Associate General Counsel

POSITION SPECIFICATION – ASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL 

WHO WE ARE 

HSS is the world's leading academic medical center focused on musculoskeletal health. At its core is Hospital for Special Surgery, nationally ranked No. 1 in orthopedics (for the 15th consecutive year) by U.S. News & World Report (2024-2025).  HSS has also been among the top-ranked hospitals for both orthopedics and rheumatology for 33 consecutive years.  Founded in 1863, the Hospital has the lowest complication and readmission rates in the nation for orthopedics, and among the lowest infection rates. HSS was the first in New York State to receive Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service from the American Nurses Credentialing Center five consecutive times. 

An affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical College, HSS has a main campus in New York City and facilities in New Jersey, Connecticut and in the Long Island and Westchester County regions of New York State, as well as in Florida. In addition to patient care, HSS leads the field in research, innovation and education. The HSS Research Institute comprises 20 laboratories and 300 staff members focused on leading the advancement of musculoskeletal health through prevention of degeneration, tissue repair and tissue regeneration. The HSS Innovation Institute works to realize the potential of new drugs, therapeutics and devices. The HSS Education Institute is a trusted leader in advancing musculoskeletal knowledge and research for physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, academic trainees, and consumers in more than 145 countries. The institution is collaborating with medical centers and other organizations to advance the quality and value of musculoskeletal care and to make world-class HSS care more widely accessible nationally and internationally. 

THE ROLE 

HSS is recruiting an Associate General Counsel. Reporting to the Chief Legal Officer, this person will serve as a key member of the hospital’s Legal Department, primarily supporting managed care contracting, payer strategies and related matters in finance and operations.   

Working closely with the payor strategy team, as well as the Senior Associate General Counsel responsible for payor contracting and, as appropriate, external counsel, the Associate General Counsel will: 

Review and revise agreements between HSS and its affiliates with third party payors (commercial, as well as Medicare and Medicaid managed care agreements), including value-based and pay-for-performance models; 

Have an understanding of business issues pertaining to managed care, particularly those impacting providers, for incorporation into agreements; 

Advise on regulatory requirements and payor policies, as requested; 

Advise HSS’s affiliated physician hospital organization on physician agreements with third party payors and physician participation agreements;  

Draft, review and revise agreements with third party intermediaries, aggregators and employers. 

This is a full-time position.  It is presently offered under a hybrid model, with three set days in the office (Tuesday through Thursday) and two days remote (Mondays and Fridays), and with the understanding that the demands of the position may require in-office presence more frequently and that the hybrid program is a pilot program subject to change.  The Legal Department is currently located at 777 3rd Avenue, NY, NY.  

CANDIDATE PROFILE 

The ideal candidate will be dedicated attorney with at least seven (7) years of health care transactional and regulatory experience. The candidate may have spent a career working in private practice with a well-regarded regional, national or international law firm with a sophisticated and active health care department or service group or may be someone who has a minimum of two (2) years in a private practice as described above, but has since moved in-house with a health care organization.  The ideal candidate will have experience working with non-profit institutions and will have a working understanding of non-profit governance and operations.  

The ideal candidate will demonstrate excellent communication skills, as well as exceptional presence and judgment. It is imperative that the successful candidate have the intellect, vision and judgment to contribute across the organization. The individual should thrive in a highly collaborative, collegial but also immediate, results-oriented, and mission-driven culture, and should be comfortable managing numerous projects and competing priorities. Further, the successful candidate will share a passion and commitment to the overall mission and values of HSS. 

In terms of the performance and personal competencies for the position, we highlight the following: 

Business Acumen 

• Grasp key drivers of HSS and quickly become immersed in important legal and business issues facing the institution. 

Executing for Results 

• Take initiative and operate with a sense of urgency and decisiveness.  

• Pay close attention to detail and demonstrate highly developed drafting skills. 

• Make nuanced recommendations and business decisions based on facts and the culture and strategic objectives of HSS. 

• Work through ambiguity, both internally and externally, utilizing strong communication and problem-solving skills.  

Building Relationships and Using Influence 

• Work effectively with others across the organization. 

• Demonstrate a positive, professional, and collaborative demeanor and strong business acumen in order to gain the confidence, trust and reliance of colleagues at HSS. 

• Develop a strong network of relationships inside and outside the organization to support the objectives of the legal function. 

• Communicate in an articulate and persuasive manner. 

Education / Work Experience 

Advanced degree (JD). 

Minimum 7 years in private practice with a law firm with a dedicated health care department or service group or Minimum 2 years in such a private practice and having since moved in-house with a health care organization.  Experience that is consistent with or otherwise supportive of the candidate’s ability to fulfill the major duties and responsibilities for this role.