Senior Director, US Employment Law; Cambridge, MA, US, MA

Cambridge, US|full time|Job

The Senior Director, US Employment Law will serve as BioNTech's lead legal advisor on labor and employment matters in the United States and as a key member of the global Legal team. This role will partner closely with Human Resources, U.S. leadership, Compliance, and other business functions to provide timely, practical, and risk-based advice across the employment lifecycle.

The successful candidate will combine strategic judgment with hands-on execution. The role requires an experienced employment lawyer who can navigate complex and sensitive matters, support a geographically distributed workforce, manage contentious proceedings, and develop scalable solutions that align U.S. requirements with BioNTech's global policies and business objectives.

• Serve as the principal Legal advisor on U.S. labor and employment matters, providing clear, practical, and timely guidance to Human Resources, U.S. leadership, managers, and other stakeholders.
• Advise across the employment lifecycle, including recruiting and hiring, compensation and benefits-related employment issues, accommodations and leaves, performance management, disciplinary actions, terminations, reductions in force, and post-employment obligations.
• Provide dedicated support for executive and senior management employment matters, including offer arrangements, employment agreements, separations, restrictive covenants, compensation-related employment issues, and incentive-related questions, in coordination with relevant subject matter experts.
• Partner with Human Resources and Compliance on sensitive employee relations matters and internal investigations, including whistle blower and retaliation allegations, and help ensure fair, consistent, and well-documented processes.
• Develop strategy and manage outside counsel in connection with administrative charges, agency inquiries, employment litigation, arbitration, mediation, and other contentious matters.
• Monitor developments in federal, state, and local labor and employment law; assess business impact and translate legal requirements into practical policies, processes, communications, and manager guidance for a multi-state workforce.
• Together with Human Resources, develop and maintain scalable U.S. employment policies, templates, playbooks, and training that align with applicable law and BioNTech's global frameworks.
• Advise on restructurings, business integrations, and cross-border employment considerations affecting U.S. employees.
• Provide employment-law support for corporate transactions, collaborations, and other strategic projects, including due diligence, risk assessment, and implementation planning, as needed.
• Collaborate with Legal colleagues and cross-functional partners across jurisdictions and time zones to promote consistent, business-focused approaches while appropriately addressing U.S.
  
  -specific requirements.
• Identify matters requiring specialized external advice; select, instruct, and oversee outside counsel with a focus on quality, efficiency, and practical outcomes.
• Design and deliver training and coaching for Human Resources, managers, and business leaders on employment-law risks, effective decision-making, and workplace best practices.

• Juris Doctor from an accredited law school and active membership in good standing in at least one U.S. state bar.
• At least 12 years of progressively responsible experience practicing U.S. labor and employment law, with substantial experience advising employers. In-house experience in a multinational, matrixed organization is strongly preferred.
• Deep knowledge of federal, state, and local employment-law requirements and demonstrated experience designing practical solutions for a geographically distributed, multi-state workforce.
• Substantial experience handling sensitive employee relations matters, internal investigations, employment disputes, administrative proceedings, and litigation strategy.
• Demonstrated ability to advise on executive employment arrangements, separations, restrictive covenants, and compensation-related employment issues in partnership with relevant specialists.
• Life sciences, biotechnology, or pharmaceutical industry experience is preferred, particularly in a fast-paced and highly regulated environment. Experience with commercial sales organizations is helpful.
• Excellent legal judgment and the ability to translate complex, jurisdiction-specific issues into concise, actionable advice for Human Resources,…