Head of Legal Department Jobs
Head of Legal Department jobs are open across corporate, healthcare, financial services, and technology sectors, at every level from senior counsel stepping into leadership to experienced general counsel, with specializations in corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and commercial contracts. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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About Us…
Obsidian Therapeutics is pioneering engineered cell and gene therapies to deliver transformative outcomes for patients. Obsidian’s programs apply our cytoDRiVE® technology in Cell and Gene therapy products to control expression of proteins for enhanced therapeutic efficacy and safety. Obsidian’s lead program is currently in clinical development for the treatment of patients with metastatic melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer. We’re proud of our diverse talented team and committed to cultivating an environment of inclusion where each person feels a strong sense of belonging and is supported to continuously learn and contribute their best work. Our Research team is based in the heart of Cambridge, MA, and Technical Operations team is based in our purpose built facility in Bedford, MA. Obsidianites enjoy a highly collaborative culture, competitive salary and benefits, and potential for ownership through stock options.
Our Opportunity...
We are seeking a Director, Contracts & Legal Operations to join our Legal team. As a newly public clinical stage company advancing toward potential commercialization, we are building the legal, operational and governance infrastructure needed for our next phase of growth. This is a highly visible, business-facing role at the intersection of Legal, Technical Operations, Clinical, Finance and other corporate functions. In this role you will own the company’s end to end contracting lifecycle and build the legal operations infrastructure needed for our next stage of growth. The ideal candidate is proactive, confident and direct. They work closely with business stakeholders, push issues to resolution, and use good judgment about when to escalate. Reports to the VP, Legal. As a member of our G&A team, you will be a vital part of a highly collaborative group working to unlock the promise of precision cell therapy for patients, starting with our lead program amsoki-cel (OBX-115), a novel engineered tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) cell therapy that uses our proprietary cytoDRiVE® platform. This is a unique opportunity to be a valuable contributor in a well-funded clinical company with field-leading advisors, best-in-class partners, and an experienced team.
This is a Hybrid role based out of our Cambridge, MA location until Q2, 2027 when our Bedford, MA office space expands to become our single MA location
You Will...
Core responsibilities
- Own the end-to-end contract lifecycle, from intake through drafting, negotiation, execution and post-signature management.
- Draft, review and independently negotiate a broad range of agreements across the business, including CDAs, MSAs, SOWs, consulting, vendor, clinical, manufacturing, supply chain, quality and commercial agreements.
- Serve as the primary contracting partner to Technical Operations, Clinical Operations, Research, Commercial, Finance, and People, working directly with business stakeholders to understand objectives, drive negotiations and escalate material or novel issues as appropriate.
- Identify contractual, operational and business risks and propose practical, business-oriented solutions.
- Train and enable business users on contracting processes, templates and self-service tools.
- Assess and improve end-to-end contracting workflows and CLM processes in partnership with Finance, IT, and other stakeholders, including contract intake, purchase orders, approval and signature authority, and handoffs between contracting and spend management.
- Build and maintain templates, clause libraries, negotiation playbooks, fallback positions and approval matrices.
- Establish legal intake, prioritization, metrics and reporting.
- Track key obligations, milestones, renewals and notice requirements.
- Drive automation, AI adoption and process improvements across the Legal function.
- Support and, as appropriate, lead process design and improvement initiatives such as:
+ Commercial-readiness contracting and related process design
+ Operational support for public-company governance, including proxy and D&O questionnaire processes, and corporate records
+ Scaling legal processes as Obsidian moves toward commercialization
You Bring...
Core Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree and 12+ years of experience in contract management, legal operations or a related legal/commercial function.
- 5-8+ years of experience in the biotech, pharmaceutical or another regulated life-sciences industry.
- Substantial experience independently drafting and negotiating complex life sciences agreements, with meaningful experience supporting CDMO, CRO, ATC, supply chain, and/or technical operations strongly preferred.
- Hands-on CLM experience, including configuring workflows, templates and reporting.
- Track record of building or improving contracting processes, playbooks or legal operations infrastructure.
