Summary: 

Supports the Senior Counsel, Personnel, Benefits & Litigation in providing legal services, advice, and counsel on personnel, employee benefits, and litigation matters relating to HHMI’s operations and activities. Assists in providing informed, thoughtful, practical, creative, and timely advice, counsel, and other services on personnel, benefits, and litigation matters in a manner that supports HHMI’s strategic priorities, programmatic objectives, and operational goals while balancing organizational risks.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provide legal advice, counsel, and support to HHMI’s Total Rewards team on ERISA, PPACA, HIPAA and other laws impacting HHMI’s employee retirement and welfare benefit plans and benefits administration.  Draft and review benefits vendor agreements, plan documents, and other benefits-related materials.

• Draft and review separation agreements, staffing agreements, and other personnel-related agreements as assigned. 

• Provide in-house legal support for all stages of litigation as assigned.

• Assist with development and implementation of improvements of OGC processes and procedures relating to employee benefits, personnel, and litigation matters.

• Assist with additional portfolio areas as requested.

• In connection with all assigned personnel, benefits, and litigation-related responsibilities, assist in providing informed, thoughtful, practical, creative, and timely advice and counsel to HHMI departments and staff in support of HHMI’s mission, strategic priorities, programmatic objectives, and operational goals while balancing organizational risks.

• Develop current knowledge of legal issues of importance to HHMI, including through participation in continuing legal education and membership in appropriate bar and professional associations.

• Perform other duties as assigned by the Vice President and General Counsel or the Senior Counsel, Personnel, Benefits & Litigation.

Qualifications

Education/Experience:

• J.D. degree.

• Active membership of an established bar.

• Three to five years of experience working as an attorney in private practice with a law firm or in a corporate, nonprofit, or government legal department required.

• Experience with ERISA / employee benefits law preferred. 

• Employment law and/or litigation experience preferred.

Skills and Abilities:

• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively.

• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and organizational skills.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Able to communicate effectively.

• Able and willing to handle a variety of tasks across a broad range of substantive areas and to learn new areas quickly.

• Proficient computer skills.

• Creativity and positive attitude.

• Adherence to high ethical standards.

• Desire to learn about, facilitate, and take pride in the work of HHMI’s scientists and grantees.

Application Instructions:

To apply, please include a brief cover letter (one-page limit) and resume.

Physical Requirements:

Remaining in a normal seated or standing position for extended periods of time; reaching and grasping by extending hand(s) or arm(s); dexterity to manipulate objects with fingers, for example using a keyboard; communication skills using the spoken word; ability to see and hear within normal parameters; ability to move about workspace. The position requires mobility, including the ability to move materials weighing up to several pounds (such as a laptop computer or tablet).

Persons with disabilities may be able to perform the essential duties of this position with reasonable accommodation. Requests for reasonable accommodation will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Please Note:

This job description sets forth the job’s principal duties, responsibilities, and requirements; it should not be construed as an exhaustive statement, however.  Unless they begin with the word “may,” the Essential Duties and Responsibilities described above are “essential functions” of the job, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act.

HHMI is an Equal Opportunity Employer