Vice President and General Counsel

Allen Institute; Seattle (WA); Hybrid; USD 286,000 - 424,000; Full time

Job summary

The Allen Institute is seeking an experienced General Counsel to lead the in‑house legal function, report to the COO, and serve as Corporate Secretary to the Board. You will balance strategic judgment with practical execution, oversee governance, compliance programs, enterprise risk, and support research and operational objectives. This role requires a J.D.

from a U.S. law school, active bar admission, 15+ years of experience including senior leadership, ideally within a university or nonprofit

Qualifications

• J.D. from an accredited U.S. law school and bar admission in at least one jurisdiction.
• 15+ years of legal experience with 4+ years in senior leadership.
• Experience leading cross-functional legal, compliance, and operational initiatives.
• Experience communicating legal risk in practical business terms.
• Background in biotech, life sciences, research institutions, or tax-exempt organizations is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Serve as trusted legal and strategic advisor to executive leadership.
• Act as board officer, supporting governance and corporate records.
• Advise on nonprofit governance, tax-exempt status, employment matters, internal investigations, and policies.
• Lead and develop the in-house legal team.
• Build scalable legal operations and reduce organizational risk.
• Oversee outside counsel and major disputes.
• Lead enterprise compliance programs including data privacy, AI governance, ethics.
• Oversee risk management, crisis management, and records management.
• Support governance related to employee benefit plans.
• Provide strategic guidance to enable scientific innovation and tech transfer.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Board advisory

Policy & governance

Risk management

Cross-functional collaboration

AI governance

Communication

Negotiation

Education

J.D. degree

Bar admission in U.S.

Experience in university/research nonprofit sector

Tools

Legal tech & automation

AI governance tools

Regulatory compliance tooling

Job description

The Allen Institute accelerates science for a healthier world through large-scale research designed to answer some of the most complex questions in biology. Our multi-disciplinary teams generate foundational knowledge, tools, and data to understand how our brain, cells, and immune system work. We share our work openly so others can build on it, move faster, and ask bigger questions. We drive discovery forward and create new possibilities for improving human health.

The mission of the Administration team is to enable the people and science of the Allen Institute. We connect teams, steward resources, and build strong systems that give our accelerators the stability and flexibility to pursue ambitious questions, collaborate across disciplines, and share their work openly.

The General Counsel (GC) serves as a strategic advisor to the senior leadership team and Board of Directors while providing practical, mission-focused legal leadership across the Institute. Reporting to the COO and serving as Corporate Secretary to the Board, the GC leads the legal function, oversees governance and compliance programs, manages enterprise risk, and supports innovation, research, and operational objectives. This role requires an experienced legal leader who can balance strategic judgment with practical execution, enable informed risk-taking, and build scalable legal and compliance capabilities that advance the Institute’s mission.

At the Allen Institute, we believe that science is for everyone – and should be open to everyone. We are dedicated to combating biases and reducing barriers to STEM careers more broadly.

We also believe that science is better when it includes different perspectives and voices. We stride to make the Allen Institute a place where everyone feels like they belong and are empowered to do their best work in a supportive environment.

We are an equal-opportunity employer and strongly encourage people from all backgrounds to apply for our open positions.

Key Attributes

The successful candidate will be:

• Mission-driven and committed to advancing the Institute’s mission through insightful legal advice
• A strategic and operational leader who can balance long-term planning with hands-on execution
• An effective advisor to executive leadership and the Board, with the judgment and presence to manage complex and sensitive matters
• Skilled at identifying emerging opportunities and risks and providing actionable guidance in ambiguous situations
• A pragmatic problem solver who approaches legal risk as a tool for informed decision-making, not simply compliance
• An exceptional communicator who can translate complex legal issues into clear, actionable advice
• A builder and change agent who develops scalable legal processes, empowers teams, and drives continuous improvement
• Comfortable operating with high autonomy, accountability, and sound judgment

Overview of Legal Areas

Corporate governance, nonprofit and tax-exempt law, AI governance, employment and benefits, export controls, intellectual property, licensing, federal contracting, research security, sponsored research, compliance, risk management, insurance, contracts, data privacy, and cybersecurity

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted legal and strategic advisor to executive leadership
• Serve as board officer to the Board of Directors, supporting Board and committee governance, fiduciary responsibilities, and corporate records
• Advise on nonprofit governance, tax-exempt status, employment matters, internal investigations, and organizational policies

Legal Department Leadership

• Lead and develop the in-house legal team
• Build efficient, scalable legal operations, processes, and metrics that improve service delivery and reduce organizational risk
• Manage and oversee outside counsel and significant legal disputes
• Lead enterprise compliance programs, including research security, export controls, data privacy, AI governance, ethics, conflict of interest, and related regulatory requirements
• Oversee enterprise risk management, crisis management, insurance, records management, and policies and procedures
• Support governance and compliance requirements related to employee benefit plans

Innovation & Intellectual Property

• Provide strategic legal guidance in support of scientific innovation, open science initiatives, technology commercialization, and startup activities
• Direct intellectual property strategy, including protection, licensing, and technology transfer
• Advise on AI governance, cybersecurity, data use, and related regulatory frameworks

Contracts & Strategic Transactions

• Support and negotiate complex collaborations, strategic partnerships, and significant funding relationships
• Oversee the contracts function and continuous improvement of contracting processes
• Structure and negotiate transactions involving research, technology, and intellectual property

*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. from an accredited U.S. law school
• Licensed to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction and eligible for admission in Washington State
• 15+ years of legal experience, including at least 4 years in a senior leadership role
• Experience in both private practice and in-house legal environments, preferably within a university, research institution, nonprofit, or similarly complex organization
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional legal, compliance, and operational initiatives
• Experience communicating legal risk in practical business terms and driving organizational change
• Strong leadership, collaboration, and stakeholder-management skills
• Experience leveraging technology, AI tools, and automation to improve legal operations

Preferred Education and Experience

• Experience in biotechnology, life sciences, research institutions, or tax-exempt organizations
• Deep knowledge of nonprofit governance and research-related legal and regulatory frameworks
• Strong issue-spotting, analytical, and strategic problem-solving abilities
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and lead high-performing teams
• Excellent oral, written, and negotiation skills
• Undergraduate degree or substantive background in science, engineering, or business is a plus
• Demonstrated experience negotiating complex technology, research, or intellectual property transactions

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 working onsite and is expected to work onsite for the majority of working hours. The primary work location for this role is 615 Westlake Ave N., with the flexibility to work remotely on a limited basis.

Annualized Salary Range

$285,650 - $424,215*

* Final salary depends on the required education for the role, experience, level of skills relevant to the role, and work location, where applicable.

Employees (and their families) are eligible to enroll in benefits per eligibility rules outlined in the Allen Institute’s Benefits Guide. These benefits include medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance. Employees are also eligible to enroll in the Allen Institute’s 401k plan. Paid time off is also available as outlined in the Allen Institutes Benefits Guide. Details on the Allen Institute’s benefits offering are located at the following link to the Benefits Guide: https://alleninstitute.org/careers/benefits.

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.

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