Director of Contracts

Company Overview:

Strand Therapeutics is a clinical stage biotechnology company utilizing synthetic biology to genetically program mRNA to deliver truly revolutionary immunotherapies to patients.

Building on the idea of creating smart therapies based on Boolean logic circuits, Strand was started by biological engineers working together at MIT who were seeking to apply the concept of the emerging field of mRNA therapeutics. Strand's technology is therapeutic-area and mRNA modality agnostic where therapeutic proteins are encoded onto modified, self-replicating, or circular mRNA backbones which in turn are programmed with cell-specific sensors and circuits.

Today, Strand has established multiple programmable mRNA platforms with one clinical stage asset and several programs in preclinical development as well as early discovery. Our lead program, STX-001, is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical trial for solid tumors. Our corporate headquarters is located in the Fenway district of Boston, Massachusetts.

Become the next standout single strand!

Job Summary:

Strand is looking to build a team that understands the value of working at a start-up. Joining Strand now places you alongside the founding executive team and world-leading advisors. We are looking for people who have the enthusiasm and motivation to be a highly contributing member of a small but extremely productive team. This opportunity will offer the employee the ability to work closely with the founding team and be a part of the growth strategy of the company.

Strand is seeking a Director of Contracts to partner closely with the COO and Executive Leadership Team to lead the company’s contracting function, including risk governance, negotiation oversight, and continuous improvement of legal operations. As a clinical stage biotechnology company with a Phase 1 oncology asset and additional programs advancing into the clinic, Strand requires a contracting leader who can operate with a high degree of autonomy, sound judgment, and strategic insight.

This is an individual contributor role within a lean legal team reporting directly to the COO. The Director of Contracts will independently lead a high volume of complex biotech agreements annually, ensuring alignment with company risk tolerance while enabling business, scientific, and clinical objectives.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Lead drafting, review, redlining, and negotiation of complex biotech agreements, including master service agreements and related statements of work/work orders, material transfer agreements, clinical trial agreements, CRO and vendor agreements, consultant agreements, confidentiality agreements, and IP-sensitive contracts.

• Translate scientific, clinical, operational, and financial objectives into clear contractual protections that align with Strand’s risk framework.

• Apply knowledge of FDA-regulated environments and GxP standards to support contracting for clinical programs and pipeline expansion.

• Partner cross-functionally with Clinical, Research, CMC/Tech Operations, Finance, and executive leadership to understand the underlying business need giving rise to each contract and incorporate that context into negotiations.

• Determine when engagement of external counsel is appropriate and effectively manage outside counsel by providing strategic direction, evaluating redlines, and ensuring alignment with company risk tolerance and cost efficiency.

• Contribute to the development and refinement of internal contracting policies, playbooks, and process improvements to enhance efficiency, consistency, and compliance.

• Provide regular visibility to the COO and leadership team on contract status, risk considerations, and negotiation strategy. Proactively escalate high risk items within individual contracts as needed.

• Support legal diligence efforts in connection with financings and other corporate transactions.

Qualifications:

• J.D. with significant experience (6+ years preferred) reviewing, redlining, and negotiating biotech or pharmaceutical contracts, including clinical-stage agreements required.

• Demonstrated experience with CRO and clinical vendor contracting in FDA-regulated, GxP-compliant environments.

• Strong familiarity with IP-sensitive agreements and risk allocation in research and development settings.

• Experience managing and directing external counsel under an appropriate risk framework.

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to understand scientific, clinical, and business needs and communicate contractual tradeoffs effectively to executive leadership.

• Ability to work across all levels of the organization; and partner closely with the internal legal team.

• Exceptional organizational and time management skills with the ability to manage a substantial and dynamic contracting workload.

Strand offers a fast-paced, entrepreneurial, team-focused small company environment. We also offer a top-notch benefits package (health, dental, life, open PTO, onsite lunch catering, commuter support and more) and work/life flexibility and integration. Being part of the Strand team allows you to become part of a small team that supports professional development while working together to meet Strand’s goals.

Strand Therapeutics is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other basis protected by applicable law. Strand does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from candidates.

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: $205,000 - $240,000 annually plus bonus and equity incentives

Pay Transparency Base Salary Range
$205,000—$240,000 USD