Remote Upstream Scientist Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Company: 

At Annexon Biosciences we are a biopharmaceutical company advancing a late-stage clinical platform of novel therapies for people living with devastating classical complement-mediated neuroinflammatory diseases of the body, brain, and eye. Our novel scientific approach targets upstream C1q to block the classical complement inflammatory cascade before it starts, and its therapeutic candidates are designed to provide meaningful benefits across multiple autoimmune, neurodegenerative and ophthalmic diseases. With proof-of concept data in Guillain-Barre syndrome, Huntington's disease and geographic atrophy, we are rigorously advancing our mid-to late-stage clinical trials to bring new potential treatments to patients as quickly as possible. At Annexon, you'll be part of a team committed to making an impact together.   

For more information on Annexon and our pipeline, check out our site Annexon Biosciences & Annexon Pipeline. We trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol ANNX and are headquartered in Brisbane, CA. 

We're seeking exceptional talent from all backgrounds to fuel our growth. At Annexon, we're building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace. We value unique perspectives and unconventional paths. If you're the best candidate for the job, even if you don't perfectly fit the traditional mold, we encourage you to apply. Learn more about our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and our company culture! 

Position: 

We are seeking a highly skilled and commercially minded Strategic Contract Negotiator to join our company at this critical stage of company growth. This role will serve as a key business partner across Clinical Development, Clinical Operations, Manufacturing, Medical Affairs, and several other support functions. This role will lead the negotiation of complex agreements that support our late-stage pipeline. The ideal candidate brings deep experience negotiating biotech-relevant contracts-particularly with CROs, CMOs, laboratories, and other strategic suppliers-and thrives in a fast-paced, resource-conscious environment where impact is immediate and visible. The role will be hired at the Associate Director or Director level, based on experience, scope, and leadership capability.

Responsibilities include: 

• Lead end-to-end contract negotiation strategy and execution for a wide range of procurement agreements, including:
  • CRO and clinical service agreements
  • CMO and manufacturing agreements
  • Laboratory, data, and technology service contracts
  • Consulting, professional services, and master service agreements MSAs/SOWs)
• Partner closely with Finance and Legal to ensure contracts appropriately balance risk, compliance, and commercial objectives while meeting company standards.
• Act as a trusted advisor to internal stakeholders, providing commercial guidance on pricing models, payment structures, risk allocation, and contract terms.
• Drive negotiations that optimize cost, flexibility, and performance, while maintaining strong, long-term vendor relationships.
• Support development and refinement of procurement and contracting processes, templates, playbooks, and negotiation best practices appropriate for a growing biotech.
• Track and manage contract lifecycle activities, including renewals, amendments, change orders, and escalations.
• Identify opportunities for cost savings, process efficiency, and risk mitigation across the vendor portfolio.
• Provide mentorship, strategic leadership, and contribute to longer-term procurement strategy and vendor governance.

Education, Experience, and Skills: 

Required: 

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree (MBA, or equivalent) a plus.
• 10-12+ years of experience in contract negotiation, strategic sourcing, or procurement, preferably within biotech, pharma, or life sciences.
• Demonstrated experience negotiating complex, high-value agreements with CROs, CMOs, and other clinical-stage vendors.
• Strong understanding of common biotech contracting structures, current market trends, pricing models, and risk-sharing mechanisms.
• Proven ability to influence and partner with senior stakeholders across functions.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Comfortable operating in a lean, fast-moving environment with limited infrastructure.

Preferred:  

• Experience supporting clinical-stage programs (Phase I-III).
• Familiarity with Bay Area biotech vendor ecosystem.
• Prior experience scaling procurement or contracting processes in a growing organization.

Salary Range: $194,900 - $217,000

Location: Annexon Biosciences is located in Brisbane, California and preference is given to candidates in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Benefits: 

• A stimulating and rewarding workplace includes flexible work schedules, remote opportunities and the ability to achieve a work-life balance.
• Shuttle service from BART, CalTrain and the Ferry.
• Annexon offers a competitive base salary and equity participation, employee stock purchase plan, as well as a comprehensive health benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, 401(k), flexible spending plans, and other benefits. 

Annexon Biosciences is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we prohibit discrimination or harassment of any kind.  We are committed to fostering an environment where ALL people are welcome and supported. We cultivate a culture of inclusion for all employees that respects their individual strengths, views, and experiences. We believe that our differences enable us to be a better team - one that makes better decisions, drives innovation, and delivers better business results. Creativity and innovation flourish in an environment of openness, inclusion, and mutual respect.