Director, Legal

Merck seeks a Director of Legal Counsel for Corporate Transactions to provide strategic legal guidance on complex business development and M&A activities across multiple divisions. The role involves structuring transactions, managing due diligence, negotiating agreements, and coordinating with internal and external stakeholders throughout the transaction lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Partner with business development, management, and cross-functional teams on M&A, divestitures, joint ventures, and licensing transactions
• Provide strategic legal advice on transaction structure, negotiation strategy, and execution risk mitigation
• Lead or support structuring, due diligence, negotiation, and documentation of complex business transactions
• Identify and communicate material legal and business risks; develop practical mitigation strategies
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders and external advisers to manage transaction workstreams and drive closing

Requirements

• Juris Doctor from accredited U.S. law school and active bar membership in at least one U.S. state
• Minimum four years of transactional legal experience in law firm or corporate setting
• Demonstrated expertise drafting and negotiating sophisticated transactional agreements
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with strong analytical and business acumen
• Ability to manage multiple complex transactions and competing priorities simultaneously
• Experience with legal technology tools and familiarity with AI applications in legal work
• Experience in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, or life sciences industry preferred