Senior Associate General Counsel, Labor & Employment

Company: Life Science Washington
Location: Seattle
Posted on: June 1, 2025

Job Description:

Overview

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is an independent, nonprofit organization providing adult cancer treatment and groundbreaking research focused on cancer and infectious diseases. Based in Seattle, Fred Hutch is the only National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Washington.

With a track record of global leadership in bone marrow transplantation, HIV/AIDS prevention, immunotherapy and COVID-19 vaccines, Fred Hutch has earned a reputation as one of the world's leading cancer, infectious disease and biomedical research centers. Fred Hutch operates eight clinical care sites that provide medical oncology, infusion, radiation, proton therapy and related services, and network affiliations with hospitals in five states. Together, our fully integrated research and clinical care teams seek to discover new cures to the world's deadliest diseases and make life beyond cancer a reality.

At Fred Hutch we value collaboration, compassion, determination, excellence, innovation, integrity and respect. Our mission is directly tied to the humanity, dignity and inherent value of each employee, patient, community member and supporter. Our commitment to learning across our differences and similarities make us stronger. We seek employees who bring different and innovative ways of seeing the world and solving problems.

Reporting to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center ("Fred Hutch") Vice President & General Counsel ("General Counsel"), the Senior Associate General Counsel - Labor & Employment provides legal advice on all labor & employment matters at Fred Hutch, across both the Research, Clinical and administrative operations. The Senior Associate General Counsel, as a trusted legal advisor, works closely with the General Counsel and other attorneys in the Office of General Counsel, with Human Resources, with the Office of the President & Director, and with other Fred Hutch leaders providing legal advice and counsel on a wide range of labor & employment issues, aligning strategies with the organization's business objectives. This role is also responsible for overseeing Fred Hutch Institutional Policy implementation and management, working closely with the Fred Hutch Policies & Practices Manager.

Work Environment:

• The role may require occasional travel.
• This role will have the opportunity to work partially at our campus and remotely.
  
  Responsibilities
  
  Legal Advice and Compliance:
  
  • Provide high-level legal advice and counsel on labor & employment laws and regulations
  • Ensure the organization's compliance with federal, state, and local labor & employment laws and regulations.
  • Proactively develop and implement labor & employment policies and procedures to mitigate legal risks and promote compliance.
  • Provide training on labor & employment matters as needed.
    HR and Business Partnering:
    
    • Collaborate on a daily basis with HR, particularly the Vice President, Human Resources, the HR Business Partner team, HR Directors, and the Leaves & Accommodations team to address labor & employment issues and align labor & employment strategies with business objectives.
    • Provide proactive legal support and strategic advice on issues such as leaves & accommodations, employee discipline and discharge, workforce planning, talent management, compensation & benefits, and organizational change, including layoffs and reorganizations.
      Executive Leadership Advice and Counsel:
      
      • Provide high-level, often sensitive and confidential labor & employment advice and counsel to Fred Hutch executive leadership, including the Office of the President & Director, Fred Hutch Vice Presidents, and the Fred Hutch Board of Directors.
        Investigations:
        
        • Provide advice and counsel on internal investigations related to labor & employment matters, working closely with the HR team.
        • Manage external investigators.
          Employment Litigation and Agency Complaints:
          
          • Manage and oversee employment-related litigation and pre-litigation matters, including those involving discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, wage and hour disputes, leaves & accommodations, and other employment-related claims.
          • Draft state and federal agency responses, including EEOC Position Statements.
          • Coordinate and manage outside counsel.
          • Liaise with insurance carriers.
            Labor Relations:
            
            • Advise on labor relations matters, including collective bargaining negotiations, union relations, and grievance handling.
            • Assist in developing and maintaining positive labor relations strategies.
            • Coordinate and manage outside counsel.
              Employment Agreements:
              
