General Counsel

As a key personnel position 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 strategy and 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 ethics and integrity, as well as strategic/conceptual thinking capabilities.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Specific responsibilities of the General Counsel will include:

Function as the Chief Legal Officer.
Provide advice and counsel to the Director and other members of senior management on all legal matters.
Work closely with all executive team members to support the legal and business needs of the organization enabling the mission of Argonne National Laboratory.
Undertake strategies and implement plans and actions for non-routine, difficult and/or sensitive legal issues.
Analyze risk exposure inherent in the Lab’s operations and research programs and advise as to probabilities and acceptable courses of action.
Direct and manage the activities of the members of the Legal Department so as to provide oversight and guidance in various functional areas of the law.
Be responsible for supervising and developing the Legal Department – attorneys and staff.
Set legal policies and protect the legal interests of the organization.
Negotiate and manage significant transactions, including joint ventures, strategic alliances, and governance issues.
Handle all complex commercial contract matters, including all government contracts.
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.
Hire, direct and manage outside counsel to ensure client-centered, high quality and cost-effective provision of legal services to the lab.
Communicate and interact with representatives of the University of Chicago and the laboratory’s Board of Governors in furtherance of the University’s and Board of Governors’ oversight responsibilities for the lab.
Position Requirements

KEY QUALIFICATIONS

J.D. from an accredited law school. Licensed to practice in Illinois or admitted to a State Bar of any US State or the District of Columbia (and able to be admitted to the Illinois Bar within a reasonable time following the commencement of the position).
Intellectual curiosity, mission-driven and a service orientation, with a specific interest in the work being performed at Argonne.
15+ years of legal experience.
Experience with government agencies generally is required; specific experience with the Department of Energy or Department of Defense is strongly preferred.
Experience as in-house counsel in a national laboratory or similar environment is a clear advantage.
Experience working with scientists and entrepreneurs is a plus.
Expertise in the following legal areas is beneficial:
Government contracts, including knowledge of policies, governmental laws and regulations;
Corporate matters, including joint ventures, strategic alliances and governance issues;
Contract drafting and negotiating;
Employment law;
Environmental law;
Intellectual property and technology transfer
Freedom of Information Act compliance;
Litigation management; and
Government procurement law.
Experience managing both an internal law department and outside counsel.
Team player with ability to work well both independently and in a team environment.
Superior intellect, with the ability to think critically and make clear and well-reasoned decisions; ability to see and handle more than the 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 his or her clients and find creative solutions to complex legal problems.
Exceptional executive leadership and management skills in all aspects of a legal and business environment.
Strong communication skills.
As an equal employment opportunity and affirmative action employer, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a diverse and inclusive workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation. In support of this commitment, Argonne encourages minorities, women, veterans and individuals with disabilities to apply for employment. Argonne considers all qualified applicants for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship status, color, disability, gender, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.