Corporate Paralegal and Stock Plan Manager
Over the coming years, biotech will fundamentally rewrite the way we live. Gene editing and cell therapy are dramatically changing how we treat cancer and other major illnesses. Biofuels and biomaterials are transforming the cars we drive, the clothes we wear, and the makeup of everyday objects. Crop science and synthetic biology are producing sustainable and ethical food. Benchling’s mission is to accelerate the research that propels us towards this reality, and magnify its impact, through modern software.
Every day, scientists around the world use Benchling’s applications, platform, & analytics in their efforts to solve humanity’s most pressing problems. For these scientists, Benchling is the central technology they use to conduct their research. Our customers include pharmaceutical giants, leading biotechs, and the world’s most renowned research institutes.
ROLE OVERVIEW
We are looking for a mission-driven, collaborative, and highly-motivated individual to join our legal team as we assemble a world-class group from the ground up. The right person for this role must be a team player who is comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-growth environment and is able to balance legal risk with business objectives. As Corporate Paralegal and Stock Plan Manager, and one of our early legal team members, you will be an integral part of the success, organization, and operation of our legal function. You will have primary responsibility for supporting Benchling’s corporate legal and equity teams, and will have the opportunity to assist in employment matters as needed.
WHAT YOU WILL WORK ON
- Implementing board processes including meeting preparation, materials, and approvals; director compensation; and D&O questionnaires.
- Drafting board/stockholder resolutions for meetings and written consents and maintain corporate minute books.
- Assisting with the company’s corporate filings, researching corporate governance items, and track emerging governance and reporting trends.
- Supporting our domestic and international subsidiaries, including working with our tax and finance teams and forming and maintaining subsidiaries.
- Coordinating insurance policy renewals, notices, and information requests.
- Working with a cross-functional team to manage Benchling’s global equity programs, partnering with our people and finance teams, and serving as point person for our transfer agent and stock administration platform.
- Managing grant documentation, including equity plans, international equity, and reporting and filing requirements.
- Assisting our directors and officers with equity transactions, responding to employee equity questions, and drafting employee communications.
- Responding to requests from our auditors, finance, and other business partners.
- Other special projects may be assigned based on experience, abilities, and interest.
ABOUT YOU
- B.A. or B.S., with strong academic credentials.
- Certified Equity Professional (CEP) certification a plus.
- 5+ years of relevant corporate paralegal experience, preferably some in house.
- Experience with Section 16 reports, 10b5-1 plans, and administering insider trading programs.
- Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
- Highly organized, reliable, and detail-oriented.
- Ability to work on multiple issues simultaneously and to set appropriate priorities with clients and to deliver results efficiently.
- Ability to operate autonomously while being a team player who brings a positive attitude to the job.
- Most importantly, you have a growth mindset, embrace change, and practice with kindness, humility, empathy, integrity, and levity.
Benchling welcomes everyone. We believe every member of our team enriches our diversity and inclusion by broadening our ways of problem-solving for future challenges. Even if you don't meet 100% of the qualifications for this job, we strongly encourage you to apply.
LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES
- Admit mistakes and shortcomings
- Deliver results
- Disagree and commit
- Obsess over customers
- Rely on work ethic
- Show empathy
- Recruit and develop the best
- Sweat the details
- Think and communicate clearly
- Unite around the mission
PERKS AND BENEFITS
- Work with a talented yet humble team
- Competitive compensation & equity package
- Quarterly mental health days
- Weekly virtual social events, and annual company retreats
- 401k, Medical, dental, and vision insurance (US Employees Only)
- Monthly health & wellness stipend (Currently US Employees Only)
- Yearly educational stipend (Currently US Employees Only)
- To support remote work conditions, Benchling provides each employee a one-time stipend of $1,000(USD) upon commencing employment, and additional discounted employee purchase plans for home-office equipment.
In following best practices and safety protocols, all Benchling employees are expected to work remotely until we are further advised that it is safe for employees to resume work in their respective office locations.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We also consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law, including but not limited to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.