Employment Counsel (Cambridge, MA)

This job is with Biogen, an inclusive employer and a member of myGwork – the largest global platform for the LGBTQ+ business community. Please do not contact the recruiter directly.

About This Role

As a highly experienced Employment Counsel on the Legal & Compliance team, you will serve as a trusted senior legal advisor to Biogen's Global Human Resources organization, providing strategic counsel and practical guidance on a broad range of employment, people relations, compliance, and workforce management matters affecting more than 8,000 employees globally.

Reporting to the Chief Employment Counsel, you will partner closely with HR, Legal & Compliance, Finance, and key business leaders to navigate complex workplace challenges globally, manage legal and regulatory risk, and support key business initiatives.

You will play a critical role in shaping employment practices, driving risk mitigation and governance efforts, overseeing investigations and disputes, and helping ensure that Biogen's workforce strategies remain aligned with evolving global legal requirements and business objectives.

This role requires exceptional legal judgment, strong leadership presence, and the ability to translate complex legal issues into clear, practical, actionable advice that enables effective business decisions in a dynamic life sciences environment.

What You'll Do

Strategic Employment Counseling

• Serve as a legal advisor to Global Human Resources on employment law and people relations matters across the employee lifecycle, including recruitment, performance management, accommodations, leave administration, compensation, benefits, disciplinary actions, workforce restructuring, and separations.
• Partner with HR and business leaders to develop practical, risk-informed solutions.
• Provide strategic advice on sensitive employment matters.
• Support business leaders in navigating complex workplace issues while maintaining compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements.

Investigations, Disputes, and Risk Management

• Advise on sensitive workplace investigations involving allegations of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, misconduct, and other significant employee relations concerns.
• Manage employment disputes, including demand letters, agency investigations, and litigation matters.
• Oversee outside counsel and legal budgets related to employment matters.
• Partner with external counsel and Biogen colleagues in markets around the world to deliver practical, globally informed solutions.
• Identify employment-related risks and recommend mitigation strategies.

Global Employment Compliance and Governance

• Oversee key elements of Biogen's global HR governance program.
• Advise on global employment law issues and cross-border personnel movement.
• Support development and enhancement of employment policies, procedures, and governance frameworks.
• Conduct employment-related audits and compliance assessments.

Cross-Functional Partnership and Legal Leadership

• Collaborate with HR, Legal & Compliance, Finance, and other business functions.
• Monitor employment law developments and regulatory trends.
• Translate legal developments into practical guidance.
• Develop and deliver training and policy updates.

Who You Are

You are a highly skilled employment lawyer with deep expertise in U.S. employment law and demonstrated experience advising on cross-border workforce mobility and global employment matters. You are comfortable operating across multiple regions by partnering with local counsel and regional teams to deliver practical, business-focused guidance.

You combine sound legal judgment with a solutions-oriented approach and are comfortable advising senior leaders on complex and sensitive workforce matters. You know how to reduce legal and regulatory risks while supporting business growth and organizational transformation.

What You'll Achieve

• Serve as a trusted advisor to Global Human Resources on the organization's most significant employment law and employee relations matters.
• Help shape compliant, consistent, and scalable employment practices across a global workforce.
• Reduce legal and regulatory risk while enabling business growth and organizational transformation.
• Strengthen governance, investigations, dispute management, and compliance programs.
• Build enduring partnerships across the organization.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and Juris Doctor (J.D.).
• Minimum of 12 years of progressively responsible employment law experience, including law firm and in-house experience.
• Deep expertise in U.S. employment law, employee relations, and HR compliance.
• Experience with international employment law and HR governance.
• Proven experience managing investigations, employment disputes, and outside counsel relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to advise and influence senior HR leaders and business executives on complex, high-risk workforce matters.
• Licensed to practice law in Massachusetts or eligible for admission.

Preferred Qualifications

• In-house experience supporting manufacturing, life sciences, medical device, healthcare, and/or global commercial organizations.
• Public company experience.
• Experience with global works councils.
• Strong analytical and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience supporting multinational organizations and global employment law issues, including reorganizations, restructurings, M&A integrations, cross-border workforce mobility, or other significant business transformations.
• Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders and build trusted partnerships across a complex, matrixed global organization.

 

Job Level: Management

Additional Information

The base compensation range for this role is: $226,000.00-$310,750.00

Base salary offered is determined through an analytical approach utilizing a combination of factors including, but not limited to, relevant skills & experience, job location, and internal equity.

Regular employees are eligible to receive both short term and long-term incentives, including cash bonus and equity incentive opportunities, designed to reward recent achievements and recognize your future potential based on individual, business unit and company performance. 

In addition to compensation, Biogen offers a full and highly competitive range of benefits designed to support our employees' and their families physical, financial, emotional, and social well-being ; including, but not limited to:

• Medical, Dental, Vision, & Life insurances
• Fitness & Wellness programs including a fitness reimbursement 
• Short- and Long-Term Disability insurance
• A minimum of 15 days of paid vacation and an additional end-of-year shutdown time off (Dec 26-Dec 31)
• Up to 12 company paid holidays + 3 paid days off for Personal Significance 
• 80 hours of sick time per calendar year
• Paid Maternity and Parental Leave benefit 
• 401(k) program participation with company matched contributions
• Employee stock purchase plan 
• Tuition reimbursement of up to $10,000 per calendar year 
• Employee Resource Groups participation

Why Biogen?

We are a global team with a commitment to excellence, and a pioneering spirit. As a mid-sized biotechnology company, we provide the stability and resources of a well-established business while fostering an environment where individual contributions make a significant impact. Our team encompasses some of the most talented and passionate achievers who have unparalleled opportunities for learning, growth, and expanding their skills. Above all, we work together to deliver life-changing medicines, with every role playing a vital part in our mission. Caring Deeply. Achieving Excellence. Changing Lives.

At Biogen, we are committed to building on our culture of inclusion and belonging that reflects the communities where we operate and the patients we serve. We know that diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives make us a stronger and more innovative company, and we are focused on building teams where every employee feels empowered and inspired.  Read on to learn more about Biogen.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, race, color, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, religion, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law. Biogen is an E-Verify Employer in the United States.