Associate General Counsel

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Associate General Counsel position is responsible for providing a wide range of legal services and supporting the advice and counsel work of NMDP’s Office of General Counsel function.

The Associate General Counsel participates in the creation, development, and implementation of NMDP policies and procedures with respect to its legal and regulatory obligations. The Associate General Counsel also maintains knowledge of pertinent laws, regulations, rulings, interpretations, and court decisions as they affect NMDP.

This Associate General Counsel position provides day-to-day legal advice and support to functions throughout the company, including Operations, Clinical Services, and Contracts and Procurement.

The position may oversee attorneys, paralegals, and outside consultants/counsel and will provide direction to the teams to assist them in providing efficient and effective services.

ACCOUNTABILITIES:

Legal Research, Analysis, and Support:

• Provides legal counsel and guidance to internal personnel on legal matters relevant to NMDP.

• Performs substantial and complex legal research and analysis and provides advice and counsel regarding legal matters relevant to NMDP.

• Assists in the anticipation and identification of legal issues of concern to NMDP and assists in the development of legal strategies and solutions, often in situations of financial, political, and/or public relations risk or significance, and with limited time for assessing alternatives.

• Drafts, reviews and negotiates legal documents.

• Assists in the coordination of activities and actions involving outside counsel retained to represent NMDP.

Policy Development, Preparation, and Implementation:

• Assists with review, analysis, development, and implementation of NMDP policies and procedures having legal compliance components.

• Assists departments throughout the company with developing and modifying practices and procedures to conform to legal and regulatory requirements.

• Assembles and organizes information for policy and procedure documents.

Other Areas:

• Drafts, reviews and negotiates agreements of all types, including master services agreements, statements of work, consulting agreements, supply agreements, clinical research-related agreements, technology licenses and transportation/logistics agreements.

• Coordinates effectively with NMDP Contracts and Procurement to ensure contracts support the achievement of business objectives, including assistance in the development of processes, systems and templates.

• Provides direction, advice and counsel, and support to NMDP departments charged with the receipt, handling, and maintenance of confidential information.

• Provides legal support for clinical research, trials, and studies, including advising on informed consent and patient privacy issues.

• May assist with internal investigations and litigation.

• Manages activities with outside counsel as needed.

• Participates in special projects and initiatives as needed.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge of:

• Considerable knowledge of legal research materials, methods, techniques, principles, and practices; considerable knowledge of principles of contract law, commercial contracting, and procurement; and working knowledge of administrative, civil, constitutional, corporate and health care laws.

Ability to:

• Draft, review and negotiate legal documents, with an emphasis on customer, vendor, and research-related contracts.

• Proactively identify legal risks in the context of the business objectives of the organization and develop solutions to address both.

• Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with NMDP personnel, representatives of customer, vendor, and partner organizations, regulators and representatives of governmental agencies.

• Research, analyze, and apply legal principles, facts, and precedents to legal issues.

• Demonstrate exceptional verbal and written communication skills.

• Manage and address multiple tasks on a thorough and timely basis.

• Demonstrate initiative and a demonstrated ability to work independently (a “self-starter”).

• Maintain active, good standing membership in the Minnesota State Bar.

• Maintain the confidentiality of information.

• Commit to infrequent travel.

Education and/or Experience:

• Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited law school.

• 3-5 or more years of legal experience or practice, preferably including the areas of contract law, privacy, corporate law and/or health care law.

• Direct, hands-on experience drafting and negotiating a wide range of commercial contracts.