, APEX

About Flagship Pioneering  

Flagship Pioneering invents and builds companies that change the world. We bring together the greatest scientific minds with entrepreneurial company builders and assemble the capital to allow them to take courageous leaps in human health, sustainability, and beyond.  

What sets Flagship apart is our ability to unite life science innovation, company creation, and capital investment under one roof in a way that is largely without precedent. Our team of scientists, entrepreneurial leaders, and professional capital managers are each aligned around an institutionalized process that enables us to innovate and create breakthroughs that generate exceptional value for people and the planet.   

Many of the companies Flagship has founded have addressed humanity’s most urgent challenges: vaccinating billions of people against COVID-19, curing intractable diseases, improving human health, preempting illness, and feeding the world by improving the resiliency and sustainability of agriculture. 

Flagship has been recognized twice on FORTUNE’s “Change the World” list, an annual ranking of companies that have made a positive social and environmental impact through activities that are part of their core business strategies, and has been named four times to Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies. 

Position Summary  

Flagship Pioneering is seeking a highly motivated Strategic Transactions Counsel to join our growing Transactions team.  Flagship undertakes dozens of complex and value-oriented transactions at any given time, including complex joint ventures and partnerships, licensing and collaborations, mergers and acquisition, initial public offerings, global fundraising as well as and business and corporate development initiatives.  All of the activities associated with transactions at Flagship are led by a cross-disciplinary group, referred to internally as the “APEX Group”.  APEX is an acronym for “Acquisitions, Partnership, Equity and eXecution.”  This is an outstanding opportunity for an experienced life sciences attorney who wants exposure to some of the most innovative companies and partnerships involved in ground-breaking transactions. 

The ideal candidate will have approximately 5+ years  of law firm and/or in-house experience. 

• Rather than serving solely as a legal specialist, this role will sit at the intersection of business, law, strategy, finance, and transactions.  This individual will partner closely with other business leaders in working on transactions, including members of Flagship’s Executive Leadership Team,  Business Development, IP, Corporate Development, senior management of portfolio companies and other leadership teams to help execute a wide range of strategic transactions across the Flagship ecosystem.  

Responsibilities  

• Own and drive, together with other members of the APEX Group, the execution of transactions across the Flagship ecosystem, including licensing, collaboration, partnership, joint venture, M&A, and other strategic transactions as well as equity investments, recapitalizations, and other capital accessing activities 

• Coordinate with other colleagues at Flagship  and external advisors to facilitate great decision-making. 

• Drive the  structuring of complex transactions to achieve strategic and financial objectives. 

• Drive the  negotiation of transaction terms and the completion of relevant processes. 

• Help standardize transaction processes, playbooks, templates, and best practices across the organization. 

• Manage multiple transactions simultaneously in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment. 

• Stay ahead of industry trends, evolving regulations, and legal developments impacting pharmaceutical collaborations and biotech transactions. 

• Proactively engage and direct external law firm partners and advisors to manage high-stakes negotiations and complex deal structures and legal cost associated with the same. 

• Counsel internal stakeholders on legal interpretations, risk management and compliance considerations. 

• Qualifications  

• J.D. from a leading law school; licensed to practice in the United States 

• Ideal experience includes: 

• 5+ years of experience in complex life sciences transactions, including top-tier law firm experience; previous in-house experience is preferred but not required.  

• Deep expertise in collaborations, licensing agreements, and other significant partnering transactions; expertise in M&A is a plus. 

• Ability to lead negotiations on complex, high-value deals in the biotech or pharmaceutical industry. 

• Excellent executive presence, communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to advise senior executives and drive strategic decision-making. 

• Excellent project management skills and the ability to manage multiple concurrent transactions. 

• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to understand complex business models and an understanding of risk and reward. 

• Outstanding analytical, communication, and relationship-building skills. 

• Ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders and work comfortably with senior executives. 

• Entrepreneurial mindset with a willingness to roll up your sleeves and solve complex problems. 

What Makes You Successful  

You are someone who: 

• Thrives in ambiguity and enjoys solving complex business problems. 

• Is equally comfortable discussing business strategy, legal agreements, and transaction structures. 

• Can move seamlessly between detailed execution and strategic thinking. 

• Builds strong relationships across diverse teams. 

• Has exceptional judgment, curiosity, and attention to detail. 

• Enjoys working in a fast-moving, innovative environment where no two transactions are alike. 

Why Join Flagship?  

At Flagship, you'll have the opportunity to work on groundbreaking transactions that help launch and scale pioneering science and technology companies. You'll gain exposure to company creation and building, venture financing, strategic partnerships, licensing, acquisitions, and innovative business models while working alongside leaders across science, investing, legal, finance, and business development. 

This role offers exceptional breadth, responsibility, and learning for someone looking to build a long-term career at the intersection of innovation, transactions, and company building. 

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Privacy Notice for Applicants:  When you apply for a role at Flagship Pioneering or one of its portfolio companies, we collect and use personal information you provide (such as your name, contact details, work history, and application materials) to evaluate your application, communicate with you, and comply with legal obligations. Your application data is processed through Greenhouse, our applicant tracking system, and may also be reviewed using AI-assisted screening tools. We do not sell your personal information. California residents have rights under the CCPA/CPRA including to know, delete, and opt out of the sharing of their personal information. If you are located in the EU or UK, we process your data under GDPR and you have rights to access, rectify, and erase your data. To exercise your rights or for questions, contact [email protected]. 

The salary range for this role is $176,000 - $346,000. Compensation for the role will depend on a number of factors, including a candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, and experience. Flagship Pioneering currently offers healthcare coverage, annual incentive program, retirement benefits and a broad range of other benefits. Compensation and benefits information is based on Flagship Pioneering's good faith estimate as of the date of publication and may be modified in the future.

Privacy Notice for Applicants:  When you apply for a role at Flagship Pioneering or one of its portfolio companies, we collect and use personal information you provide (such as your name, contact details, work history, and application materials) to evaluate your application, communicate with you, and comply with legal obligations. Your application data is processed through Greenhouse, our applicant tracking system, and may also be reviewed using AI-assisted screening tools. We do not sell your personal information. California residents have rights under the CCPA/CPRA including to know, delete, and opt out of the sharing of their personal information. If you are located in the EU or UK, we process your data under GDPR and you have rights to access, rectify, and erase your data. To exercise your rights or for questions, contact [email protected].