              • Advise on and draft employment agreements, including employment contracts, dual-employment agreements, staffing agency agreements, independent contractor agreements, clinical rotation agreements, visiting scientist/physician agreements, agreements related to scientific and clinical education programs, separation agreements, and severance agreements.
                Faculty Matters:
                
                • Advise on labor and employment matters related to Faculty, including those related to Faculty policies and their implementing guidelines.
                  Policy Development and Management:
                  
                  • Develop, draft, review, and update personnel policies.
                  • Work closely with Policies & Practices Manager to oversee development and management of Fred Hutch Institutional Policies, including Faculty Policies.
                    International Advice and Counsel:
                    
                    • Provide labor and employment advice and counsel to Fred Hutch international programs in Uganda and South Africa, including working with leaders locally and in-country.
                    • Coordinate and manage in-country outside counsel.
                      Out-of-State and International Remote Work:
                      
                      • Provide advice and counsel regarding labor & employment laws in other states in which Fred Hutch is registered as an employer.
                      • Provide advice and counsel regarding remote work abroad.
                        Collaboration and Oversight Within OGC:
                        
                        • Collaborate with other OGC attorneys on legal matters unrelated to labor & employment and/or "hybrid" matters, as needed.
                        • Oversee the work of OGC attorneys assisting with labor & employment matters and/or "hybrid" matters.
                          Oversight of HR Compliance:
                          
                          • Work closely with the HR Compliance Manager and HR Operations on various HR compliance matters.
                            
                            Qualifications
                            
                            MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
                            
                            
                            • Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
                            • Admission to the Washington State Bar Association or the ability to gain such admission.
                            • Minimum of 15-20 years of experience practicing labor & employment law, with significant such experience in-house for a scientific research and/or clinical organization, or demonstrably similar experience in a law firm setting (e.g. similarly direct advice-and-counsel relationships with scientific research and/or clinical clients).
                            • Significant experience collaborating on a daily basis with HR.
                            • Significant experience with traditional labor matters.
                            • Significant experience collaborating with executives and other senior leaders.
                            • Proven track record of managing complex employment litigation and advising on a wide range of labor & employment issues.
                            • Experience managing outside counsel, external investigators, and insurance carriers.
                            • Strong knowledge of federal, state, and local employment laws and regulations.
                            • Excellent negotiation, communication, and writing skills.
                            • Ability to demonstrate sound judgment even in ambiguous situations.
                            • Demonstrated ability to work well under pressure and with deadlines, handle multiple priorities at one time, strong attention to detail.
                            • High ethical standards and a commitment to maintaining confidentiality and integrity.
                              LOCATION:
                              
                              • Seattle area or the ability to move to the Seattle area - As an essential function of the job, ability to come to Fred Hutch campus in Seattle on request and upon short, even same-day, notice.
                                PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
                                
                                • Experience within both scientific research and clinical environments.
                                • Experience with international employment law issues.
                                • Experience managing attorneys and other legal staff.
                                  
                                  The annual base salary range for this position is from $219,606 to $386,173, and pay offered will be based on experience and qualifications. This position may be eligible for relocation assistance.
                                  
                                  Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center offers employees a designed to enhance health, well-being, and financial security. Benefits include medical/vision, dental, flexible spending accounts, life, disability, retirement, family life support, employee assistance program, onsite health clinic, tuition reimbursement, paid vacation (12-22 days per year), paid sick leave (12-25 days per year), paid holidays (13 days per year), paid parental leave (up to 4 weeks), and partially paid sabbatical leave (up to 6 months).
                                  
                                  Additional Information
                                  
                                  We are proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA) Employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, ancestry, national origin, sex, age, disability (physical or mental), marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, political ideology, or membership in any other legally protected class. We desire priority referrals of protected veterans. If due to a disability you need assistance/and or a reasonable accommodation during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to Human Resources at hrops@fredhutch.org or by calling 206-667-4700.
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Keywords: Life Science Washington, Bellingham , Senior Associate General Counsel, Labor & Employment, Human Resources , Seattle, Washington