Development Assistant Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Development Assistant roles at nonprofits, universities, and foundations regularly sponsor H-1B visa and TN visas for candidates with degrees in communications, public administration, or a related field. Employers file a Labor Condition Application before sponsorship begins, so targeting organizations with active LCA filing history shortens your timeline significantly.
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Get Access To All JobsJob Title: Assistant General Counsel, Business Development
Job Requisition ID: 2588
Posting Start Date: 11/11/26
At Daiichi Sankyo, we are united by a single purpose, to improve lives around the world through innovative medicines. With a legacy of innovation since 1899, a presence in more than 30 countries, and more than 19,000 employees, we are advancing breakthrough therapies in oncology, cardiovascular disease, rare diseases, and immune disorders. Guided by our 2030 vision to "be an innovative global healthcare company contributing to the sustainable development of society", we are shaping a healthier, more hopeful future for patients, their families, and society.
Job Summary
The Assistant General Counsel, Business Development will be responsible for providing legal counsel to Daiichi Sankyo's Global Business Development department and handle all legal aspects of licensing, co-promotion/co-development/co-marketing and acquisitions in the pharmaceutical field, including drafting, negotiating and reviewing such agreements for U.S., global and ex-U.S. territories and supporting the Alliance Management function. This role will also provide legal support for other Corporate Functions, as assigned (including but not limited to as Human Resources, Compliance, Finance and/or IT). Coordination with, and appropriate supervision of, outside counsel as is required. Provides appropriate counsel and direction to other members of the Legal Affairs Department as well as serving as a mentor in order to foster their professional growth and development as well as their achievement of Company and/or departmental expectations and goals as identified by senior management.
Responsibilities
-
Handles all legal aspects of licensing, co-promotion/co-development and acquisition deals including CDAs, due diligence, regulatory filings (e.g., Hart-Scott-Rodino), term sheet and contract negotiation.
-
Advises Head of Global Business Development and senior management (including colleagues from parent company) regarding legal and regulatory aspects of major issues involving licensing and related transactions. Such transactions may be global, US-only, ex-U.S. only, or intra-company arrangements. Negotiates, drafts and comments on such agreements.
-
Supervises outside counsel in cases where outside counsel participates in negotiation and drafting.
-
Provides full legal services to Global Business Development department and other Corporate Functions, in US and globally, as assigned. Coordinates with Global Legal/IP and regional Legal departments, as appropriate. For these areas, acts as lead attorney providing legal advice and support for the business aspects of those functions.
-
Prepares legal documents such as contracts, correspondence, both independently and for review, approval, and use by management. Independently negotiates contracts and other issues with third parties (vendors, etc.).
-
Manages, as assigned, outside lawyers and contracted legal counsel assigned to specific corporate business or functional areas of Daiichi Sankyo.
-
Handles all legal aspects of relationship management for U.S. and Global relationship with key marketing and development partners, including but not limited to Alliance Management, such as contract amendments, interpretation, etc., and will draft development agreements for companion diagnostics for pipeline products to meet rapidly evolving business/regulatory needs.
-
Monitors changes in the laws, regulations and enforcement practices of governmental authorities having jurisdiction over U.S. and Global pharmaceutical business development transactions, which present significant financial risks and potential criminal liability to a pharmaceutical company.
-
Briefs management in Global Legal/IP and other senior management in US and Tokyo regarding same.
-
Supports External Scientific Affairs on early-stage opportunities. This primarily includes legal review of CDAs, Academic Research Agreements and related activities.
Qualifications
Education Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree required
- JD from Law School of recognized standing and NJ State Bar Admission (or qualified to be admitted as limited in-house NJ attorney) required
- Eligible to practice law in the state of New Jersey (either licensed in NJ or limited in-house license) and maintain such license in good standing at all times. required
Experience Qualifications
-
7 or More Years post-law school experience, required
-
4 or More Years pharmaceutical industry experience, particularly in drafting and negotiating licensing, promotion and development deals, including global transactions. required
-
Relevant in-house corporate and/or non-litigation experience preferred
-
Experience in patent prosecution or patent litigation preferred
Travel Requirements
Ability to travel up to 10% of the time. Travel includes approximately 2 weeklong trips to Japan each year; other international travel is possible.
Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Salary Range:
USD$228,160.00 - USD$342,240.00
Job Title: Assistant General Counsel, Business Development
Job Requisition ID: 2588
Posting Start Date: 11/11/26
At Daiichi Sankyo, we are united by a single purpose, to improve lives around the world through innovative medicines. With a legacy of innovation since 1899, a presence in more than 30 countries, and more than 19,000 employees, we are advancing breakthrough therapies in oncology, cardiovascular disease, rare diseases, and immune disorders. Guided by our 2030 vision to "be an innovative global healthcare company contributing to the sustainable development of society", we are shaping a healthier, more hopeful future for patients, their families, and society.
Job Summary
The Assistant General Counsel, Business Development will be responsible for providing legal counsel to Daiichi Sankyo's Global Business Development department and handle all legal aspects of licensing, co-promotion/co-development/co-marketing and acquisitions in the pharmaceutical field, including drafting, negotiating and reviewing such agreements for U.S., global and ex-U.S. territories and supporting the Alliance Management function. This role will also provide legal support for other Corporate Functions, as assigned (including but not limited to as Human Resources, Compliance, Finance and/or IT). Coordination with, and appropriate supervision of, outside counsel as is required. Provides appropriate counsel and direction to other members of the Legal Affairs Department as well as serving as a mentor in order to foster their professional growth and development as well as their achievement of Company and/or departmental expectations and goals as identified by senior management.
Responsibilities
-
Handles all legal aspects of licensing, co-promotion/co-development and acquisition deals including CDAs, due diligence, regulatory filings (e.g., Hart-Scott-Rodino), term sheet and contract negotiation.
-
Advises Head of Global Business Development and senior management (including colleagues from parent company) regarding legal and regulatory aspects of major issues involving licensing and related transactions. Such transactions may be global, US-only, ex-U.S. only, or intra-company arrangements. Negotiates, drafts and comments on such agreements.
-
Supervises outside counsel in cases where outside counsel participates in negotiation and drafting.
-
Provides full legal services to Global Business Development department and other Corporate Functions, in US and globally, as assigned. Coordinates with Global Legal/IP and regional Legal departments, as appropriate. For these areas, acts as lead attorney providing legal advice and support for the business aspects of those functions.
-
Prepares legal documents such as contracts, correspondence, both independently and for review, approval, and use by management. Independently negotiates contracts and other issues with third parties (vendors, etc.).
-
Manages, as assigned, outside lawyers and contracted legal counsel assigned to specific corporate business or functional areas of Daiichi Sankyo.
-
Handles all legal aspects of relationship management for U.S. and Global relationship with key marketing and development partners, including but not limited to Alliance Management, such as contract amendments, interpretation, etc., and will draft development agreements for companion diagnostics for pipeline products to meet rapidly evolving business/regulatory needs.
-
Monitors changes in the laws, regulations and enforcement practices of governmental authorities having jurisdiction over U.S. and Global pharmaceutical business development transactions, which present significant financial risks and potential criminal liability to a pharmaceutical company.
-
Briefs management in Global Legal/IP and other senior management in US and Tokyo regarding same.
-
Supports External Scientific Affairs on early-stage opportunities. This primarily includes legal review of CDAs, Academic Research Agreements and related activities.
