Counsel, R&D and Commercial Contracts

Company introduction:

Compass Pathways plc (Nasdaq: CMPS) is a biotechnology company dedicated to accelerating patient access to evidence-based innovation in mental health. The Company is headquartered in London, UK, with offices in New York City in the US. We focus on developing novel treatments that have the potential to improve the lives of those who are suffering with mental health conditions and who are not helped by current treatments.  

We are pioneering a new paradigm for treating mental health conditions focused on rapid and durable responses through the development of our investigational COMP360 synthetic psilocybin treatment, potentially a first in class treatment. COMP360 has Breakthrough Therapy designation from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and has received Innovative Licensing and Access Pathway (ILAP) designation in the UK for treatment-resistant depression (TRD) due to the pressing unmet need in this area.

We are currently in phase 3 for TRD, have completed phase 2 studies for both post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anorexia nervosa and are planning a further late-stage study in PTSD. We envision a world where mental health means not just the absence of illness but the ability to thrive. - Compass Pathways.

Job overview:  

We are seeking a Counsel, R&D and Commercial Contracts (Director level) to join our legal team and lead high impact contracting matters across R&D, commercial operations, and market access as we prepare to launch our first commercial product. This is a hands-on role for an experienced in house attorney who enjoys ownership, cross functional partnership, and operating in a fast moving, scaling organization.

Location: Hybrid in our New York City office.

Reports to: VP, Associate General Counsel.

Roles and responsibilities 
(Include but are not limited to): 

• Draft, review, and negotiation of complex R&D and clinical development agreements, including:
  
  
  
  • Clinical trial agreements (CTAs)
  
  
  • CRO, CDMO, and other strategic vendor agreements
  
  
  • Research collaboration and services agreements
  
  
  
  


• Draft, review, and negotiation of commercial contracting agreements, including:
  
  
  
  • Commercial vendor and services agreements
  
  
  • Supply, manufacturing, distribution, and logistics agreements
  
  
  
  


• Support negotiation of payer and market access agreements, including managed care, reimbursement, and innovative contracting models (where applicable)


• Advise business partners on contractual risk, deal structure, and practical solutions aligned with company strategy


• Help build and scale contracting processes, templates, and negotiation playbooks


• Partner cross functionally with clinical, commercial, market access, finance, and compliance teams

Candidate Profile:

• JD from an accredited law school and active bar membership in at least one U.S. jurisdiction


• Typically 3-5+ years of legal experience, with meaningful in house experience in the pharmaceutical or biotechnology industry strongly preferred or relevant law firm experience supporting life sciences clients, with exposure to in-house-style responsibilities


• Significant experience negotiating:
  
  
  
  • R&D and clinical development contracts
  
  
  • Commercial vendor and operational agreements
  
  
  • Payer or market access–related agreements
  
  
  • Other vendor agreements
  
  
  
  


• Strong understanding of the legal and compliance considerations facing emerging commercial-stage life sciences companies


• Proven ability to lead matters independently and exercise sound judgment


• Business oriented mindset with excellent communication and stakeholder management skills


• The ideal candidate should have the following characteristics:


• Legal smarts, analytic rigor, business sense, and a strong work ethic;


• Ability to operate independently and work cross functionally with various teams across the organization;


• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and exemplary attention to detail;


• Likes finding solutions to complex problems and works well under pressure;


• Strong written and oral communication (including analysis, interpretation, & reasoning) and organizational skills (project management);


• Flexible, with excellent ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously; and


• Believes in holding themselves and others accountable

Nice to Have 

• Experience supporting a clinical to commercial transition or first product launch


• Exposure to market access, reimbursement, or payer contracting strategy


• Experience building scalable contracting frameworks in a growing organization

Why Join our Legal team:

• Play a leadership role at a company approaching a major commercialization milestone


• Work closely with senior stakeholders across development and commercial team


• Make a meaningful impact in a lean, collaborative legal environment

Benefits & Compensation:

For an overview of our benefits package and compensation information, please visit  "Working at Compass".  

Equal opportunities: 

Reasonable accommodation

We are committed to building a workplace where everyone’s wellbeing matters. If you need reasonable accommodation during the interview process to be at your best, please let our recruiting team know. 

UK applicants

We are proud of our commitment to diversity and equality (pursuant to the Equality Act 2010). We do not discriminate based upon race, religion or belief, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, gender, pregnancy or maternity, marital or civil partner status, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, age or disability.

US applicants

Compass Pathways is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, and related medical conditions), ethnicity, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, military service, genetic information, familial or marital status, or any other status, category, or characteristic protected by applicable law.

Sponsorship:

Unfortunately, we cannot sponsor employment visas and can only accept applications if you have employment rights in the country to which you are applying.

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