General Counsel

About Arc Institute

Arc Institute is an independent nonprofit research organization at the interface of artificial intelligence and biology, working to accelerate scientific progress and understand the root causes of complex diseases. Founded in 2021 and based in Palo Alto, Arc partners with Stanford University, UC Berkeley, and UC San Francisco.

Unlike academia, Arc scientists have long-term funding and industry-like resources. Unlike industry, they're free to pursue high-risk, long-term research without commercial pressures. Arc's Technology Centers and Core Investigator labs integrate experimental and computational biology under one roof to tackle problems neither could solve alone.

Two Institute Initiatives drive this model:

• Virtual Cell Initiative: Building a full-stack virtual cell model to identify disease mechanisms and nominate drug targets, accelerating the path from biological insight to clinical trials.
• Alzheimer's Disease Initiative: Mapping the genes, pathways, and environmental factors behind Alzheimer's disease to develop drug candidates that address root causes.

More than 300 Arconauts work together at the Palo Alto headquarters, backed by substantial long-term philanthropic funding.

About the Position

Arc Institute is seeking a General Counsel to serve as a strategic legal advisor and trusted peer to leadership. Reporting to Co-Founder and Executive Director Silvana Konermann, you'll help identify and execute the legal pathways enabling Arc to pursue ambitious scientific and institutional goals. This role requires a commercially sharp, highly proactive lawyer with strong judgment, excellent instincts, and the ability to move complex matters forward with urgency and rigor.

About You

• A strategic, solutions-oriented lawyer who thrives on solving difficult problems and moving complex matters forward
• Highly proactive, resourceful, and comfortable taking ownership in ambiguous environments
• A fast learner who quickly develops fluency in new scientific, operational, and institutional domains
• A strong communicator who translates legal risk into practical advice and decisive next steps
• Able to balance rigorous legal analysis with a strong bias toward action and outcomes
• A collegial, trusted leader and peer who earns confidence quickly and helps teams make sound decisions
• Confident engaging with senior leaders and external counterparties in high-stakes settings while maintaining professionalism, discretion, and good judgment

Key Responsibilities

• Lead legal strategy across compliance, governance, contracts, and institutional matters
• Advise leadership on legal risk and opportunity in scientific partnerships and research initiatives
• Manage relationships with external counsel and institutional stakeholders
• Build and mentor the legal function as Arc grows