- Excellent planning, coordination, and time management skills.
- Excellent oral, written, and visual communication skills. You listen to understand and communicate effectively and persuasively with partners, colleagues, and leadership.
- Proactive ownership: takes initiative and moves work forward without waiting for direction.
- A confident and direct workstyle - communicates clearly with stakeholders at all levels and is comfortable pushing back when warranted.
- Business judgment: balances risk with business objectives and knows when to escalate.
- A builder mindset: does well where processes are still being designed and creates structure where none exists.
- Cultivates collaboration, transparency, and accountability within and across teams; recognizes success requires interdisciplinary thinking and partnership.
- Inspires confidence, credibility, and trust internally and externally; recognized for high integrity.
- Operates with Urgency, adept at building buy-in and driving alignment within and across teams, senior leadership, and external partners.
- Tenacious and resilient – has navigated significant challenges and is not easily daunted.
- Remains calm under pressure and leads others through complex situations.
- Seeks the data, information, and support needed (internally and externally) to make efficient and informed decisions and meet objectives.
- Continuous learner – actively follows innovations in area of expertise, fosters innovative thinking, and adopts novel approaches that are fit for purpose.
- Reflective and self-aware; operates with a growth mindset.
Bonus Qualifications
- Experience supporting commercialization or launch-readiness activities is highly preferred.
- Public-company experience supporting governance, proxy, equity or insider trading processes.
- Experience with AI-enabled contracting tools or workflow automation.
Obsidian is committed to equitable and transparent pay practices. The anticipated base salary range for this role is below. The actual base salary offered will be determined based on a combination of factors, including applicable qualifications, level of education, the depth of experience, unique skills, geographic location, internal equity, and/or business needs. The actual base salary offered will be in accordance with federal, state, and/or local wage requirements for the role’s location. Our competitive compensation package includes an annual incentive bonus as a percentage of actual base salary and long-term incentives in the form of employee stock options, both of which are commensurate with the role’s level. We also offer a generous benefits package which includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage; company contributions to health savings and retirement accounts; ample paid time off; access to wellness programs; and rich career growth opportunities.
Anticipated Base Salary Range
$198,000—$242,000 USD
Obsidian is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, cultivating a welcoming and diverse environment. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status or any other applicable legally protected characteristics.
About Us…
Obsidian Therapeutics is pioneering engineered cell and gene therapies to deliver transformative outcomes for patients. Obsidian’s programs apply our cytoDRiVE® technology in Cell and Gene therapy products to control expression of proteins for enhanced therapeutic efficacy and safety. Obsidian’s lead program is currently in clinical development for the treatment of patients with metastatic melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer. We’re proud of our diverse talented team and committed to cultivating an environment of inclusion where each person feels a strong sense of belonging and is supported to continuously learn and contribute their best work. Our Research team is based in the heart of Cambridge, MA, and Technical Operations team is based in our purpose built facility in Bedford, MA. Obsidianites enjoy a highly collaborative culture, competitive salary and benefits, and potential for ownership through stock options.
Our Opportunity...
We are seeking a Director, Contracts & Legal Operations to join our Legal team. As a newly public clinical stage company advancing toward potential commercialization, we are building the legal, operational and governance infrastructure needed for our next phase of growth. This is a highly visible, business-facing role at the intersection of Legal, Technical Operations, Clinical, Finance and other corporate functions. In this role you will own the company’s end to end contracting lifecycle and build the legal operations infrastructure needed for our next stage of growth. The ideal candidate is proactive, confident and direct. They work closely with business stakeholders, push issues to resolution, and use good judgment about when to escalate. Reports to the VP, Legal. As a member of our G&A team, you will be a vital part of a highly collaborative group working to unlock the promise of precision cell therapy for patients, starting with our lead program amsoki-cel (OBX-115), a novel engineered tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) cell therapy that uses our proprietary cytoDRiVE® platform. This is a unique opportunity to be a valuable contributor in a well-funded clinical company with field-leading advisors, best-in-class partners, and an experienced team.
