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Salary: USD 144,400 - 217,200 / annual
Ginkgo Bioworks is seeking a Senior Corporate Counsel to join its in-house legal team. The company's mission is to make biology easier to engineer by constructing, editing, and redesigning living organisms to address global challenges in health, energy, food, materials, and more. The role is critical to supporting Ginkgo's growth and scaling operations.
You will work collaboratively with commercial, business development, and operations teams to provide balanced legal advice that manages risk while enabling business opportunity. Key responsibilities include:
- Supporting customer transactions, sales outreach, marketing initiatives, and alliance management
- Leading and negotiating a diverse portfolio of agreements including collaboration and licensing agreements, software agreements, purchase agreements, acquisition agreements, strategic service agreements, material transfer agreements, financial agreements, leasing agreements, and supplier/procurement agreements
- Engaging with customers, distributors, industry partners, and suppliers to structure and execute deals
- Reviewing technical and logistical materials to ensure compliance with business development and program initiatives
- Managing multiple concurrent deals and matters in a fast-paced, evolving environment
- Communicating clearly with multiple stakeholders to build consensus and drive complex initiatives forward
- Providing guidance on foundry supply chains, operations, and the legal framework for new offerings
You will be expected to demonstrate strong judgment in balancing risk and business opportunity, manage projects with company-wide impact through cross-functional influence, and communicate issues directly and quickly. The role requires adaptability in a constantly changing environment and a commitment to Ginkgo's mission.
Ginkgo has implemented a return-to-office policy effective October 1, 2025, requiring in-office presence 5 days per week for employees within 50 miles of Boston, MA (some teams may require 4-5 days as discussed during interviews).
REQUIREMENTS:
- Minimum 8 years' experience as a lawyer in a legal environment (law firm experience in high-pressure environments will be weighted favorably)
- Juris Doctor (JD) degree required
- Ability to discern between low and high-impact efforts and manage time effectively
- Demonstrated ability to direct resources efficiently toward company priorities with cost control in mind
- Strong project/program management experience with company-wide impact requiring significant indirect and cross-functional influence
- Excellent communication skills with a track record of honest, direct, and quick communication of issues
- Reputation for sound judgment when balancing risk and business opportunity
- Dedication to the mission of making biology easier to engineer
