Senior Legal Counsel

About the job

GARDP interacts and collaborates with a variety of stakeholders around the world, including in particular pharmaceutical and biotech companies, authorities, donors, service providers, research institutes, CROs, etc. The strategic discussions and negotiations, as well as the drafting, finalization and management of agreements with these stakeholders require dedicated professionals with the appropriate legal qualifications, expertise and attitude.

As a Senior Legal Counsel (M2) reporting to the General Counsel, this role is a key member of the Legal team, providing pragmatic, business-oriented legal support to internal clients with a high degree of leadership and autonomy. The position partners closely with internal clients, ensuring that GARDP’s collaborations and agreements are structured, negotiated and managed effectively, with appropriate escalation and strategic guidance from the General Counsel as required.

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Develop strategies and lead contractual negotiations and drafting of agreements in support of the activities pertaining to GARDP’s departments, with an initial focus on Business Development, some areas of the R&D department, Internal Operations, Executive Office and External Affairs, under the direction of the General Counsel. These agreements include in particular collaboration and license agreements, manufacturing and commercial sublicense agreements, collaboration agreements, cooperation agreements, donation agreements, service agreements, technical agreements, research agreements and MOU’s.
• Conduct legal research on intellectual property matters of importance to the organization and contribute to the management of GARDP’s IP portfolio, in coordination with the General Counsel and external counsel as appropriate.
• Contribute to the corporate housekeeping of GARDP Foundation.
• Liaise with relevant departments to ensure that legal risks have been identified and advise on appropriate course of action, if required.
• Act as a primary legal point of contact for assigned internal clients, providing timely, clear and risk-based advice, escalating and aligning with General Counsel on higher-risk, sensitive or strategic issues.
• Contribute to the development of contract templates, improvement & maintenance of the contract management tools.
• Ensure compliance with internal contract management processes.
• Organize internal trainings on legal matters.
• Perform any other relevant duties assigned by the General Counsel.

Main Interactions

• Work closely with the General Counsel and the other members of the Legal team (including the Legal Counsel Lead, paralegal officer and legal consultants) to ensure consistent, high-quality legal support across the organization.
• Support assigned internal clients and provide back-up in other areas to support Legal colleagues, as required.

Other

• Travel requirements: max. 20%
• Demonstrate leadership, common sense and be articulate, proactive, solution-oriented, rigorous and have a strategic mindset.
• Prioritize, multi-task, and work well under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Communicate and work effectively in a multicultural team and be sensitive to different cultures.
• Excellent English and French writing skills.
• Collaborative and supportive approach to teamwork.

Qualifications

• Qualified lawyer with strong academic performance from a reputable university.
• Minimum 10 years’ relevant experience in which at least 5 years at manager level or equivalent, ideally gained in Life Science / pharmaceutical / biotech / public health environment, or alternatively, with a top-tier law firm representing clients operating in such environments.
• Experience in negotiating and drafting agreements.
• Strong knowledge and experience in intellectual property matters will be considered favorably.
• Proven ability to work effectively in a team environment and matrix structure.
• Experience of working in public as well as private sector is highly desirable.

GARDP Leadership Competencies

• Leadership: Demonstrate leadership aligned with organizational values.
• Managing Complexity: Ability to manage ambiguity and complexity in global health or similar contexts.
• Optimizing Networks: Proven ability to build and leverage networks for collective impact.
• Orientation towards patient-focused decision-making.   

To apply

• Please submit your application using the online form
• Deadline for application : Accepting applications until May 17th 2026
• All candidate will be reviewed after closing date
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted