Legal Business Partner, R&D and Corporate Functions

If you’re interested in this role, please apply in English and include an English version of your Resume/CV.

 

The Role:
Joining Moderna offers the unique opportunity to be part of a pioneering team that's revolutionizing medicine through mRNA technology, with a diverse pipeline of development programs across various diseases.

As an employee, you'll be part of a continually growing organization, working alongside exceptional colleagues and strategic partners worldwide, contributing to global health initiatives.

Moderna's commitment to advancing the technological frontier of mRNA medicines ensures a challenging and rewarding career experience, with the potential to make a significant impact on patients' lives worldwide.

Moderna is solidifying its presence within our international business services hub in Warsaw, Poland, a city renowned for its rich scientific and technological heritage. This hub provides critical functions, meeting the growing demand of Moderna’s global business operations. We're inviting professionals from around the world to join our mission and contribute to the future of mRNA medicines.

You will be part of Moderna’s global Legal team serving as a key legal business partner supporting research and development and strategic collaborations. Based in Warsaw, this role focuses on complex, high-impact legal support where judgment, escalation management, and pragmatism are critical. This is an individual contributor role designed for an experienced legal professional who can operate confidently at the intersection of legal risk, and execution. You will support internal stakeholders through the full lifecycle of research and development support, act as an escalation point for complex issues, and help ensure that agreements align with Moderna’s risk posture, governance requirements, and long-term business objectives. This role combines strategic legal and contracting support with Legal Operations responsibilities, applying technology and AI-enabled approaches to drive efficiency, consistency, and scalability across contracting, outside counsel, and vendor management.

Here’s What You’ll Do:

Your key responsibilities will be:

• Serving as a legal business partner for Clinical Operations, Development, and Research, Corporate Functions, and other stakeholders on strategic vendor and collaborator relationships.

• Supporting the structuring, drafting, and negotiation of complex and bespoke agreements, including clinical trial agreements, sponsored research, MSAs, collaborations, strategic services arrangements, informed consent and other R&D and Corporate Functions driven transactions.

• Acting as a first-line escalation point for contractual and risk-related issues that arise during contract negotiations or execution.

• Supporting legal operations activities related to outside counsel management, including e-billing, budget tracking, invoice review, and ensuring alignment with outside counsel guidelines and cost management objectives.

• Providing support for legal budget management by assisting with spend tracking, accruals, forecasting, and coordination with Finance and Legal leadership to promote cost visibility and alignment with departmental priorities.

• Identifying, assessing, and clearly articulating legal and business risks, trade-offs, and mitigation strategies to enable informed decision-making.  

• Partnering closely with senior Legal colleagues to escalate issues appropriately and support governance and approval processes.

• Ensuring alignment with Moderna’s legal frameworks, policies, and contracting standards while enabling business speed and flexibility.

Your responsibilities will also include:

• Providing ongoing legal guidance on agreement interpretation, amendments, and dispute-prevention strategies.

• Contributing to the development and maintenance of legal templates, playbooks, and internal guidance for R&D contracting.

• Tracking recurring risk themes, escalation drivers, and friction points to inform continuous improvement.

• Collaborating across Legal, Finance, Procurement, and other functions to support seamless transaction execution.

• Leveraging contract lifecycle tools and generative AI solutions to improve consistency, efficiency, and scalability of legal support.

The key Moderna Mindsets you’ll need to succeed in the role:

• “We behave like owners. The solutions we’re building go beyond any job description.” You take ownership of business escalations from a legal risk and business perspective, helping teams navigate complexity and move deals forward responsibly.

• “We digitize everywhere possible using the power of code to maximize our impact on patients.” You are comfortable working with legal technology and open to using automation and Generative AI to enhance transactional legal work.

Here’s What You’ll Need (Basic Qualifications):

• University degree required; Faculty of Law preferred

• 4-6 years of experience providing legal support for Research, Clinical, and Development within life sciences or biotechnology.

• Demonstrated experience drafting and negotiating complex agreements.

• Excellent judgment, analytical skills, and business-oriented legal thinking.

• Strong understanding of contract risk allocation, escalation management, and governance processes.

• Ability to operate independently in a global, matrixed environment with competing priorities.

• Outstanding written and verbal English communication skills. Additional languages are a plus.

• A commitment to quality, integrity, and respect and the ability to maintain a good sense of humor.

• Proficiency in English (verbal and/or written) required due to global collaboration needs.

Here’s What You’ll Bring to the Table (Preferred Qualifications):

• Excellent project management skills, with demonstrated ability to build and scale programs and lead cross-functional initiatives.

• Effective time management skills, with the ability to balance multiple matters concurrently.

• Self-starter with strong work ethic and the ability to take initiative, work independently with minimal supervision, and establish priorities.

• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and fast-paced environments.

• Experience supporting cross-border or global clinical studies.

• Motivation to contribute to a high-growth, transformational company that is Bold, Relentless, Curious, and Collaborative.

Pay & Benefits

At Moderna, we believe that when you feel your best, you can do your best work.  That’s why our global benefits and well-being resources are designed to support you—at work, at home, and everywhere in between.

• Best-in-class healthcare, plus voluntary benefit programs to support your unique needs

• A holistic approach to well-being with access to fitness, mindfulness, and mental health support

• Family building benefits, including fertility, adoption, and surrogacy support

• Generous paid time off, including vacation, bank holidays, volunteer days, sabbatical, global recharge days, and a discretionary year-end shutdown

• Savings and investments to help you plan for the future

• Location-specific perks and extras

The benefits offered may vary depending on the nature of your employment with Moderna and the country where you work.

About Moderna

Since our founding in 2010, we have aspired to build the leading mRNA technology platform, the infrastructure to reimagine how medicines are created and delivered, and a world-class team. We believe in giving our people a platform to change medicine and an opportunity to change the world.  

By living our mission, values, and mindsets every day, our people are the driving force behind our scientific progress and our culture. Together, we are creating a culture of belonging and building an organization that cares deeply for our patients, our employees, the environment, and our communities. 

We are proud to have been recognized as a Science Magazine Top Biopharma Employer, a Fast Company Best Workplace for Innovators, and a Great Place to Work in the U.S. 

As we build our company, we have always believed an in-person culture is critical to our success. Moderna champions the significant benefits of in-office collaboration by embracing a 70/30 work model. This 70% in-office structure helps to foster a culture rich in innovation, teamwork, and direct mentorship. Join us in shaping a world where every interaction is an opportunity to learn, contribute, and make a meaningful impact. 

If you want to make a difference and join a team that is changing the future of medicine, we invite you to visit modernatx.com/careers to learn more about our current opportunities. 

Moderna is a smoke-free, alcohol-free, and drug-free work environment. 

Moderna is a place where everyone can grow. If you meet the Basic Qualifications for the role and you would be excited to contribute to our mission every day, please apply! 

Moderna is committed to equal opportunity in employment and non-discrimination for all employees and qualified applicants without regard to a person's race, color, sex, gender identity or expression, age, religion, national origin, ancestry or citizenship, ethnicity, disability, military or protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital or familial status, or any other personal characteristic protected under applicable law. We consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. 

We’re focused on attracting, retaining, developing, and advancing our employees. By cultivating a workplace that values diverse experiences, backgrounds, and ideas, we create an environment where every employee can contribute their best. 

Moderna is committed to offering reasonable accommodation or adjustments to qualified job applicants with disabilities. Any applicant requiring an accommodation or adjustment in connection with the hiring process and/or to perform the essential functions of the position for which the applicant has applied should contact the Accommodations and Adjustments team at leavesandaccommodations@modernatx.com. 

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