Associate General Counsel - US Commercial and Medical - Job ID: AGC

Ascendis Pharma is a dynamic, fast-growing global biopharmaceutical company with locations in Denmark, Europe, and the United States. Today, we're advancing programs in Endocrinology Rare Disease and Oncology.

Here at Ascendis, we pride ourselves on exceptional science, visionary leadership, and skilled and passionate colleagues.

Guided by our core values of Patients, Science, and Passion, we use our TransCon® drug development platform to fulfill our mission of developing new and potentially best-in-class therapies to address unmet medical needs.

Our culture fosters a place where skilled, adaptable, and highly resourceful professionals can truly make their mark. We offer a dynamic workplace for employees to grow and develop their skills.

This position reports to the US General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer. As a key member of the US Legal Team, the individual must have the appropriate level of business and compliance experience, as well as sound judgment to advise the business on complex legal issues and processes.  The Associate General Counsel – US Commercial and Medical is an integral member of the legal team and will serve as a legal advisor for our Commercial and Medical business teams and assist in executing strategy and brand objectives. This role will provide support and review of materials for commercial and medical affairs activities on risk assessments. Contributing to a comprehensive understanding of potential enterprise risk, escalation, and resolution while collaborating and integrating with Compliance, Regulatory, and other functions.  The Associate General Counsel – US Commercial and Medical must be able to work independently, successfully, and collaboratively in a matrix environment.

This position will provide legal support for all aspects of the Commercial and Medical teams and serve as legal business partner to the teams, providing pragmatic, solutions-oriented, proactive counseling in the development and execution of commercial strategies for selling of pharmaceutical products. 

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide legal support for US Endocrinology Rare Disease and Oncology commercial and early-stage development pharmaceutical products.
• Draft, negotiate and review agreements to support the Commercial and Medical teams, including: healthcare professional consulting agreement, vendor agreements, and service agreements.
• Serve as the Legal representative on the Promotional Review Committee and Medical Review Committee.
• Support the Company’s patient reimbursement support program, including advising on privacy matters.
• Collaborate with other Legal and Compliance colleagues to provide legal support to the organization.
• Develop and conduct training for internal teams on Commercial and Medical relevant topics.
• Ensure that client operations comply with applicable laws and company policies, including Anti-kickback Statute and other US healthcare compliance laws and regulations.
• Analyze Commercial and Medical initiatives, advisory board proposals, patient support services, and field-based activities for fraud and abuse, FDA, and other regulatory compliance.
• Ensure that clients are kept abreast of all relevant legal developments in their areas of business by providing training and periodic updates.
• Supervise and develop the Sr. US Legal Counsel who will be a member of the US Commercial and Medical Legal team.

• Deep understanding of the applicable legal and regulatory requirements including the Anti-kickback Statute, the False Claims Act, and FDA promotional rules.
• Experience working in a matrix, international environment.
• Comfortable engaging in proactive counseling and thoughtful risk-taking.
• Ability to be decisive.
• Ability to analyze complex scenarios to identify and evaluate risk.
• Strong contract drafting and negotiation skills.
• Sound judgment and commitment to ethical conduct.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively.
• Team player who can develop strong relationships with clients and cross.
• Proven ability/interest in working across a broad range of subject matter areas.
• Self-motivated, able to work independently, reliable, responsive, and accountable.
• Ability to meet high quality and timeliness standards under pressure.
• Ability to manage outside counsel and budget effectively and efficiently.

Education and Experience:

• JD or LLM degree from a nationally recognized law school
• A minimum of 10 years of relevant experience. Prior experience as a member of an in-house legal department at a biotechnology or pharmaceuticals company strongly preferred
• Admitted to the Bar of at least one state and eligible for admission to the New Jersey Bar as in-house counsel.

A note to recruiters:

We do not allow external search party solicitation.  Presentation of candidates without written permission from the Ascendis Pharma Inc Human Resources team (specifically from: Talent Acquisition Partner or Human Resources Director) is not allowed.  If this occurs your ownership of these candidates will not be acknowledged.

• 401(k) plan with company match
• Medical, dental, and vision plans
• Company-offered Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance
• Company-provided short and long-term disability benefits
• Unique offerings of Pet Insurance and Legal Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Discounts
• Professional Development
• Health Saving Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Various incentive compensation plans
• Accident, Critical Illness, and Hospital Indemnity Insurance  
• Mental Health resources
• Paid leave benefits for new parents