Associate General Counsel - Research & Innovation

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

• $197K — $326K *
Healthcare
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • J.D. from an accredited law school; admitted to practice in Illinois or eligible within 12 months.
  • 8-10 years of experience in research and intellectual property law, preferably in a healthcare context.
  • Experience with academic medical centers or health care systems preferred.
  • Strong judgment and decision-making abilities, especially under pressure.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to simplify complex legal issues.

Responsibilities

  • Advise on legal matters related to research, intellectual property, and regulatory compliance.
  • Negotiate and review a variety of complex legal agreements.
  • Collaborate with leadership to develop policies and best practices.
  • Monitor legal developments affecting healthcare and research.
  • Oversee contract services to ensure effectiveness and compliance.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance.
  • Generous paid time off and parental leave.
  • 403(b) plan with 5% employer match.
  • Tuition assistance and student loan support.
  • Discounts on services and programs at Lurie Children’s facilities.
Full Job Description
Day (United States of America) Olympia Center General Summary: The Associate General Counsel – Research and Innovation (“AGC”) will serve as a strategic legal and business partner to Lurie Children’s research, innovation, and clinical leadership. The AGC will help leaders navigate complex and evolving issues—including research collaborations, technology development, data sharing and licensing, intellectual property rights and usage, and industry partnerships—while protecting Lurie Children’s reputation, nonprofit status, and long-term strategic interests. Essential Job Functions: • Serve as a strategic legal and business partner to Research Institute and Medical Center leadership, including close collaboration with research administration, compliance, privacy, data science, and clinical leadership, enabling discovery, translation, and responsible commercialization while aligning legal risk with the institutional mission and values. • Provide practical, solutions-oriented counsel on innovation-driven initiatives, including technology development, data-driven research, software and artificial intelligence, and collaborations with start-ups, industry, and academic partners. • Serve as the primary legal advisor to the Research Institute and Medical Center on matters including development, protection, strategic management, and appropriate usage of intellectual property interests, and applicable regulatory requirements, such as laws and regulations on privacy, export compliance, and conflicts of interest. • Identify and assess legal risks and opportunities related to research and innovation, and provide practical, solution-oriented guidance that appropriately aligns legal risk with the realities of research and innovation. • Provide legal support for research activities across the Research Institute and Medical Center affiliates, including compliance with applicable regulatory and oversight bodies such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, National Institutes of Health, Office for Human Research Protections, Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare, the Food and Drug Administration, and the United States Department of Agriculture. • Advise on legal issues related to research safety and environmental compliance, including matters involving medical and hazardous waste generated in clinical and research settings. • Draft, review, negotiate, and advise on a wide range of agreements, including data use and licensing agreements, material transfer agreements, clinical trial agreements, sponsored research agreements, intellectual property licenses, consulting agreements, and other agreements supporting research, innovation, commercialization and venture-adjacent activities. • Collaborate closely with Medical Center and Research Institute leadership to develop, draft, implement, and maintain policies, procedures, tools, templates, training materials, and practical frameworks in support of research, innovation, intellectual property, data governance, and regulatory compliance objectives. • Provide advice and guidance on laws and regulations applicable to an academic medical center, including supporting the development and implementation of policies, practices, and guidelines necessary to maintain compliance with local, state, and federal laws. • Work in partnership with other members of the Legal Services Department to deliver consistent, high-quality in-house legal support aligned with the Medical Center’s strategic vision, legal responsibilities, and regulatory obligations. • The authority to hire, separate, promote, demote, write and administer performance evaluations. • Other job functions as assigned. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: • Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school. • Admission to practice law in Illinois, or admission in another U.S. jurisdiction with eligibility for admission to the Illinois Bar within 12 months of hire. • At least eight (8) years of experience handling a broad range of research matters with significant experience advising on regulatory and transactional issues within the healthcare industry. Experience supporting academic medical centers and/or research institutions as in-house counsel is strongly preferred. • Experience supporting innovation, commercialization, and/or venture-adjacent initiatives (e.g., collaborations with startups or industry partners, data-driven research arrangements, or technology-enabled programs) is strongly preferred. • Excellent judgment and strong client-counseling skills, with the ability to navigate complex, sensitive, and high-stakes legal issues thoughtfully and effectively. • Ability to appropriately align legal risk with the realities of research and innovation in an academic medical center setting, recognizing the distinct risk profile inherent in pediatric research environments. • Demonstrated ability to serve as an enabling legal partner—helping leaders advance mission-critical research and innovation responsibly by identifying pathways forward. • Superior written and verbal communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to translate complex legal, regulatory, and compliance concepts into clear, practical guidance for diverse audiences. • Practical, hands-on, and solutions-oriented approach, with a collaborative mindset and a strong commitment to resolving issues efficiently and constructively. • Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment, exercising decisiveness and sound judgment under pressure while remaining proactive and adaptable. • Confidence to operate effectively in both familiar and evolving areas of law, with intellectual curiosity and comfort navigating ambiguity. • Demonstrated discretion and integrity, with the ability to handle highly confidential information with the utmost care and professionalism. • Demonstrated leadership presence, integrity, and ability to influence and collaborate across functions in a complex, mission-driven academic medical center. Education Pay Range $197,600.00-$326,040.00 Salary At Lurie Children’s, we are committed to competitive and fair compensation aligned with market rates and internal equity, reflecting individual contributions, experience, and expertise. The pay range for this job indicates minimum and maximum targets for the position. Ranges are regularly reviewed to stay aligned with market conditions. In addition to base salary, Lurie Children’s offer a comprehensive rewards package that may include differentials for some hourly employees, leadership incentives for select roles, health and retirement benefits, and wellbeing programs. For more details on other compensation, consult your recruiter or click the following  to learn more about our benefits. Benefit Statement For full time and part time employees who work 20 or more hours per week we offer a generous benefits package that includes: Medical, dental and vision insurance Employer paid group term life and disability Employer contribution toward Health Savings Account Flexible Spending Accounts Paid Time Off (PTO), Paid Holidays and Paid Parental Leave 403(b) with a 5% employer match Various voluntary benefits: • Supplemental Life, AD&D and Disability • Critical Illness, Accident and Hospital Indemnity coverage • Tuition assistance • Student loan servicing and support • Adoption benefits • Backup Childcare and Eldercare • Employee Assistance Program, and other specialized behavioral health services and resources for employees and family members • Discount on services at Lurie Children’s facilities • Discount purchasing program

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