Senior Director, Legal Counsel

decipherapharmaceuticals1· Legal and Compliance Dept
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About this role

Company Description

Job Description

We are seeking a Senior Director, Legal Counsel to serve as a senior leader providing strategic advice in drafting, negotiating, and interpreting general and sophisticated corporate agreements across all functions, including Research & Discovery, Commercial, Licensing and Distribution, Supply Chain, Tech Ops, Clinical, IT and Facilities. The primary responsibilities of the Senior Director, Legal Counsel will be overseeing the Contracts Team and outside counsel and supporting the General Counsel in a variety of high-impact strategic legal projects and initiatives.

We are seeking a dynamic and collaborative life sciences attorney who wants to contribute to the growth of a thriving, fast-paced global organization. This role also includes collaboration with our European colleagues and Japanese parent company, requiring strong cross-cultural communication skills and the ability to manage strategic initiatives spanning multiple countries and affiliates.

Key Responsibilities:

Contracting Oversight and Negotiation (50%)

  • Develop, mentor, and motivate highly-skilled Contracts Team, and support career paths of team members
  • Serve as key legal advisor to business teams, including overseeing negotiation of routine and sophisticated contracts, in the context of cross functional and geographically and culturally diverse teams
  • Serve as lead negotiator on a range of critical and complex agreements

Drive Contracting Best Practices (20%)

  • Build, maintain, and enhance efficient contracts operations and infrastructure and drive continuous improvement
  • Cultivate collaborative partnerships with stakeholders and Contracts Team to effectively communicate challenges and opportunities and deliver solutions

Legal Strategy and Leadership (30%)

  • Provide legal support across the organization on a variety of matters, including legal aspects of development strategy, regulatory activities, and HR processes, and quickly and effectively identify complex legal and compliance issues and provide advice that integrates legal risk management with the company’s business objectives
  • Proactively manage cross-border communication on legal operations and strategic projects, and cultivate collaborative relationships with Japanese counterparts
  • Maintain a positive team culture grounded in Deciphera’s core values of PATHS
  • Manage and complete any additional projects or legal matters as needed

Other duties and responsibilities as assigned

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

  • JD plus 10+ years of experience.
  • Ability to manage, coach and mentor high-functioning team members
  • Significant experience drafting and negotiation sophisticated life sciences contracts
  • Strong understanding of the drug development and commercialization lifecycle
  • License to practice Law in Massachusetts
  • Excellent interpersonal and client relations skills
  • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment leveraging internal and external resources to meet simultaneous deadlines/demands
  • Willingness to pitch-in and help on legal projects across the organization
  • Excellent research, writing, counselling and communication skills and a positive client service orientation
  • Ability to work independently, as a team member, and across the organization
  • Accountability, sound judgment, and the ability to take ownership of an issue and provide concise and timely advice

Preferred Capabilities

  • Experience being part of an international company a plus
  • Significant experience with global clinical trials and sophisticated technical operations
  • Prior experience participating on cross-functional cross-border program teams
  • Prior experience advising on non-contract matters such as HR or FDA regulatory issues

Additional Information

Deciphera is committed to fair and equitable compensation practices. The base salary pay range for this role is $224,200 - $308,330. Actual compensation packages will depend on various factors, including, but not limited to depth of experience, education, skillset, overall performance and/or location.​

Deciphera believes in providing a competitive compensation and benefits package to all employees. Our base salary is just one component of Deciphera’s competitive total rewards strategy that also includes annual performance bonus, a long-term incentive plan, full range of benefits and other incentive compensation plans (if applicable)

Benefits:

  • Competitive salary and annual bonus.
  • Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan with company match, and more.
  • Generous parental leave and family planning benefits.
  • Outstanding culture and opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Apply Now: Join us in our mission to improve the lives of people with cancer. Apply today to become a part of our dynamic team!

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY INFORMATION

Deciphera is committed to equal employment opportunity and values diversity. To ensure that we comply with reporting requirements, we invite you complete the confidential survey at the end of this application. Providing this information is optional. It will not be accessible or used in the hiring process, and has no effect on your opportunity for employment. This information will also be treated confidentially.  We are committed to make all hiring decisions and other employment decisions on a non-discriminatory basis.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY INFORMATION

Deciphera is committed to equal employment opportunity and values diversity. To ensure that we comply with reporting requirements, we invite you complete the confidential survey at the end of this application. Providing this information is optional. It will not be accessible or used in the hiring process, and has no effect on your opportunity for employment. This information will also be treated confidentially.  We are committed to make all hiring decisions and other employment decisions on a non-discriminatory basis.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the salary disclosed for the Senior Director, Legal Counsel position at decipherapharmaceuticals1?
The salary for this Senior Director, Legal Counsel role at decipherapharmaceuticals1 is not publicly listed. Click "Apply Now" to learn more about the compensation package on their official careers page.
Where is the Senior Director, Legal Counsel position at decipherapharmaceuticals1 located?
This Senior Director, Legal Counsel role at decipherapharmaceuticals1 is based in MA, Waltham, Waltham, MA, United States, us. The position is listed as on-site or hybrid. Check the full job description or apply directly to confirm the work arrangement.
Is the Senior Director, Legal Counsel role at decipherapharmaceuticals1 full-time or part-time?
This is listed as a Full time position. It is posted as a Senior Director, Legal Counsel role in the Legal and Compliance Dept department at decipherapharmaceuticals1.
Which team or department does the Senior Director, Legal Counsel at decipherapharmaceuticals1 belong to?
This Senior Director, Legal Counsel position is part of the Legal and Compliance Dept department at decipherapharmaceuticals1. See the full job description for more information about the team structure and responsibilities.
How do I apply for the Senior Director, Legal Counsel position at decipherapharmaceuticals1?
Click the "Apply Now" button on this page. You will be redirected to decipherapharmaceuticals1's official application portal hosted on smartrecruiters where you can submit your application directly.
When was the Senior Director, Legal Counsel job at decipherapharmaceuticals1 posted?
This Senior Director, Legal Counsel position at decipherapharmaceuticals1 was posted on Nov 26, 2025. Apply as soon as possible — early applications are often reviewed first.
Senior Director, Legal Counsel
decipherapharmaceuticals1
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