Deputy General Counsel
San Francisco, CA · Seattle, WA$360k–$400kPosted Jun 24, 2026
Back to jobsDeputy General CounselSeattle, Washington, United States; South San Francisco, California, United StatesApply
The Deputy General Counsel is responsible for a broad range of legal, corporate governance, public company reporting and compliance duties to support the company’s needs. This leader will deliver confident and proactive support, work collaboratively as well as autonomously, and be comfortable with, and skilled in, interacting with senior management and employees at all levels throughout the company.
ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
Proactively support all operational functions within the company, including our Research, Clinical Development, Clinical Operations, Medical Affairs, Nonclinical Development, Translational Science, Regulatory, Finance, HR and IT teams
Collaborate on strategic initiatives, including Business Development matters
Draft, review and negotiate (and oversee management of) confidentiality agreements, consulting agreements, services agreements, research and collaboration agreements, clinical trial agreements, license agreements and other agreements
Review Exchange Act filings, including Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, Proxy Statement and Section 16 reports, and support compliance with other public company reporting requirements
Assist with corporate governance and stock plan administration activities; provide expertise and insights for developing and messaging communications and training for employees
Lead compliance and privacy programs; design, deliver and monitor training for employees
Oversee management of corporate minute books, other corporate records and contracts and form agreements databases
Collaborate with outside counsel and manage external spend efficiently
Manage Legal team members; guide performance and development for staff in alignment with Lyell performance practices
This role may be based either in South San Francisco, CA or Seattle (at either the Downtown Seattle, WA or Bothell, WA location)
PREFERRED EDUCATION:
Law school graduate and Bar member
PREFERRED EXPERIENCE:
15+ years post-Bar experience, gained in pharmaceutical/biotech environment and/or a top-tier law firm representing healthcare and biotechnology clients
Broad experience working with different functional teams; prior experience with an expanding organization during its growth phase is preferred
Deep knowledge of SEC and Nasdaq public company reporting obligations
Entrepreneurial spirit; experience in a growing company is a plus
Self-starter with demonstrated ability to work independently, to manage and support others, to lead and to make sound decisions quickly
Proven ability to interact effectively with senior management and others at all levels of an organization
Highly effective organization skills to successfully manage wide-ranging workload and projects
Excellent legal, business, analytical and presentation skills
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a strong ability to influence and negotiate
Excellent collaboration skills with a desire to bring out the best in others
Fluency in English
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:
Ability to be both an “architect” and a “plumber” – to see the big picture and to execute it
Ability to explain complex concepts and problems in simple terms, and communicate clearly and effectively at all organization levels (including senior management)
Ability to elevate colleagues’ performance
Strong sense of ownership for projects and results and passionate about his/her work
Analytical mindset; good problem-solving skills; able to work effectively to identify issues, gather relevant data points, assess risks and provide solution-based recommendations
The salary range for this position is $360,000 to $400,000, annually, with the opportunity to earn an annual bonus. The salary range is an estimate, and the actual salary may vary based on Lyell’s compensation practices and an applicant’s qualifications and experience. Employees are also eligible to participate in...