SVP, Head of Corporate Legal

Overview

Alnylam is seeking a SVP, Head of Corporate Legal to join our global legal team in Cambridge, MA. We are looking for an exceptional lawyer who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative, environment and has a “challenge accepted” approach. The SVP, Head of Corporate Legal will be a key member of the legal leadership team and will serve as a business-oriented legal advisor, counseling on issues of importance to the Company. This person will be responsible for supporting the Board of Directors and its Committees and advising on corporate governance matters, as well as bring expertise in SEC and Nasdaq reporting and compliance, executive compensation, corporate finance, internal audit, tax, treasury, insurance, investor relations/corporate communications and ESG matters. 

The SVP, Head of Corporate Legal must be a business-oriented lawyer with the legal background and interpersonal skills required to function successfully in a highly visible and legally challenging position across multiple stakeholders in a growth oriented, complicated and global public company. This person will report to the Chief Legal Officer with frequent, meaningful interactions with executive management and the Board of Directors. She or he should have a track record of strategic, breakthrough thinking that has led to significant outcomes.

The SVP, Head of Corporate Legal  must lead by example and possess a strong work ethic, be collegial and collaborative, and bring a proven commitment to creating a positive working environment within the organization. S/he must be a leader who believes in talent development and the benefit of being part of a diverse team who have the requisite company knowledge to offer credible and informed legal advice.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a key member of the senior legal team in identifying emerging governance issues, setting strategy for the governance program, and leading broader department initiatives.
• Handle corporate governance matters, including assisting in the preparation of materials for board and committee meetings, overseeing the maintenance of corporate minutes and records, and counseling on executive compensation matters.
• Ensure compliance with applicable corporate governance requirements and best practices.
• Ensure compliance with applicable securities regulations; oversee the preparation of SEC filings, including the Company’s proxy statement. Review 10-Qs, 10-Ks, earnings materials and other investor presentations; prepare 8-Ks. Oversee conduct of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Own all securities-related policies and procedures.
• Advise on public disclosure obligations; Collaborate with investor relations/corporate communications and senior management on preparation and review of press releases, social media posts and other external communications.
• Collaborate with investor relations/corporate communications, other stakeholders and the board on stockholder engagement; coordinate preparation for interactions with large stockholders regarding various governance matters.
• Oversee legal efforts in relation to ESG and government relations. Interface with internal and external parties as necessary.
• Advise the Finance and Treasury teams. Partner with Treasury team on corporate finance including potential transactions and insurance matters, including D&O insurance. Advise and provide support for tax related matters, including international tax planning and management of global corporate entities.
• Oversee all non-intellectual property related litigation working closely with internal and external counsel
• Partner with finance and HR to oversee global equity compensation program.
• Advise on insider trading and Section 16 issues for directors and executive officers and employees. Collaborate with finance and other stakeholders to define and manage internal pre-clearance and quarterly blackout requirements.
• Oversee Global Employment Legal function, partnering closely with the leader of the team and relevant internal stakeholders including HR.
• Keep up to date on new laws, regulations and industry trends affecting public life science companies.

The following skills are essential for a strong candidate:

• Experience advising executive management, board of directors and senior leaders on corporate securities and corporate governance, including experience counseling and presenting to a public company board of directors. Proven track record of effectively working cross-functionally and cross-culturally with partners at all levels, including executive management and other senior leaders.
• Extensive SEC compliance experience including the preparation and filing of SEC documents and preparation of company proxy statements. Strong understanding of corporate governance and the proven ability to oversee the proxy and annual stockholder meetings and manage stockholder engagements.
• Experience managing with the demonstrated ability to grow and develop strong, business-oriented teams.
• Experience managing financial transactions, ESG and government relations legal matters.
• Experience overseeing litigation efforts within a growing, scaling bio-tech organization.
• Strong technical/analytical skills, combined with a practical, business-oriented and strategic approach to identifying and solving business and legal problems and to provide balanced, solution oriented guidance.
• Team focused - collaborate and partner effectively across expertise areas (Legal, Finance, IR/CC, etc.) to provide strong client service in a high volume and fast-paced environment.
• Self-motivated, assertive, and self-confident with the ability to act independently with urgency and passion.
• Unquestionable ethics, integrity, and judgment.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Excellent judgment – ability to assess risks and benefits and determine best path to achieving desired results for Alnylam.
• Strong organizational skills in order to maintain a high level of productivity, innovation and priority-setting in order to complete assignments and commitments efficiently and on-time.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor degree with excellent academic credentials.  Applicant must be a member in good standing of the Massachusetts Bar or another Bar in the U.S.
• The ideal candidate will have at least 15+ years of experience ideally gained at a well-regarded law firm followed by in-house role(s) at a global, publicly traded growth-oriented company of similar scale and complexity to Alnylam. In these roles, will have overseen and/or advised on corporate governance, corporate securities, corporate legal strategy, executive compensation and broader corporate matters.
• Representing life sciences companies required and global experience a plus.

About Alnylam

Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: ALNY) has led the translation of RNA interference (RNAi) into a whole new class of innovative medicines with the potential to transform the lives of people afflicted with rare and more prevalent diseases. Based on Nobel Prize-winning science, RNAi therapeutics represent a powerful, clinically validated approach to treating diseases at their genetic source by “interfering” with mRNA that cause or contribute to disease. Since our founding in 2002, Alnylam has led the RNAi Revolution and continues to turn scientific possibility into reality. 

Our people-first culture is guided by our core values: fiercely innovative, open culture, purposeful urgency, passion for excellence, and commitment to people, and these values influence how we work and the business decisions we make. Thanks to feedback from our employees over the years, we’ve been fortunate to be named a top employer around the world. Alnylam is extremely proud to have been recognized as the #1 Large Employer by Boston Globe Top Places to Work in 2022, one of Science Magazine’s Top Biopharma Employers, one of America's Most Responsible Companies for 2023 by Newsweek, a Fast Company Best Workplace for Innovators, and a Great Place to Work in Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and UK – among others.

At Alnylam, we commit to an inclusive recruitment process and equal employment opportunity. We are dedicated to building an environment where employees can feel that they belong, can bring their authentic selves to work, and achieve to their full potential. By empowering employees to embrace their unique differences at work, our business grows stronger with advanced and original thinking, allowing us to bring groundbreaking medicines to patients.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ethnicity, marital status, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristics prohibited by law. Alnylam is an E-Verify employer.