Employment Counsel

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals • Cambridge, MA

21h • Hybrid

About The Position

Alnylam is seeking an Employment Counsel to provide strategic leadership for the Company’s global employment law function. Reporting to the SVP, General Counsel, Corporate and Governance, this role will evolve, lead and execute Alnylam’s employment legal strategy in support of a growing, global, commercial-stage biotechnology organization.
As a senior leader within the Legal function, the Employment Counsel will have enterprise-wide accountability for employment-related legal risk management, governance, policy development, and litigation strategy. This individual will serve as a trusted advisor to executive leadership, partnering closely with HR, Talent Acquisition, Ethics & Compliance, and business leaders across the organization to ensure alignment between Alnylam’s People & Culture strategy and its legal framework.
This role requires a strategic, solutions-oriented leader who can operate at both the executive and operational levels, setting direction for the employment law function while driving disciplined execution across both complex/high-impact and more routine matters.

Requirements

• Juris Doctor (JD) with strong academic credentials; member in good standing of a U.S. Bar (Massachusetts preferred)
• 12+ years of progressive experience in labor and employment law, including significant in-house experience within a complex, regulated industry (life sciences experience strongly preferred)
• Demonstrated ability to lead an employment law function or significant employment practice area with enterprise impact
• Deep expertise across employment litigation, wage and hour law, investigations, workforce restructuring, compensation, immigration, and regulatory compliance
• Proven executive presence and ability to influence senior leaders on high-risk, high-visibility matters
• Strong strategic judgment with the ability to balance legal risk, business objectives, and organizational culture
• Experience operating in a global, matrixed organization
• High degree of integrity, discretion, and sound judgment

Responsibilities

• Lead and set strategy for Alnylam’s global employment law function, ensuring alignment with enterprise growth objectives and evolving workforce strategy
• Establish and oversee governance frameworks for employment risk management, compliance, and policy development across jurisdictions
• Provide executive-level counsel and be a trusted partner to the CHRO, HR Leadership Team, HR Business Partners and functional heads across the organization on complex employment matters with material enterprise impact
• Contribute to Legal function strategy and serve as a senior leader within the Legal team
• Own and drive strategy for pre-litigation and litigation employment matters, including oversight of outside counsel, cost management, and resolution strategy
• Assess and proactively mitigate systemic employment risks, including regulatory exposure, pay equity, classification, investigations, reorganizations, and workforce actions
• Lead negotiations with plaintiffs’ counsel and represent the Company in mediations and high-risk employment disputes
• Oversee the design, implementation, and evolution of employment-related policies and programs (e.g., performance management, workforce restructuring, accommodations, leave, compensation practices)
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and international employment laws, including FLSA, wage and hour regulations, immigration, and emerging regulatory requirements
• Partner with HR and Compliance to deliver enterprise-wide training and education on employment law risk and best practices
• Serve as primary legal advisor to Employee Relations, HR Business Partners, and Talent Acquisition on employment agreements, background checks, investigations, and workforce planning initiatives
• Collaborate with Compliance and Ethics on internal investigations and governance matters
• Support enterprise-wide initiatives, including workforce expansions, organizational redesign, global growth, and public health or regulatory response matters
• Strategically manage external counsel relationships, including selection, performance oversight, and budget management
• Determine when external expertise is required versus internally managed

Benefits

• comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, a lifestyle reimbursement program, flexible spending and health savings accounts and a 401(k)with a generous company match
• Eligible employees enjoy paid time off, wellness days, holidays, and two company-wide recharge breaks
• We also offer generous family resources and leave

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree