Employment Counsel

Lead and set strategy for Alnylams 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, and 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.

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.