Chief Legal Officer

The Broad Institute was launched to pioneer a new model of collaborative biomedical science that would transform biology and medicine. To accomplish these goals, we have built an amazing team of talented “Broadies” who work together to realize this transformation.

The Broad community includes professional scientists from many disciplines, software engineers and computational biologists, administrative staff, and students, as well as renowned researchers from partner institutions. We seek to cultivate an interdisciplinary, innovative, goal-oriented work environment that unleashes scientific creativity and empowers our people to pursue ambitious and critical projects.

Our work transcends traditional academic boundaries, giving Broad employees and affiliates access to an unparalleled biomedical research community across Harvard, the Harvard hospitals, MIT, and beyond. We often push the boundaries of traditional risk and protocol to achieve groundbreaking results.

People feel genuinely appreciated at the Broad Institute. The organization encourages different points of view and our jobs make us feel like we’re part of something meaningful.

The Chief Legal Officer will be a member of the Chief Operating Officer’s leadership team and oversee Institute legal operations. The Chief Legal Officer will provide strategic counsel to senior leadership and direct the day-to-day legal affairs of the Institute, including those related to the Institute’s technology commercialization efforts and strategic transactions, intellectual property, alliance management, corporate governance, human resources, real estate, IT, dispute resolution, conflict of interest, data privacy, and institutional risk management. The Chief Legal Officer will develop plans for the provision of legal support, utilizing both in-house and outside counsel, to best manage legal issues and minimize risk to the Institute.

The Chief Legal Officer must be an energetic, insightful, proactive, solutions-oriented, senior attorney who will serve as a generalist, providing strategic legal support and risk management Institute-wide. The Chief Legal Officer will work closely with executive leadership, Directors across the Institute and Broad affiliates.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

General Strategic Legal Support:

Analyze, present and provide counsel to institutional leadership on key legal matters impacting Institute.

Collaborate with scientific and business leadership to develop in-depth understanding of scientific plans/directions and identify key areas for internal legal support; provide proactive legal guidance.

Build internal knowledge of emerging laws, regulations and standards impacting Institute operations, including those related to cloud computing and data privacy; capture such knowledge in legal team database.

Oversee educational initiatives to inform Institute leadership, researchers and community of legal, compliance and regulatory concerns.

Institutional Risk Management

Champion, guide and lead in execution of risk management initiatives for Broad in collaboration with executive leadership, the Office of Strategic Alliances and Partnering, Finance, Communications, Development and other Institute stakeholders.

Transactions & Strategic Alliance Management:

Advise on all major business transactions and the negotiation of strategic agreements, including licensing, collaboration and research agreements.

Contracting Strategy & Execution:

Collaborate with subject matter experts to ensure effective contracting strategy, procedures and execution across all areas of Institute, including license, sponsored research, confidentiality, materials transfer, joint invention, gift, service, lease and employment-related agreements.

Create powerful tools, including templates and negotiation guidelines, and processes for consistent use across Institute legal team.

Intellectual Property Strategy:

Advise the Director of Intellectual Property on IP and act as a partner for the Chief Business Officer regarding intellectual property and commercialization strategies, including incorporating input from scientific leadership, institutional leadership and Senior Advisor to the Director as well as external advisors, as appropriate.

Ensure effective strategy and execution of intellectual property matters, including invention disclosure process, patent filing and prosecution decisions and IP transactions.

Corporate Governance & Compliance:

Advise on governance matters, including matters relating to the Institute Operating Agreement, tax-exempt status, IRS regulations and compliance with charter documents and policies.

Participate in the definition and development of Institute policies; advise on and guide compliance with Institute policies.

Advise on Board of Directors governance including implementation of its By-Laws, Committee charters and policies, as needed.

Conflict of Interest

Provides overall advice and guidance on conflicts of interest among staff and faculty.

Serve on Conflicts of Interest Committee; generally promote and support Broad policies, procedures, mission, values and standards of ethics and integrity.

Assists in the development of conflict management plans to ensure conflicts are appropriate documented and managed within the organization.

Act as the Institute’s Conflict Review Officer.

Dispute Resolution:

Oversee outside counsel’s management of disputes and litigation matters in collaboration with internal subject matter experts.

Work with internal stakeholders to structure and negotiate settlement agreements.

Lead Legal Team:

Build and maintain a high-performing, functional legal team charged with providing strategic, proactive support to Institute teams and initiatives.

Manage, mentor and train attorneys throughout the Institute, including direct reports dedicated primarily to OSAP matters and dotted-line reports embedded within teams outside of OSAP.

Oversee the selection, retention and active management of outside counsel.

REQUIREMENTS

Required Skills:

JD with a minimum of 15 years of broad legal experience, with a combination of major law firm and corporate in-house experience.

Experience in biotech/pharma, academic or not-for profit preferred.

Impeccable academic credentials and legal experience from highly reputable institutions a must.

Experience with broad variety of corporate transactions.

Experience with investigations and compliance matters.

Demonstrated ability to lead an effective and collaborative team.

Litigation experience a positive, including discovery, document collection, motion practice and related legal research.

Academic Institutional Experience a plus

Other Requirements:

Strong organizational, problem-solving and analytical skills with acute business acumen and an ability to approach legal issues with a holistic mindset; demonstrated ability to analyze legal, institutional and commercial risks and propose creative, innovative solutions.    

Excellent interpersonal communication skills (written and verbal). A versatile, entrepreneurial team player who thrives on a fast-paced and demanding environment with constantly evolving priorities and tight deadlines.

Courage to challenge status quo and seek new ways of more effectively working.

A passion for science and experience with early-stage biomedical technologies including therapeutics, diagnostics and research tools.

Must process a healthy enthusiasm for the mission of the Institute.

EOE / Minorities / Females / Protected Veterans / Disabilities