VP & General Counsel — AI Governance & Strategy

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

Job summary

The Allen Institute seeks a General Counsel to lead the legal function, reporting to the COO and serving as Corporate Secretary to the Board. This role balances strategic judgment with practical execution to advance the Institute’s mission across governance, risk management, and innovation.

You will build scalable legal processes, guide open science initiatives, oversee outside counsel, and partner with executive leadership to steward governance, compliance, and strategic transactions in a

Qualifications

• 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 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.
• Strong leadership, collaboration, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Experience leveraging technology, AI tools, and automation to improve legal operations.

Responsibilities

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

Skills

Strategic advisory

Board governance

Risk management

Compliance leadership

Team leadership

Communication skills

AI governance

Education

J.D.

WA bar eligibility

US bar admission

Job description

The Allen Institute seeks a General Counsel to lead the legal function, reporting to the COO and serving as Corporate Secretary to the Board. This role balances strategic judgment with practical execution to advance the Institute’s mission across governance, risk management, and innovation.

You will build scalable legal processes, guide open science initiatives, oversee outside counsel, and partner with executive leadership to steward governance, compliance, and strategic transactions in a