Associate General Counsel - Research & Innovation

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago provides superior pediatric care in a setting that offers the latest benefits and innovations in medical technology, research and family-friendly design. As the largest pediatric provider in the region with a 140-year legacy of excellence, kids and their families are at the center of all we do. Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is ranked in all 10 specialties by the U.S. News & World Report.

General Summary:    

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

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 link 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

There’s a Place for You with Us

At Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and its affiliates (collectively “Lurie Children’s”), we embrace and celebrate diversity and equity in a serious way. We are committed to building a team with a variety of backgrounds, skills, and viewpoints — recognizing that diverse identities strengthen our workplace and the care we can provide to the Chicago community and beyond. We treat everyone fairly, appreciate differences, and make meaningful connections that foster belonging and allyship. This is a place where you can be your best, so we can give our best to the patients and families who trust us with their care.  

Lurie Children’s and its affiliates are equal employment opportunity employers.  We value diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, pregnancy, protected veteran status, order of protection status, protected genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

For questions about how to request an accommodation please contact: [email protected]

AI Notice 

Lurie Children’s utilizes certain AI-enabled features within our recruiting platform to support candidate engagement and assist recruiters in identifying and prioritizing applicants whose experience aligns with job requirements. All employment decisions are made by individuals.

It is a civil rights violation with respect to recruitment, hiring, promotion, or employment for an employer to use artificial intelligence that has the effect of subjecting employees to discrimination on the basis of protected classes under the Illinois Human Rights Act or to use zip codes as a proxy for protected classes.

For questions about the use of artificial intelligence in this process or any additional support, please contact: [email protected]