Job description
Our client, a high-growth pharmaceutical company in the compounding space, has exclusively retained Solutus Legal in its search for a Vice President / Deputy General Counsel to join its legal leadership team. This attorney will report directly to the General Counsel and serve as the legal department’s second-in-command, transforming legal operations into a strategic business accelerator while supporting the company’s growth mission.
As Deputy General Counsel, this attorney will manage five Associate General Counsels, each leading their respective verticals, and serve as a senior legal voice in the company’s most high-impact decisions. This transformational leader will be responsible for elevating legal operations, developing high-performance teams, and establishing scalable, tech-forward processes that accelerate business outcomes while mitigating risk.
The ideal candidate will bring a strong litigation background and experience working in highly regulated industries. Experience with FDA and healthcare regulatory frameworks is strongly preferred, as is a business-oriented mindset and the ability to make pragmatic, risk-based decisions. This individual will be expected to operate with integrity and mission alignment, demonstrating sound judgment in fast-paced, high-stakes settings. Experience leading other attorneys is required, and the company places a premium on developing talent, building cross-functional trust, and creating systems from scratch.
Responsibilities include:
Litigation & Regulatory Mastery
- Leading strategy and decision-making on complex, high-stakes litigation with predictive analytics and enhanced case assessment.
- Providing regulatory guidance on FDA, pharmacy board, and enforcement matters, including building proactive regulatory relationships.
- Managing risk across business lines through comprehensive monitoring systems, compliance simulations, and readiness drills.
Legal Infrastructure & Operations
- Managing and mentoring the legal team—including five direct-report AGCs—while building a high-performance, values-driven culture focused on ownership and continuous improvement.
- Building scalable systems for contract lifecycle management, legal intake, and automation-enhanced workflows that reduce business friction and enable self-service models where appropriate.
- Overseeing legal department budgeting and outside counsel management with measurable ROI expectations.
Strategic Business Advisory
- Acting as trusted counsel to the General Counsel and executive leadership, translating complex legal issues into business-focused solutions.
- Supporting commercial, labor & employment, and transactional matters through efficient, streamlined legal processes.
- Collaborating cross-functionally to anticipate legal needs and create tech-enabled, forward-thinking solutions that reduce risk while unlocking value.
Requirements include:
- J.D. degree and bar membership in at least one U.S. state (Texas in-house exception eligibility required).
- 12+ years of legal experience, including substantial litigation background and proven success in building legal strategy and infrastructure from the ground up.
- Deep experience in a highly regulated field; FDA and healthcare regulatory experience strongly preferred.
- Experience handling transactional issues such as commercial agreements, labor & employment, and other business-critical legal matters.
- Demonstrated track record managing and developing legal teams, with experience recruiting, coaching, and retaining top legal talent.
- Strong judgment and decision-making under ambiguity, with high integrity, accountability, and commitment to the company’s mission.
- Familiarity with AI, automation tools, or legal tech platforms to improve decision-making, speed, and compliance preferred.
The company is headquartered in Houston, Texas. This role can be performed remotely with travel to Houston headquarters or company facilities in New Jersey as needed.
The current targeted base salary for this position ranges from $260,000 to $290,000 and includes an annual target bonus and equity. Actual compensation will depend on a candidate’s qualifications and directly relevant experience.
Solutus has been exclusively retained for this search. Candidates applying directly to the company will be redirected to Solutus. This employer uses artificial intelligence tools to assist in various aspects of the recruitment process and candidate assessment.
Ref. #914-SLS
