General Counsel

4 months ago
Full time role
Hybrid · Emeryville, CA, US... more
Prolific Machines is ushering in a new era of biotechnology with light. We harness light to produce everyday essentials more efficiently, from food and lifesaving drugs to novel biosolutions. Our first-of-its-kind photomolecular biology platform delivers unprecedented control, precisely guiding cellular behavior when and where it matters most. Unlike existing tools used to control biology, our technology unlocks dynamic control over virtually any cellular function in any cell type. We're enabling partners to unlock robust efficiency, quality, reproducibility, and sustainability advantages across pharmaceuticals, nutritional and therapeutic proteins, cellular agriculture, and more. Prolific is supported by leading investors, including Bill Gates’s Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Mayfield and SOSV.

Help us create a brighter tomorrow with biology. We're looking for mission-driven, talented, and kind people to join our team.

About this Job

The General Counsel (GC) will serve as a member of the executive leadership team and a strategic partner to the CEO and the Board of Directors. This role reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer. The General Counsel will lead all legal, intellectual property, contract negotiations, partnership diligence, compliance, and corporate governance matters, providing expert guidance on enterprise level challenges while actively participating in building a healthy corporate culture.





Responsibilities

  • Legal Strategy & Leadership:
    • Develop and execute the legal strategy to support the company's growth over multiple revenue arms, including guiding business partnership deal structures (especially pertaining to those in the biopharmaceutical space), intellectual property, commercial, and corporate matters.

  • Strategic Partnerships:
    • Collaborate with cross-functional teams both internal and with partners, including R&D, business development, product and customer support, finance, brand/communications to support strategic initiatives and business development efforts.

  • Corporate Governance:
    • Advise the Board of Directors on governance best practices, and ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and corporate policies.

  • Risk Management:
    • Identify and mitigate potential legal risks across all areas of the business, including product liability, IP protection, and commercial agreements.

  • Contract and Partnerships Management:
    • Oversee the drafting, negotiation, and management of complex agreements, including corporate partnerships and development deals, supplier contracts, and licensing arrangements. The ideal candidate will have expertise in transitioning a biotechnology enterprise from pre-revenue to mature commercialization. Ideal candidates possess both food and pharmaceutical expertise, but pharmaceutical is a necessity.

  • Intellectual Property:
    • Protect the company’s intellectual property assets by developing and managing strategies for patents, trademarks, and other IP rights, including building and managing an IP team.

  • Team Leadership:
    • Build, mentor, and lead a high-performing legal team that suits enterprise goals, our mission, vision, and values, and enjoys building within a burgeoning industry

  • Ethics & Compliance:
    • Champion the company’s values and ensure adherence to ethical business practices

About you

  • Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and admission to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction. Ideal candidates also possess formal training in biomedical sciences.
  • 10+ years of legal experience, including 3-5 years in a senior legal leadership role within a high-growth, transformative industry (biopharmaceutical and/or biotechnological preferred)
  • Proven track record in regulatory affairs, particularly with FDA and USDA compliance.
  • Demonstrable experience with corporate governance, contract negotiation, and intellectual property protection.
  • Demonstrated ability to navigate complex, multi-stakeholder environments, deals, and negotiations as well as being able to provide strategic counsel to executive teams and boards.
  • Strong leadership skills with experience building and managing a high-performing legal team.
  • Excellent interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.

Diversity: We value diverse people, perspectives, and knowledge. To this end, we aim to foster a sense of belonging that enables everyone to bring their whole, authentic self to work everyday. We are committed to growing a diverse and inclusive team that encompasses all types of people. We believe this can only be achieved by acknowledging the ancestral, historic, and current systemic and communal inequities.

Location: The San Francisco Bay Area (Emeryville, CA)

Benefits: Outstanding Health, Vision & Dental Insurance (including full spouse coverage), at least one all-expense-paid team holiday per year, flexibility in schedule and unlimited vacation days. Free lunch every day!