Date Posted:
September 16, 2026
Position Title:
Senior Counsel -US Rare Tumors
Office/Company:
Merck & Co., Inc.
Party:
N/A
Office Code:
Job Number:
HC-13068
Reports To:
Location:
Boston, MA
Contact:
Salary:
Pay Range: $188,600 – $283,000
Primary Role
Secondary Role:
Job Type:
Description:
Work Your Magic with Us! Start Your Next Chapter and Join EMD Serono Ready to explore, break barriers, and discover more? We know you’ve got big plans, and so do we! Our colleagues across the globe love innovating with science and technology to enrich people’s lives through our solutions in Healthcare, Life Science, and Electronics. Together, we dream big and are passionate about caring for our diverse mix of people, customers, patients, and the planet. That’s why we are always looking for curious minds who see themselves imagining the unimaginable with us. United As One for Patients, our purpose in Healthcare is to help create, improve, and prolong lives. We develop medicines, intelligent devices, and innovative technologies in therapeutic areas such as Oncology, Neurology, and Fertility. Our teams work together across six continents with passion and relentless curiosity to help patients at every stage of life. Joining our Healthcare team means becoming part of a diverse, inclusive, and flexible working culture that offers excellent opportunities for personal development and career advancement across the globe. This role does not offer sponsorship for work authorization. External applicants must be eligible to work in the United States. The Senior Counsel, Rare Tumors will provide comprehensive legal support to a Therapeutic Area, including both Commercial and Medical functions. Specifically, this role will be part of the legal team supporting Rare Tumors, one of EMD Serono’s key Therapeutic Areas, and will report to an Associate General Counsel. The role requires a deep understanding of healthcare laws and regulations applicable to pharmaceutical commercialization, including: Laws governing patient support and affordability programs The ideal candidate will be a proactive, collaborative legal partner who enables business goals while ensuring compliance with ethical standards.
Responsibilities:
• Primary Legal Counsel: Serve as lead attorney for a key brand within the Rare Tumors Therapeutic Area, including:
• Review of marketing and promotional materials
• Advice regarding Marketing and Sales Operations
• Review of scientific (non-promotional) materials
• Advice regarding Medical Affairs and Medical Operations
• Management of outside counsel when specialized advice is required for Therapeutic Area projects
• Collaboration with paralegals
• Compliance & Regulatory Oversight: Ensure all activities comply with FDA, OIG, CMS, and state requirements, as well as company policies and industry codes, including the PhRMA Code.
• Contracting & Negotiations: Draft, review, and negotiate agreements with advertising agencies, consultants, call centers, and Therapeutic Area-specific distributors. Support contracting with healthcare professionals, including advisory boards and consulting arrangements.
• Training & Education: Deliver legal training on applicable healthcare laws and company compliance requirements.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Commercial, Compliance, Medical Affairs, and Regulatory teams to align business practices with legal standards. Collaborate with U.S. and global colleagues to ensure business strategies and objectives comply with applicable laws, regulations, and policies.
• Risk Management: Proactively identify, assess, and communicate potential legal risks. Manage risks through counseling, training, and the practical application of legal and regulatory requirements, company policies, and procedures across Therapeutic Area operations.
Qualifications:
• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited U.S. law school
• Active bar membership in good standing in at least one U.S. jurisdiction
• 7 to 10 years of legal experience in a law firm and/or in-house legal department
• Strong ability to interpret and apply laws, regulations, and guidance in a practical, business-oriented manner
• Excellent communication, drafting, and negotiation skills
• Proven ability to work collaboratively across multiple functions in a dynamic, fast-paced environment
• Prior in-house experience at a pharmaceutical or biotechnology company
• Demonstrated expertise in healthcare fraud and abuse laws, FDA regulatory matters, and patient support program compliance
• Experience supporting commercial business units, including contracting and the development of commercial strategies
• Experience participating in or advising MLR/Promotional Review Committees
• Background in compliance counseling or interaction with government agencies, including OIG, DOJ, and FDA
• Competencies
Instructions:
Other:
