Are you ready to join a team committed to making a meaningful impact on cancer treatment through the discovery and development of precision medicines? At Kura Oncology, you have an opportunity to be a part of something bigger, with a lasting impact that you can be proud of.

At Kura Oncology, we are working to change the paradigm and improve the science of cancer treatment. As an organization, we strive to cultivate a diverse and talented professional culture driven to develop precision medicine therapeutics.

As we continue to build a leading biotech organization with a strong culture, a patient-focused mindset and a team focused on relentless execution, we are looking for innovative, passionate professionals to join us and make our vision a reality.

To succeed at Kura, you will need to have a demonstrated ability for excellence in drug discovery and development and a roll-up your sleeves attitude. The ideal candidate will possess a values-driven work style where integrity and grit drive all behaviors, decisions, and actions.

Kura Oncology is in search of an experienced life sciences attorney to serve as the Company’s Legal Counsel.  This role will primarily support the Company’s Research & Development (R&D) and General & Administrative (G&A) functions with contracts and legal guidance.  The successful candidate will have the ability to work independently with minimal instruction under the supervision of the Company’s Associate General Counsel & Data Protection Officer, to deliver high-quality work product and offer sound legal advice in a fast-paced environment and to appropriately balance risk mitigation with the business needs of the Company.


Essential Job Functions

  • Review, draft, negotiate and provide guidance regarding a wide range of contracts, including services agreements, consulting agreements, confidentiality agreements and software agreements, primarily for the Company’s R&D and G&A functions.
  • Review and negotiate contracts with clinical sites, investigators and other parties for the Company’s U.S. and global clinical trials, including confidentiality agreements, clinical trial agreements, facility use agreements and electronic records access agreements.
  • Collaborate with the Company’s Centralized Contracting & Outsourcing (CC&O) function and CROs to develop clinical trial agreement templates for the Company’s U.S. and global clinical trials and related negotiation guidance documents.
  • Advise stakeholders on contract interpretation, compliance with laws and regulations, dispute resolution and other matters in a manner that provides practical legal advice while appropriately managing risk to the organization.
  • Review and provide guidance regarding patient informed consent forms and other clinical trial materials.
  • Support the Associate General Counsel & Data Protection Officer with compliance with data privacy laws.
  • Partner with CC&O and Senior Manager, Legal Operations to efficiently and effectively process, review, negotiate and approve contracts and to optimize contract processes.
  • Refine the Company’s contract templates, guidelines, playbooks and processes to support the efficient review, negotiation and execution of agreements.
  • Monitor, analyze and provide guidance regarding developments in U.S. and foreign laws, regulations, court decisions and guidance documents applicable to the Company

Job Requirements

  • Law degree and admission to at least one State Bar (required). Minimum 7 years of relevant work experience at a pharmaceutical/biotechnology company and/or at a large law firm, with extensive experience negotiating clinical trial agreements and other contracts. 
  • Thorough knowledge of pharmaceutical/biotechnology industry, related agreements and applicable laws, regulations and guidelines, including FDA laws and regulations and ICH GCP.
  • Exceptional contract review, drafting and negotiation skills.
  • Finesse for clearly and effectively distilling and communicating legal issues and analysis to business partners.
  • Capacity to manage a significant number of projects simultaneously and to thrive in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
  • Strong attention to detail and process.
  • Proven ability to work successfully both independently and as part of a highly collaborative team. 
  • Ability to analyze and interpret legal issues and develop and implement appropriately responsive strategies and solutions.

The base range for this role is $220-000 - $294,000per year. Individual pay may vary based on additional factors, including, and without limitation, job-related skills, experience, work location, and relevant education or training. Kura's compensation package also includes generous benefits, equity, and participation in an annual target bonus.

Kura’s Values that are used for candidate selection and performance assessments:

  • We work as one for patients
  • We are goal-focused and deliver with excellence
  • We are science-driven courageous innovators
  • We strive to bring out the best in each other and ourselves

The Kura Package

  • Career advancement/ development opportunities
  • Competitive comp package
  • Bonus
  • 401K + Employer contributions
  • Generous stock options
  • ESPP Plan
  • 20 days of PTO to start
  • 18 Holidays  (Including Summer & Winter Break)
  • Generous Benefits Package with a variety of plans available with a substantial employer match
  • Paid Paternity/Maternity Leave
  • In-Office Catered lunches
  • Home Office Setup
  • Lifestyle Spending Stipend
  • Commuter Stipend (Boston Office)
  • Regular employee social activities, including happy hours, monthly birthday celebrations, Kura Koffee Talks, and much more!

Kura Oncology is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company discovering and developing personalized therapeutics for the treatment of solid tumors and blood cancers. The company’s diverse pipeline consists of small molecules that target cancer signaling pathways where there is a strong scientific and clinical rationale to improve outcomes by identifying those patients most likely to benefit from treatment. Kura Oncology’s approach to drug development is focused on rapidly translating novel science into life-saving medicines. Our goal is to help patients with cancer lead better, longer lives. Kura Oncology has offices in San Diego, California, and Boston, Massachusetts.

Kura’s pipeline consists of three investigational drug candidates: ziftomenib, tipifarnib and KO-2806. Ziftomenib is a once-daily, oral drug candidate targeting the menin-KMT2A protein-protein interaction for the treatment of genetically defined AML patients with high unmet need. Ziftomenib is currently enrolling patients in a Phase 2 registration-directed trial (KOMET-001) in NPM1-mutant relapsed or refractory AML. Kura is preparing to initiate multiple Phase 1 trials to evaluate ziftomenib in combination with current standards of care in earlier lines of therapy and across multiple patient populations, including NPM1-mutant and KMT2A-rearranged AML. Tipifarnib, a potent and selective FTI, is currently in a Phase 1/2 trial (KURRENT-HN) in combination with alpelisib for patients with PIK3CA-dependent HNSCC. Kura intends to evaluate KO-2806, a next-generation FTI, in a Phase 1 dose-escalation trial (FIT-001) as a monotherapy and in combination with other targeted therapies in adult patients with advanced solid tumors. For additional information, please visit Kura’s website at www.kuraoncology.com. 

Kura Oncology is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. 

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