Qualifications
Education Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree required
- JD from Law School of recognized standing and NJ State Bar Admission (or qualified to be admitted as limited in-house NJ attorney) required
- Eligible to practice law in the state of New Jersey (either licensed in NJ or limited in-house license) and maintain such license in good standing at all times. required
Experience Qualifications
-
7 or More Years post-law school experience, required
-
4 or More Years pharmaceutical industry experience, particularly in drafting and negotiating licensing, promotion and development deals, including global transactions. required
-
Relevant in-house corporate and/or non-litigation experience preferred
-
Experience in patent prosecution or patent litigation preferred
Travel Requirements
Ability to travel up to 10% of the time. Travel includes approximately 2 weeklong trips to Japan each year; other international travel is possible.
Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Salary Range:
USD$228,160.00 - USD$342,240.00
See all 116+ Development Assistant Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Development Assistant roles.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Development Assistant
Frame your degree for specialty occupation
Development Assistant roles require USCIS to accept fundraising or donor relations work as a specialty occupation. A degree in nonprofit management, communications, or public administration maps more cleanly than a general business degree, so emphasize your field-specific coursework on your resume.
Search employers with active LCA history
Use Migrate Mate to find employers who have filed Labor Condition Applications for development or fundraising roles. Organizations that have sponsored before understand the process and are far less likely to withdraw an offer once they see the filing requirements.
Target nonprofits exempt from the H-1B cap
Universities, research institutions, and nonprofit affiliates of higher education are cap-exempt H-1B employers. That means no annual lottery wait, and your petition can be filed any time of year, giving you a faster path to status than a for-profit employer.
Verify prevailing wage before negotiating your offer
The DOL requires your employer to pay the prevailing wage for your role and location before certifying the LCA. Run your job title and metro area through the OFLC Wage Search so you know the floor before salary discussions start, not after an offer is on the table.
Get your credentials evaluation done early
If your undergraduate degree is from outside the U.S., USCIS needs a credential evaluation confirming it's equivalent to a U.S. bachelor's. Commission a NACES-member evaluation before you begin applying so you can include it with any petition documents without delaying your start date.
Clarify PERM timing if you want a green card path
Development Assistant roles typically require PERM labor certification for EB-2 or EB-3 green cards, which means your employer must run a formal recruitment process proving no qualified U.S. workers applied. Raise this conversation during offer negotiation, not after your first H-1B extension, to stay ahead of priority date backlogs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which visas can a Development Assistant use to work in the U.S. with sponsorship?
The H-1B is the most common path if your employer accepts a specialty occupation argument for the role. Cap-exempt employers like universities can file year-round without a lottery. Canadian or Mexican nationals may qualify for TN status under USMCA if the role maps to a listed profession. USCIS evaluates each case on the specific job duties and your degree field, so the same title can produce different outcomes at different organizations.
Does a Development Assistant role qualify as a specialty occupation?
It can, but it isn't guaranteed. USCIS looks at whether the position normally requires a bachelor's degree in a specific field like communications, nonprofit management, or public administration. Roles that accept any bachelor's degree, or that mix administrative duties with donor relations, face more scrutiny. The employer's job description needs to reflect specialized duties, not general office support, for the petition to be defensible.
How do I find employers who actively sponsor visas for Development Assistant roles?
Migrate Mate lists employers with verified LCA filing history for development and fundraising positions, so you can focus your search on organizations that have sponsored before rather than cold-pitching HR teams unfamiliar with the process.
Do Development Assistant roles at nonprofits have an advantage for H-1B sponsorship?
Yes. Nonprofits affiliated with universities or research institutions are cap-exempt, meaning your H-1B petition bypasses the annual 65,000-slot lottery and the 20,000 advanced-degree exemption. Your employer can file at any point in the year, and your status can begin immediately upon approval. Standalone nonprofits without a higher education affiliation are still subject to the standard cap and lottery selection rules.
What happens to my visa status if my Development Assistant role ends unexpectedly?
If you're on H-1B status, USCIS provides a 60-day grace period after involuntary termination to find a new sponsoring employer, change to another nonimmigrant status, or depart the U.S. Your new employer can file a portability petition while you're within that window. TN status does not carry the same grace period provision, so the timeline pressure is tighter if your role ends before the authorized period closes.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Development Assistant jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.