This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Convergent Research General Counsel based in the United States.
This role sits at the intersection of law, strategy, and scientific innovation, supporting a rapidly scaling research ecosystem built around a novel model for accelerating breakthrough science. You will serve as a senior legal leader and trusted advisor, shaping how legal, IP, compliance, and risk frameworks evolve across a complex network of research-focused entities. The environment is highly dynamic, combining nonprofit governance with venture-style operational speed, international structures, and cutting-edge intellectual property activity. You will act as both strategist and operator—building systems that enable innovation while ensuring legal and regulatory integrity. This is a highly visible leadership position where your decisions will directly influence how research organizations are formed, scaled, and transitioned into the broader scientific ecosystem. You will work closely with executive leadership and scientific founders in a setting that rewards clarity, foresight, and practical problem-solving.
This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Convergent Research General Counsel based in the United States.
This role sits at the intersection of law, strategy, and scientific innovation, supporting a rapidly scaling research ecosystem built around a novel model for accelerating breakthrough science. You will serve as a senior legal leader and trusted advisor, shaping how legal, IP, compliance, and risk frameworks evolve across a complex network of research-focused entities. The environment is highly dynamic, combining nonprofit governance with venture-style operational speed, international structures, and cutting-edge intellectual property activity. You will act as both strategist and operator—building systems that enable innovation while ensuring legal and regulatory integrity. This is a highly visible leadership position where your decisions will directly influence how research organizations are formed, scaled, and transitioned into the broader scientific ecosystem. You will work closely with executive leadership and scientific founders in a setting that rewards clarity, foresight, and practical problem-solving.
Accountabilities:
- Define and lead the enterprise-wide legal strategy across the organization and its portfolio of research entities, ensuring alignment between innovation goals and legal risk management.
- Oversee intellectual property strategy, including patent governance, licensing structures, disclosure frameworks, and spinout transactions across multiple research programs.
- Manage and develop a growing legal function, including internal counsel and contracts teams, establishing clear roles, escalation paths, and operating models.
- Serve as primary advisor to executive leadership on complex legal, structural, and regulatory matters, providing clear, actionable guidance on high-stakes decisions.
- Own and optimize relationships with external counsel across corporate, nonprofit, employment, IP, and international legal domains, including negotiation of fees and scope of work.
- Ensure compliance with 501(c)(3) regulations across a complex portfolio of entities, including oversight of exempt organization risk and governance standards.
- Navigate multi-jurisdictional legal and regulatory requirements, including international compliance areas such as GDPR, OFAC, and anti-bribery frameworks.
- Lead legal structuring for strategic transactions, including partnerships, licensing agreements, entity formation, and research organization transitions.
- Build scalable legal systems, playbooks, and templates that improve organizational efficiency while reducing legal bottlenecks.
- Juris Doctor (JD) degree with active bar membership in at least one U.S. jurisdiction.
- 10+ years of legal experience, ideally in corporate, commercial, or transactional law environments.
- Strong background in structuring complex deals, managing outside counsel, and handling high-volume legal operations.
- Experience or strong familiarity with nonprofit law, including 501(c)(3) compliance and exempt organization governance.
- Demonstrated ability to operate in complex, multi-entity environments involving IP, licensing, and cross-border structures.
- Strong strategic thinking skills with the ability to anticipate legal risk and design proactive frameworks rather than reactive solutions.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate complex legal concepts into clear, actionable guidance for non-legal stakeholders.
- Proven leadership experience managing legal teams and external counsel relationships effectively.
- Bonus: exposure to research institutions, scientific organizations, or innovation-driven nonprofit environments.
- Competitive salary aligned with experience and geographic location
- Up to 6% 401(k) employer match
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance with strong employer contributions
- Life insurance, AD&D, and disability coverage (short- and long-term)
- 19 paid holidays, including year-end shutdown period
- PTO with tenure-based increases, plus separate sick and parental leave
- Fertility benefits and childcare reimbursement support
- Wellness allowance for health and fitness activities
- Education and professional development funding
- Fully remote work flexibility with periodic in-person retreats and team gatherings
- Additional benefits including family support programs and voluntary insurance options