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Posted June 09, 2021

General Counsel

Allen Institute
Seattle, WA Full Time

The mission of the Allen Institute is to unlock the complexities of bioscience and advance our knowledge to improve human health. Using an open...

The mission of the Allen Institute is to unlock the complexities of bioscience and advance our knowledge to improve human health. Using an open science, multi-scale, team-oriented approach, the Allen Institute focuses on accelerating foundational research, developing standards and models, and cultivating new ideas to make a broad, transformational impact on science.

The mission of the Allen Institute administration team is to provide support and structure to the scientific divisions. Coinciding with the team science approach, administration helps facilitate team learning and the overall mission of the institute.

The General Counsel directs the Allen Institute’s legal strategy while anticipating, managing, and reducing areas of legal and business risk. Specifically, the General Counsel is ultimately responsible for the Allen Institute’s legal, corporate compliance and governance, enterprise risk management and intellectual property transactions, activities, and functions. The General Counsel effectively exercises business judgment and evaluates risk in a business context while advising and counseling the executive team, Board of Directors, and other stakeholders throughout the Institute. As an executive officer and manager, the General Counsel has exceptional leadership and communication skills and encourages a culture of high performance, continuous learning, and commitment to quality by setting high standards. The General Counsel has a collaborative team-oriented approach and a proven track record of building strong, strategic relationships, and embraces the Allen Institute’s mission and values with passion.

The Allen Institute believes that team science significantly benefits from the participation of diverse voices, experiences, and backgrounds. High-quality science can only be produced when it includes different perspectives. We are committed to increasing diversity across every team and encourage people from all backgrounds to apply for this role.

Essential Functions

The General Counsel manages all legal matters for the Allen Institute including:

Provides strategic legal and business guidance and expertise to executive team and others on all legal matters impacting the Allen Institute; counsels stakeholders regarding managing and mitigating risk

Substantive areas include: Corporate, Nonprofit, Employee, Employee Benefit, Intellectual Property, Tax, Regulatory, Compliance, Insurance, Contract, Privacy

Management liaison for Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board, working with Chair to manage the Committee’s responsibilities under its charter

Performs all duties of the Corporate Secretary including preparation for Board and committee meetings; attends and prepares minutes of all Board and committee meetings; maintains corporate documents; facilitates Board education on corporate governance

Manages the Enterprise Risk Management program and leads the Risk Management Team, facilitating meetings; managing regular cadence of risk assessments, priority projects for gaps, and health checks; and continuing to evolve the program

Participates in the Crisis Management Team, substantively providing advice and counsel to facilitate effective responses to crises

Manages the property and liability insurance program, including the annual renewal

Responsible for compliance activities related to ERISA and other employee benefits, tax, lobbying and political activity and SEC reporting

Attends and prepares minutes for 401(k) management committee meetings, advises committee on governance and legal requirements relating to the 401(k) plan, and trains committee members annually on their fiduciary duties

Provides leadership and guidance to ensure ethical and compliant activities and behavior including participating in development of integrated compliance program throughout the organization

Leads an intellectually curious, results-driven Legal team that enjoys creatively navigating its way through supporting a growing and evolving scientific research organization

Fosters a professional environment that provides for continuous learning and development and that attracts and retains diverse, best-in-class talent

Responsible for overall department budgeting, resource allocation and recruitment, development and mentoring of legal talent

Oversees selection, retention, management and evaluation of all outside counsel; manages external counsel in all legal matters

Determines the department’s strategic goals, works with Legal team on the achievement of these goals and manages and adheres to the departmental budget

Works closely with all departments and functions and provides recommendations and comprehensive legal and compliance support where needed

Guides interdisciplinary teams and management on regulatory compliance and provides timely and effective legal advice and risk guidance

Provides risk management and mitigation counseling

Note: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions; it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

Required Education and Experience

J.D. and 15+ years of experience leading in-house legal functions

Preferred Education and Experience

Nonprofit legal experience

Biotech experience

Experience with Office 365, SharePoint, Oracle, DocuSign

Physical Demands

Fine motor movements in fingers/hands to operate computers and other office equipment

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This role is currently able to work remotely due to COVID-19 and our focus on employee safety. We are a Washington State employer, and remote work must be performed in Washington State. We continue to evaluate the safest options for our employees. As restrictions are lifted in relation to COVID-19, this role will return to work onsite.

Additional Comments

**Please note, this opportunity offers relocation assistance**

It is the policy of the Allen Institute to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, the Allen Institute will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.

This listing expired on Aug 09. Applications are no longer accepted.

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