POSITION TITLE: Corporate Counsel
DEPARTMENT: Legal
Ora Values The Daily Practice Of …
Prioritizing Kindness * Operational Excellence * Cultivating Joy * Scientific Rigor
At Ora, we are building the future of ophthalmic clinical research. As the world’s leading full-service ophthalmic drug and device development firm, we guide our clients across all phases of clinical research to efficiently bring new products and therapies to market. Over the past 45 years, our expert teams have helped earn more than 85 new product approvals. Ora's pre-clinical and clinical models, unique methodologies, integrated clinical data solutions, and global regulatory strategies have been refined and proven across thousands of global projects. Today, our team continues to expand across the globe, with over 600 employees across North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America.
The Role:
Ora’s Legal team is comprised of experienced, practical and solution-oriented attorneys who review, draft, and negotiate a wide variety of commercial agreements to support the company’s diverse clinical research services offerings. Additionally, they provide proactive counsel to mitigate risk and promote expansive business growth.
As Corporate Counsel, you will provide legal and operational support primarily to our Business Development/Sales and Clinical Operations teams, along with other functional areas such as: Regulatory, Quality, IT, People Services/HR, Marketing, and our Ora Net team. Our Legal Department works closely with business units and thinks creatively to overcome obstacles. This is a unique opportunity to join a small, nimble legal department that covers a wide array of practice areas for both the US and International.
This role reports directly to the General Counsel.
What You’ll Do:
- Review, draft, and negotiate a wide array of contracts, including but not limited to: Master Services Agreements with Sponsors, clinical trial agreements, vendor services agreements, confidentiality agreements, Data Processing Agreements, Business Associate Agreements, equipment purchase and lease agreements, commercial real estate leases, consulting and professional services agreements, and software licenses for both the US and International.
- Risk analysis and assessment to support the business’s goals.
- Participate in overall departmental process improvement and create/refine contract templates and playbooks, as well as contract-related Job Aides and Work Instructions for Business Development and Operational staff
- Mentor and assist non-attorneys during contract negotiations.
- Participate in areas of intellectual property procurement/protection/management and licensing, equity/M&A transactions, real estate transactions, and legal compliance, as needed.
- Assist with legal entity business registrations via the Company’s designated platform, insurance renewals, and general legal research, as needed.
- Adhere to all aspects of Ora’s quality system.
- Adhere to all essential systems and processes that are required at Ora to maintain compliance to Ora’s data integrity & business ethics and regulatory requirements.
- Clear and sustained demonstration of Ora’s values -- prioritizing kindness, operational excellence, cultivating joy and scientific rigor – as well as their linked behaviors.
- Responsibilities may differ from the above based on the specific needs of the business.
What We Look For:
- Experience needed for the Role:
- J.D. and current admission in a U.S jurisdiction.
- Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in a law firm and/or in house legal department.
- Additional Skills and Attributes:
- Experience negotiating commercial transactions with an emphasis on the legal issues surrounding clinical research preferred, including a strong understanding of data privacy regulations (i.e., GDPR), and demonstrated ability to implement practices that ensure compliance in all aspects of data handling and processing.
- Self-starter able to work in a very fast paced, changing environment with ability to juggle several priorities at the same time.
- Exceptional communication skills and an ability to engage effectively with a variety of levels and audiences.
- Ability and confidence necessary to work independently and across multiple functions.
- Demonstrate commitment to continuous improvement.
- Intellectual curiosity in working on cross functional teams throughout the organization
- Competencies and Personal Traits:
- What We Do:
- Execution Excellence: Ability to set goals, create structure and maintain a focused and collaborative approach to the delivery of timely and high-quality work.
- How We Do It:
- IQ, EQ and SQ: Agile and positive thinker, communicator and collaborator who uses a growth mindset to work and lead with authenticity, transparency, resilience, and empathy. Scientific, intellectual, and emotional/social curiosity creates the willingness and ability to innovate, make mistakes, learn and try again.
- Clear and Direct Communication, Feedback and Conflict Resolution: Practice radical candor in your communication and participate in active listening. Giving and receiving feedback frequently, with an open heart and mind creates psychological safety and promotes faster, individual, team and company growth.
- Why We Do It:
- Seek Meaning and Purpose and a Desire to be Part of Something Bigger than Yourself: Crave being part of a team that works together under shared values to achieve significant positive impact in the wider world. At Ora, we are creating vision beyond what we see.
What We Offer:
- Well Being: Offering comprehensive healthcare options in Medical, Dental and Vision beginning day 1.
- Flexible PTO & Unlimited Sick Time: Providing you the freedom to unwind and recharge when you need to in addition to 14 company paid holidays.
- Financial: Competitive salaries along with a 401K plan through Fidelity with company match.
- Family Support Care: Adoption and fertility assistance provided along with offering 16 weeks paid Parental Leave.
- Company Paid Life & Disability Insurance: Offering peace of mind to help you and your family feel secure.
- Remote & Wellness Reimbursement: We'll reimburse you to support your remote workspace and wellness purchases.
- Employee Assistance Program: No matter what issues you're facing, New Directions is here to help you and your family.
- Career Development Opportunities: Continued opportunities to grow and develop your career journey.
- Global Team: Opportunities to work with colleagues across the globe.
- Impact: A chance to research new ophthalmic therapies that will impact patients across the globe.
Benefit Eligibility: Full-time employees of Ora working a minimum of 30 hours per week. Our per diem workforce is eligible for Medical and Dental coverage once they have hit 6 months of service and work an average of 30 hours per week.
Our mission is to weave together people, processes, and technology to support innovation in ophthalmology around the world. We believe our business should be a force for good — to improve, heal, and change how we see. As a global company, our vibrant community and culture are nurtured by our core values: Prioritizing kindness, cultivating joy, operational excellence, and scientific rigor. Through our commitment to these values, we have built an inclusive and supportive work environment that fosters respect, accountability, and a fulfilling work-life balance for every team member.
We know a diverse workforce adds to our collective value and strength as an organization. People of color, the LGBTQIA+ community, disabled candidates and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. Ora is proud to be an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to equal employment opportunity and fair, equitable compensation regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status.
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