This is a Hybrid role based out of our Cambridge, MA location until Q2, 2027 when our Bedford, MA office space expands to become our single MA location
You Will...
Core responsibilities
- Own the end-to-end contract lifecycle, from intake through drafting, negotiation, execution and post-signature management.
- Draft, review and independently negotiate a broad range of agreements across the business, including CDAs, MSAs, SOWs, consulting, vendor, clinical, manufacturing, supply chain, quality and commercial agreements.
- Serve as the primary contracting partner to Technical Operations, Clinical Operations, Research, Commercial, Finance, and People, working directly with business stakeholders to understand objectives, drive negotiations and escalate material or novel issues as appropriate.
- Identify contractual, operational and business risks and propose practical, business-oriented solutions.
- Train and enable business users on contracting processes, templates and self-service tools.
- Assess and improve end-to-end contracting workflows and CLM processes in partnership with Finance, IT, and other stakeholders, including contract intake, purchase orders, approval and signature authority, and handoffs between contracting and spend management.
- Build and maintain templates, clause libraries, negotiation playbooks, fallback positions and approval matrices.
- Establish legal intake, prioritization, metrics and reporting.
- Track key obligations, milestones, renewals and notice requirements.
- Drive automation, AI adoption and process improvements across the Legal function.
- Support and, as appropriate, lead process design and improvement initiatives such as:
+ Commercial-readiness contracting and related process design
+ Operational support for public-company governance, including proxy and D&O questionnaire processes, and corporate records
+ Scaling legal processes as Obsidian moves toward commercialization
You Bring...
Core Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree and 12+ years of experience in contract management, legal operations or a related legal/commercial function.
- 5-8+ years of experience in the biotech, pharmaceutical or another regulated life-sciences industry.
- Substantial experience independently drafting and negotiating complex life sciences agreements, with meaningful experience supporting CDMO, CRO, ATC, supply chain, and/or technical operations strongly preferred.
- Hands-on CLM experience, including configuring workflows, templates and reporting.
- Track record of building or improving contracting processes, playbooks or legal operations infrastructure.
- Excellent planning, coordination, and time management skills.
- Excellent oral, written, and visual communication skills. You listen to understand and communicate effectively and persuasively with partners, colleagues, and leadership.
- Proactive ownership: takes initiative and moves work forward without waiting for direction.
- A confident and direct workstyle - communicates clearly with stakeholders at all levels and is comfortable pushing back when warranted.
- Business judgment: balances risk with business objectives and knows when to escalate.
- A builder mindset: does well where processes are still being designed and creates structure where none exists.
- Cultivates collaboration, transparency, and accountability within and across teams; recognizes success requires interdisciplinary thinking and partnership.
- Inspires confidence, credibility, and trust internally and externally; recognized for high integrity.
- Operates with Urgency, adept at building buy-in and driving alignment within and across teams, senior leadership, and external partners.
- Tenacious and resilient – has navigated significant challenges and is not easily daunted.
- Remains calm under pressure and leads others through complex situations.
- Seeks the data, information, and support needed (internally and externally) to make efficient and informed decisions and meet objectives.
- Continuous learner – actively follows innovations in area of expertise, fosters innovative thinking, and adopts novel approaches that are fit for purpose.
- Reflective and self-aware; operates with a growth mindset.
Bonus Qualifications
- Experience supporting commercialization or launch-readiness activities is highly preferred.
- Public-company experience supporting governance, proxy, equity or insider trading processes.
- Experience with AI-enabled contracting tools or workflow automation.
Obsidian is committed to equitable and transparent pay practices. The anticipated base salary range for this role is below. The actual base salary offered will be determined based on a combination of factors, including applicable qualifications, level of education, the depth of experience, unique skills, geographic location, internal equity, and/or business needs. The actual base salary offered will be in accordance with federal, state, and/or local wage requirements for the role’s location. Our competitive compensation package includes an annual incentive bonus as a percentage of actual base salary and long-term incentives in the form of employee stock options, both of which are commensurate with the role’s level. We also offer a generous benefits package which includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage; company contributions to health savings and retirement accounts; ample paid time off; access to wellness programs; and rich career growth opportunities.
