General Counsel

Chartered in 1946 as the nation’s first national laboratory, Argonne’s mission is solving the major scientific and engineering challenges of our time: sustainable energy, a clean environment, understanding our world and universe, and national security. Argonne is home to a staff of over 3,500 employees including over 1,500 scientists, engineers and postdoctoral scholars and, with world-renowned scientific user facilities, hosts over 6,700 facility users annually.

Argonne is currently inviting applications for the position of General Counsel. To support the Laboratory’s mission by navigating complex regulatory, contractual, governance and litigation matters, the General Counsel serves the lab as the Chief Legal Officer for strategy and management of legal matters.

Reporting to the Argonne National Laboratory Director, the General Counsel will serve as the senior legal advisor to Argonne and will provide legal advice and counsel on all matters affecting the Lab. This individual will be a member of the senior management team and will lead and manage the legal function, as well as coordinate external legal resources. Candidates must be self-motivated and exhibit a passion for understanding the Lab and contributing in a meaningful way to its developing and executing on its long-term strategic goals. In addition to possessing the requisite legal and technical skills, the successful candidate must approach this role from an experienced business perspective and demonstrate a high degree of initiative, ethics and integrity, as well as strategic/conceptual thinking capabilities.

The General Counsel will provide strategic advice and implement plans and actions for non-routine, difficult and/or sensitive legal issues as well as analyze risk exposure inherent in the Lab’s operations and research programs . They will negotiate and manage significant transactions, including joint ventures, strategic alliances, and related governance issues. They will consult on complex commercial contract matters, including government contracts as well as collaborate with relevant stakeholders to ensure that the organization is in compliance with the terms of the Lab Prime Contract with the Department of Energy and other legal and regulatory requirements. They will also help select, direct, and manage outside counsel to ensure client-centered, high quality and cost-effective provision of legal services to the Lab. In addition, they will regularly communicate and interact with the General Counsel and other representatives of the University of Chicago and the laboratory’s Board of Governors in furtherance of these bodies oversight responsibilities for the lab.

Position Requirements

Must hold a J.D. from an accredited law school and be licensed to practice in Illinois or admitted to a State Bar of any US State or the District of Columbia and eligible to be admitted to the Illinois Bar within a reasonable time following the commencement of the position.

Experience managing both an internal law department and outside counsel.

Experience in the following legal areas: Drafting and negotiating contracts, including contracts involving federal agencies and/or federal funding (e.g., procurements, cooperative agreements, strategic partnerships, etc.), Knowledge of laws and regulations applicable to various types of federal contracts, Employment and labor law; Environmental law; Intellectual property and technology transfer, particularly in the context of partnerships with industry and technology-based start-ups; and Litigation management.

Demonstrated skill in identifying and addressing matters beyond the applicable legal issues of a project; strong, pragmatic business acumen with the ability to recognize the business consequences of legal advice; a strategic and innovative thinker who can bring value to their clients and find creative solutions to complex legal problems.

Highly effective in communicating complex technical legal matters to a variety of stakeholders.

Experience leading a multi-disciplinary legal team, including the ability to develop strategies to attract, develop and retain a high-performing diverse staff.

Experience working with government agencies generally is required; specific experience with the Department of Energy or Department of Defense is preferred.

Ability to model Argonne’s Core Values: Impact, Safety, Respect, Integrity, and Teamwork.