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Salary: USD 274,000 - 392,000 / annual
GRAIL is a healthcare company pioneering early cancer detection using next-generation sequencing, population-scale clinical studies, and advanced data science. The company is headquartered in the Bay Area with locations in Washington D.C., North Carolina, and the United Kingdom.
You will lead GRAIL's employment law and litigation department, reporting to the Chief Legal Officer. This is a dual-function role combining strategic employment law leadership with oversight of the company's non-IP litigation practice.
As Head of Employment Law, you will:
- Lead employment law strategy and advise senior leaders on complex employment matters in partnership with HR Business Partners
- Serve as primary legal partner to the Chief People Officer and People team leadership
- Lead strategy for employment litigation, administrative proceedings, and pre-litigation disputes
- Provide legal guidance on sensitive workplace investigations
- Enhance employment policies, agreements, playbooks, training, and manager guidance to enable scalable practices
As Head of Litigation, you will:
- Lead GRAIL's non-IP litigation practice
- Direct outside counsel, litigation strategy, discovery, settlement decisions, and resolution of significant matters
- Draft pre-litigation correspondence, demand letters, and subpoena responses
- Identify emerging litigation risks and recommend proactive mitigation strategies
- Partner across Legal, People, Compliance, Finance, Security, Communications, and other teams on high-risk matters
- Serve as a member of GRAIL's Legal Leadership Team
The role is based in Sunnyvale with a hybrid arrangement requiring a minimum of 60% on-site presence (24 hours per week), with Tuesdays and Thursdays as key on-site days. Extended hours are common during major transactions, governance cycles, or litigation events. Domestic and international travel may be required.
REQUIREMENTS:
- JD from accredited law school with active membership in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar
- Licensed to practice law in California
- 15+ years of legal experience with significant depth in employment law and litigation
- 2+ years in a senior leadership or management role, including leading attorneys and managing multi-functional legal teams
- Strong litigation experience from a nationally or regionally recognized law firm, including direct employment litigation experience
- Deep knowledge of federal and state employment laws with experience advising on complex and high-risk employee matters
- Demonstrated experience leading significant litigation, managing outside counsel and legal spend, and evaluating litigation and settlement strategy
- Experience overseeing sensitive workplace investigations
- Track record of advising senior executives and People leaders with sound judgment, discretion, and practical business mindset
- Trial, arbitration, mediation, and deposition experience
- Ability to thrive in fast-moving environment, navigate ambiguity, and communicate complex issues clearly
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Meaningful in-house experience in public companies within biotechnology, life sciences, diagnostics, pharmaceutical, medical device, or laboratory industry
- Experience with UK and other international employment matters