Anticipated Base Salary Range
$198,000—$242,000 USD
Obsidian is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, cultivating a welcoming and diverse environment. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, veteran status or any other applicable legally protected characteristics.
Head of Legal Department Jobs by Experience Level
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Find Head of Legal Department JobsHead of Legal Department Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Amazon40
- Jobot35
- Meta30
- Legora30
- TikTok30
Top Industries Hiring
- Law & Legal Services111
- Education61
- Staffing & Recruiting50
- Technology & Software45
- Consulting & Professional Services35
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in head of legal department jobs.
- Juris Doctor degree and active bar admission in at least one U.S. state
- Ten or more years of legal experience with progressive management responsibility
- Demonstrated experience advising C-suite and board of directors on legal matters
- Expertise in corporate governance, contracts, and regulatory compliance
- Experience managing outside counsel relationships and legal department budgets
- Proficiency with contract lifecycle management and legal operations tools
Tips for Your Head of Legal Department Job Search
Tailor your resume for board-level credibility
Hiring committees for head of legal department roles want to see that you've advised executives and boards, not just managed cases. Reframe your experience around strategic decisions you influenced, risk exposures you mitigated, and cross-functional teams you led.
Highlight your industry-specific regulatory depth
A generic legal leadership resume won't cut through. Identify the two or three regulatory regimes most relevant to your target industry, such as HIPAA for healthcare or SEC rules for public companies, and make them prominent in your summary and experience sections.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists head of legal department openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target companies at a legal inflection point
Companies preparing for an IPO, entering a new regulated market, or navigating M&A activity often post head of legal department roles urgently. Filtering your search by industry news and growth stage helps you find openings where your timing and expertise align most strongly.
Prepare a legal strategy presentation for interviews
Many interview processes for this role include a business case or presentation round. Expect to outline how you'd structure the legal function, manage outside counsel spend, and align legal strategy with company objectives. Preparing a draft framework in advance puts you ahead of most candidates.
Negotiate scope alongside compensation
When you receive an offer, clarify reporting structure, budget authority, and board access before accepting. Head of legal department roles vary widely in actual decision-making power, and misaligned expectations on scope are a common reason early exits happen in this position.
Head of Legal Department Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most head of legal departments?
The most active employers for head of legal departments right now are Amazon, Jobot, and Meta, and the most openings are in California, New York, and Texas, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand tends to be strongest in industries with heavy regulatory activity, such as financial services, healthcare, and technology.
How many head of legal department jobs are remote?
About 55% of head of legal department openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the senior leadership nature of the role. Legal operations, compliance advisory, and contract management work tends to be more remote-compatible, while roles requiring regular board attendance or in-person executive collaboration are more likely to require on-site presence.
How do you become a head of legal department?
Most heads of legal departments follow a path that starts with a law degree and bar admission, followed by years of practice at a law firm or in-house legal team. Building expertise in a specific industry, taking on management responsibilities, and developing relationships with business leadership are the key steps. Transitioning from senior counsel or deputy general counsel roles is the most common route into the position.
Can you get a head of legal department job without prior department leadership experience?
It's possible, particularly at smaller companies or startups building their first in-house legal function, where the role is often the first legal hire. Candidates who lack a direct management title can strengthen their case by demonstrating that they've led cross-functional projects, managed outside counsel, and served as a primary legal adviser to senior business stakeholders.
What does the head of legal department interview process look like?
The process typically begins with a screening call, followed by interviews with the CEO, CFO, or CHRO depending on reporting structure. Later rounds often include meetings with the board or key business unit leaders, and many companies require a strategic presentation on how you'd structure and prioritize the legal function. References from prior executives you supported are frequently requested near the end of the process.
Where can I find and apply to head of legal department jobs?
You can find and apply to head of legal department jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience level and industry background, then apply directly to each one that fits.
See All 5,046+ Head of Legal Department Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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