The Senior Director, Legal will serve as a key member of Sagimet Biosciences' Legal team, reporting directly to the Chief Legal and Administrative Officer (CLAO). This individual will provide in-house legal support across the organization and serve as a trusted legal partner to multiple business functions including R&D, Finance, HR, Technical Operations/CMC, Commercial and HR. This is an exciting opportunity for a talented attorney with 2-4 years of experience who is ready to transition into, or deepen their practice within, a dynamic in-house biotech legal role at a publicly listed biotech company. You will gain meaningful cross-functional exposure and have a direct impact on company operations from day one.
Essential Responsibilities:
Draft, review, negotiate, and finalize a wide range of contracts, including CDAs/NDAs, vendor agreements, consulting agreements, clinical trial agreements (CTAs), master service agreements (MSAs), and licensing agreements
Manage the end-to-end contract lifecycle, including version control, routing for internal review and approval, coordination of the signature process (e.g., DocuSign), and archiving of fully executed agreements
Maintain and continuously improve the company's contracts and document repository to ensure all agreements are organized, accessible, and audit-ready
Serve as the primary point of contact for contract-related inquiries from internal stakeholders across Finance, HR, R&D, and Clinical Operations
Support all company functions, including R&D, Finance, HR, Technical Operations/CMC, Commercial and HR with legal matters, providing practical advice to further business goals while mitigating legal risks
Assist the CLAO with SEC compliance and corporate secretary responsibilities including corporate governance documentation, board resolutions, and entity maintenance
Conduct legal research and provide clear, practical guidance on a variety of legal issues relevant to a clinical-stage biotech company
Support CLAO in due diligence activities related to business development transactions, partnerships, and financing events • Assist in the development and implementation of legal policies, procedures, and templates to improve efficiency and consistency across the organization
Coordinate with outside counsel as needed, managing scope of external legal work to control costs and ensure timely delivery • Support intellectual property management in coordination with the CLAO and external IP counsel, including patent docketing, inventor disclosures, and licensing matters
Maintain strict confidentiality and exercise sound judgment in handling sensitive legal and business information
Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with internal clients across all departments
Assist with ad hoc legal projects and special initiatives as directed by the CLAO
Other duties as assigned
Requirements
Education and Experience:
Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an accredited U.S. law school required
Active bar admission in good standing in at least one U.S. state required
2-4 years of legal experience; law firm, public entity legal work, or prior in-house experience all welcomed
Candidates with law firm or public entity legal experience seeking their first or second in-house role are encouraged to apply
Experience with life sciences, biotech, pharmaceutical, or healthcare-related legal matters preferred but not required
Demonstrated ability to draft, review and negotiate a variety of contracts and legal documents independently
Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple matters simultaneously and meet competing deadlines
Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear, actionable guidance for non-legal audiences
High degree of professionalism, discretion, and integrity in handling confidential and sensitive information
Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and contract management platforms (e.g., DocuSign, Ironclad, or similar) preferred
Self-motivated and collaborative; comfortable operating with limited supervision in a fast-paced, resource-constrained startup environment
Intellectual curiosity and genuine interest in the business of biotechnology and drug development