Research Counsel
The Research Counsel (Counsel) will report to the Chief Legal Officer and be responsible for supporting and handling a variety of legal matters for the organization, with a primary focus on supporting Children's Research Institute (CRI). Counsel may operate in several different areas, but will principally support CRI's legal needs, including providing legal oversight, advice, and counsel on drafting and negotiating complex matters involving research and healthcare, innovation initiatives, and intellectual property (including, tech transfer, out licensing and commercialization). Counsel will also provide legal support to the Agreements Team within the Office of Sponsored Projects, including support in risk identification, analysis, and mitigation.
Minimum Education
Juris Doctorate (J.D.) (Required)
Minimum Work Experience
5 years experience working in a firm, hospital, university hospital system, or relevant government agency with at least 2 of those years working in specialized legal practice in research and innovation. (Preferred)
Required Licenses And Certifications
MD, VA, or DC Bar Required Upon Hire (Required)
DC Bar admittance required within 6 months (Required)
Required Skills/Knowledge
Knowledge of health care law issues pertaining to non-profit academic medical centers desired.
Prefer experience with drafting and negotiating a wide variety of contracts, and namely, research related contracts.
Must have experience and expertise in research related healthcare regulations and the federal grant process.
Able and available to work full-time on-site at the hospital or other CN controlled and operated locations.
Professional, responsive, collaborative, solution-oriented, forward thinking, proactive, engaged.
Functional Accountabilities
Contract Review and Corporate Deal Negotiations
- Draft, review and negotiate agreements as assigned, and principally for CNRI.
- Design, review, and implement, as necessary, policies and practices for research contract reviews to effectively optimize outcomes and minimize risk and eliminate preventable financial waste.
- Provide timely and reliable legal advice and counsel around contracts and negotiations.
- Work collaboratively with and provide competent support to internal business partners including but not limited to the Office of Sponsored Research Projects, Business Service (Sponsored Research) and Innovation and Technology Transfer Department.
Specialized Services
- Serve as Legal’s liaison to the Vice President, Academic and Research Operations
- Serve as Legal’s primary counsel for Children’s Research Institute and provide general advice and counsel.
- Support CRI in the collection and tracking of research related contract management practices and performance across and between Legal and Sponsored Research.
- Seek out and implement new or evolving best practices around contract management and the practice of healthcare and research law.
- Design and operationalize Sponsored Research and Innovation and Technology Transfer education and training.
Legal Support
- Seeks out support appropriately and escalate appropriately.
- Perceived by legal, compliance, and risk staff as visible, approachable and helpful with legal advice matters.
General Legal Support
- Provide advice as assigned on general legal matters in a timely manner.
- Respond to legal questions from clinical staff in a timely manner.
- Cover attorney on call position as scheduled.
- Complete assignments from Chief Legal Officer in a timely manner.
- Develop healthy relationships with other internal customers.
- Provide staff development education re: legal issues as assigned.
- Integrate with Executive Director of Risk Management as needed to manage risk for the organization.
- Conduct business with a professional, collaborative approach that is solution oriented and forward thinking; be well respected by peers and stakeholders as a team-player and capable attorney; use good judgment on all matters including the ability to escalate concerns and control or manage potential poor decisions or actions by clients or stakeholders.
The Research Counsel (Counsel) will report to the Chief Legal Officer and be responsible for supporting and handling a variety of legal matters for the organization, with a primary focus on supporting Children's Research Institute (CRI). Counsel may operate in several different areas, but will principally support CRI's legal needs, including providing legal oversight, advice, and counsel on drafting and negotiating complex matters involving research and healthcare, innovation initiatives, and intellectual property (including, tech transfer, out licensing and commercialization). Counsel will also provide legal support to the Agreements Team within the Office of Sponsored Projects, including support in risk identification, analysis, and mitigation.
Primary Location
Maryland-Silver Spring
Work Locations
Inventa Towers
Job
Non-Clinical Professional
Position Status
R (Regular)
Shift
Day
Work Schedule
day
Job Posting
Mar 5, 2026, 2:34:54 AM
Full-Time Salary Range
140358.4
