Associate Director, Legal Counsel (12-month FTC) in Cambridge

Company Description

Bicycle Therapeutics is a clinical-stage pharmaceutical company developing a novel class of medicines, referred to as Bicycle® molecules, for diseases that are underserved by existing therapeutics. Bicycle molecules are fully synthetic short peptides constrained with small molecule scaffolds to form two loops that stabilize their structural geometry. This constraint facilitates target binding with high affinity and selectivity, making Bicycle molecules attractive candidates for drug development. The company is evaluating nuzafatide pevedotin (formerly 5528), a Bicycle Drug Conjugate (BDC) targeting EphA2; zelenectide pevedotin (formerly BT8009), a BDC targeting Nectin-4; and BT7480, a Bicycle Tumor-Targeted Immune Cell Agonist (Bicycle TICA) targeting Nectin-4 and agonizing CD137, in company-sponsored clinical trials. Additionally, the company is developing Bicycle Radioconjugates for radiopharmaceutical use and, through various partnerships, is exploring the use of Bicycle technology to develop therapies for diseases beyond oncology.

Bicycle Therapeutics is headquartered in Cambridge, UK, with many key functions and members of its leadership team located in Lexington, Massachusetts, USA. For more information, visit bicycletherapeutics.com.

Culture is key and all Bicycle employees actively embrace and role model our company values:

• We are Adventurous. We believe it’s the way to deliver extraordinary results for our patients.
• We are Dedicated to our Mission. You can’t change the world if you don’t have determination.
• We are One Team. We only succeed when we work together.

Job Description

Your mission is to provide expert legal guidance and support across our global organization, protecting the company's interests and enabling our pioneering research and clinical development. You will apply your deep legal expertise to manage a diverse range of agreements and provide critical counsel, directly contributing to the success of our mission to develop transformative medicines for patients.

Legal Strategy & Execution

• Lead the end-to-end management of key legal agreements, including drafting, reviewing, and negotiating a high volume of contracts such as clinical trial agreements, services, confidentiality, material transfer, consultancy, research, collaboration, and IP licence agreements.
• Serve as a legal partner for the company’s research and innovation functions, applying a detailed understanding of our technology, intellectual property, and R&I activities to provide pragmatic, risk-based advice.
• Provide robust legal support for the company’s clinical trial activities across multiple jurisdictions, including negotiating contracts with clinical sites and vendors.
• Proactively identify legal risks and opportunities, developing and implementing strategies to mitigate risk while supporting the company’s strategic objectives.
• Effectively supervise and manage external counsel as required to ensure the delivery of high-quality, timely, and cost-effective legal support.
• Assist in the strategic management of any litigation or disputes, working to protect the company's interests and achieve favourable outcomes.

Business Partnering & Stakeholder Management

• Act as a trusted advisor and primary point of contact for business stakeholders who require assistance with the contract review and approval process, providing clear and practical guidance.
• Deliver ad hoc legal support across a breadth of corporate functions as needed, including finance, HR, IT, strategy and compliance.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with key stakeholders in both the UK and US on a daily basis, ensuring alignment between legal guidance and business goals.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated deep expertise in commercial law, gained either through experience in a biotech, pharmaceutical, or equivalent in-house or private practice setting.
• Proven ability to independently draft, negotiate, and manage a wide range of complex legal agreements.
• Experience providing legal counsel on matters related to research and development and intellectual property.
• Qualified as a solicitor in England and Wales or an equivalent jurisdiction.

Skills & Competencies

• Knowledge & Expertise: Core Expertise: You apply your legal expertise to guide teams and projects, acting as a key source of legal knowledge for the business.
• Data / Insight: You provide high-level interpretation of complex legal and business information, identifying key implications and informing strategic decisions.
• Knowledge Sharing: You act as a mentor and role model for best practice, sharing your expertise to build legal acumen across the organisation.

Job Complexity:

• Task / Project Delivery: You lead multiple complex projects managing competing priorities and stakeholders to deliver results.
• Problem-Solving: You develop innovative and practical solutions to cross-functional legal and business challenges.
• Strategic Impact: You contribute to shaping functional priorities and strategy, ensuring legal considerations are embedded in business planning.

Values & Behaviours:

• One Team
• Collaboration: You build collaborative partnerships across functions, creating an environment that empowers teams and fosters shared success.
• Inclusive Leadership: You foster an inclusive and supportive team environment, ensuring diverse perspectives are heard and valued.
• Adventurous
• Innovation: You seek pragmatic and novel solutions to legal and business challenges.
• Risk-Taking: You support calculated risk-taking that is balanced with legal judgment to drive results and advance our goals.
• Change Leadership: You guide teams and stakeholders confidently through transitions, helping them adapt to new processes and priorities.
• Dedicated to our Mission
• Accountability: You ensure your work and the outcomes you deliver are clearly aligned with our core mission and strategic priorities.
• Resilience: You model perseverance and maintain focus when facing organisational challenges and navigating complex legal landscapes.
• Inspiration: You connect your goals and guidance to the organisation’s purpose, demonstrating a passion for what is best for the business and our patients.

Additional Information

• State-of-the-art campus environment with on campus restaurant and Montessori-style nursery.
• Flexible working environment.
• Competitive reward including annual company bonus.
• Employee recognition schemes.
• 28 days annual leave in addition to bank holidays + option to buy up to 5 additional days annually.
• Employer contribution to pension (employee does not have to contribute).
• Life assurance cover 4x basic salary.
• Private Medical Insurance, including optical and dental cover.
• Enhanced parental leave policies.
• Group income protection.
• Employee assistance program.
• Health Cash Plan.
• Access to company subsidized gym membership.
• Eligibility for an option grant to subscribe to shares in Bicycle Therapeutics plc.
• Cycle to work scheme.

Bicycle Therapeutics is committed to building a diverse workforce that is representative of the communities we serve. We recognize that diverse and inclusive teams build a stronger and more innovative company. Therefore, all qualified applicants will be considered for employment, and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability status, marital status, or veteran status.