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Assistant General Counsel, Business Development Transactions Law

Bristol Myers Squibb, Tallahassee, FL, United States


Position Summary
The Assistant General Counsel, Business Development Transactions Law, provides enterprise‑level legal leadership and people management in support of Bristol Myers Squibb's business development strategy. This role leads a team that supports the full lifecycle of licensing, collaboration, acquisition, divestiture, equity investment, and alliance‑related transactions, and serves as a trusted advisor to senior leaders across BMS.

Key Responsibilities

Set and execute the legal strategy for BD Transactions, aligned with enterprise priorities, portfolio strategy, and risk tolerance.

Serve as a senior advisor to Business Development on complex and novel transaction structures.

Anticipate deal trends, regulatory developments, and industry dynamics; proactively position the organization to address legal and business risk.

Oversee the structuring, drafting, and negotiation of high‑value, high‑complexity business development transactions, including licensing, collaborations, M&A, equity investments, and divestitures.

Lead the due diligence for complex business development transactions, coordinating across IP, litigation, antitrust, regulatory, tax, and other specialist teams.

Lead and develop a team of BD Transactions attorneys, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Drive performance management and talent development to strengthen capability and engagement.

Apply strong business acumen and sound judgment to navigate complex, matrixed organizational structures.

Deliver practical, service‑oriented legal advice aligned with Bristol Myers Squibb's mission and values.

Qualifications & Experience

J.D. degree and admission to a state bar.

Minimum 15 years of legal experience, including leading, drafting, and negotiating complex agreements in the biopharmaceutical/life sciences industry.

Track record of leading large, complex, high‑risk transactions and advising senior executives.

Leadership experience managing senior attorneys and/or managers in a matrixed environment.

Ability to manage multiple high‑priority projects in a fast‑paced environment while maintaining attention to detail.

Exceptional judgment and strategic thinking, with the ability to navigate ambiguity.

Strong executive presence and communication skills; able to influence and advise senior stakeholders.

Strong problem‑solving and risk assessment skills, with demonstrated effectiveness in cross‑functional, matrixed organizations.

Compensation Overview
Range: $290,450 – $351,951. The starting compensation range for this role is listed above for a full‑time employee (FTE) basis. Additional incentive cash and stock opportunities (based on eligibility) may be available. Final individual compensation will be decided based on demonstrated experience.

Benefit offerings are subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans in effect at the time and may require enrollment. Benefit includes: Health coverage (medical, pharmacy, dental, and vision care); Well‑being support programs; Financial well‑being and protection (401(k), disability, life insurance, etc.).

Work‑Life Benefits
Paid Time Off:

US Exempt Employees: unlimited time off with manager approval, 11 paid national holidays (excluding Phoenix, AZ, Puerto Rico or Rayzebio employees).

Phoenix, AZ, Puerto Rico and Rayzebio Exempt, Non‑Exempt, Hourly Employees: 160 hours annual paid vacation for new hires with manager approval, 11 national holidays, and 3 optional holidays.

Additional time off may include unlimited paid sick time, up to 2 paid volunteer days per year, summer hours flexibility, leaves of absence for medical, personal, parental, caregiver, bereavement, and military needs, and an annual global shutdown between Christmas and New Year's Day. Eligibility is subject to location and employment type.

On‑Site Protocol
BMS has an occupancy structure that determines where an employee is required to conduct their work. The structure includes site‑essential, site‑by‑design, field‑based, and remote‑by‑design jobs. The occupancy type is determined by the nature and responsibilities of the role. Site‑essential roles require 100% shifts onsite. Site‑by‑design roles may be eligible for a hybrid work model with at least 50% onsite. Field‑based and remote‑by‑design roles require essential travel for meetings and customer engagement.

Supporting People With Disabilities
BMS is dedicated to ensuring that people with disabilities can excel through a transparent recruitment process, reasonable accommodations, and ongoing support. Applicants can request accommodations prior to accepting a job offer. Direct inquiries to adastaffingsupport@bms.com. Access the full Equal Employment Opportunity statement at careers.bms.com/eeo-accessibility.

Candidate Rights
BMS will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records pursuant to applicable laws in your area. If you live in or expect to work from Los Angeles County, please visit the following page for additional information: careers.bms.com/california-residents.

Data Protection
We will never request payments, financial information, or social security numbers during our application or recruitment process. Learn more about protecting yourself at careers.bms.com/fraud-protection. Any data processed in connection with role applications will be treated in accordance with applicable data privacy policies and regulations.

Additional Information
If you believe that the job posting is missing information required by local law or incorrect in any way, please contact BMS at TAEnablement@bms.com. Provide the job title and requisition number for review. Communications related to your application should not be sent to this email. For application status queries, direct to the chat with Ripley.

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