General Counsel

As a condition of employment at Cytokinetics, employees are required to provide documentation of their COVID-19 vaccination record on their first day of employment. If you are unable to be vaccinated due to a medical restriction, or sincerely held religious belief, please contact Human Resources to request an exemption via the Company’s reasonable accommodation process.

Cytokinetics is a late-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering, developing, and commercializing first-in-class muscle activators and next-in-class muscle inhibitors as potential treatments for debilitating diseases in which muscle performance is compromised and/or declining. As a leader in muscle biology and the mechanics of muscle performance, the company is developing small molecule drug candidates specifically engineered to impact muscle function and contractility.

The SVP, General Counsel will lead an experienced legal team of attorneys, paralegals, support staff and external counsel and will serve as a strategic advisor and partner to the CEO, executive team, and Board of Directors. Responsibilities will include overseeing the legal activities related to the transformation of a fully integrated biopharma company to include supporting and providing advice on a broad range of strategic matters for the company’s regulatory, compliance, commercial, and other corporate legal issues.

Why This Is A Great Opportunity

Cytokinetics is readying to go commercial! The Company is positioned for a potential commercial launch this year with programs in Phase 3 trials and three potential FDA approvals by 2025.

The Company has a robust pipeline and solid financial position with >2 years cash runway.

Opportunity to lead a high functioning legal team, which garners respect in and outside of the organization and makes a positive and significant impact.

Great culture in which employees are empowered to develop, contribute and succeed with a team mission-oriented, smart and dedicated colleagues!

Responsibilities

Lead and build the legal team in support of our strategic plan and meet business objectives.

Ensures that Company legal matters are handled in a manner that protects the Company’s position in the marketplace and its reputation with customers, the general public, and government and its regulatory agencies. Coordinates efforts with peers and internal teams accordingly.

Provide sound legal advice on all issues affecting the existing and future business, including development of legal strategies to support business initiatives and appropriately mitigate exposure to risk.

Co-lead and manage all corporate deal structuring, negotiation and execution activities.

Guide and structure, the contracting and maintenance of licensing agreements, strategic alliances, research partnerships, complex commercial transactions and other corporate collaborations.

Manage, in partnership with the Finance team, all SEC filings and ensuring corporate compliance.

Plan activities to ensure comprehensive international patent protections to preserve corporate freedom to operate and exclude competitive entrants.

Oversee the management of a large, complex and diverse patent portfolio, direct outside counsel engaged in activities associated with patent protection, interference and litigation and build out internal IP function.

Proactively ensure that Cytokinetics conducts business in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.

Manage external counsel for all legal activities, ensuring high quality and cost-effective support.

Qualifications

J.D. and admission to at least one U.S. state bar.

Admission, or eligibility, for California RIHC

Advanced degree in science or equivalent experience is a plus.

Minimum 20 years of legal experience, with a combination of law firm and in-house experience

General Counsel experience with a commercial-stage life sciences company is required, global experience highly preferred.

Relevant experience in supporting new product launches both in the U.S. and Europe.

Significant experience with government affairs, FDA and EMA regulations.

Excellent knowledge of the managed markets/payer industry, rebate agreements, specialty pharmacies and related payer groups, Medicare, Tricare, 340B and other government programs required.

Passion for Cytokinetics’s mission and commitment to patients and a strong evangelist for the Company’s culture and values.

Significant transactional experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry, having brought multiple partnering/out-licensing negotiations to a successful conclusion.

Broad legal experience with contracts and commercial and corporate transactions, as well as excellent contract drafting and negotiation skills.

Comprehensive understanding of pharmaceutical business including research, development, manufacturing, clinical, regulatory, sales and marketing.

Resourceful and analytical thinker, creative problem solver, and a commitment to client centricity with a growth mindset.

Skilled in communication, social style flexibility, and agile thinking

Energetic self-starter with strong work ethic.

Solid mentorship and leadership skills; draws satisfaction from team accomplishments.

Thorough understanding of market research, financial analysis, market development, scientific and technology assessment and business/product valuation.

Solid experience building and leading a legal organization overseeing complex biopharmaceutical patent prosecution and strategy; in-depth patent interference and litigation experience.

Strong influence and interpersonal skills necessary to overcome the business challenges of persuading other entities to participate in Cytokinetics programs.

Must be a self-motivated, hands-on executive who functions effectively in an entrepreneurial, high-energy team environment.

Our passion is anchored in rigorous and diligent scientific and clinical approaches to the discovery and development of novel mechanism therapeutics. With gratitude for the commitments and convictions of our employees who are inspired by the courage of patients we aim to serve, we believe Cytokinetics will continue to be a pioneering, values-driven, sustainable, fully integrated biopharmaceutical company.