SVP, Deputy Legal Counsel

Position Summary

The Senior Vice President, Deputy General Counsel (SVP/DGC) is a key member of the senior leadership team and serves as a legal, strategic, and policy partner to the organization. The executive provides forward‑looking legal, regulatory, government relations, and community affairs guidance in support of the mission, vision, and values of Atlantic Health. The SVP/DGC is responsible for setting proactive strategic direction and executing legal and policy programs that minimize risk, ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulatory requirements, strengthen government and community relationships, and advance Atlantic Health’s business and public‑policy objectives. The executive also provides effective oversight of outside legal counsel.

The SVP/DGC participates as a member of the senior leadership team in identifying and addressing strategic issues and oversees a broad portfolio including strategic business transactions (including mergers & acquisitions), commercial contracts, real estate matters, risk mitigation, insurance, regulatory compliance, privacy, physician alignment strategies, litigation, research and intellectual property, health information technology, labor and employment, medical staff matters, patient care matters, reimbursement, government relations, community affairs, and outside counsel management.
 

Direct reporting relationships to the SVP/DGC are:
• Vice President & Chief Risk Officer
• Vice President, Corporate Legal Services
 

Responsibilities as Senior Leader of Legal Department

•    Provides senior leadership for the unified legal services function, which serves as the exclusive resource responsible for providing internal legal services and coordinating the retention of outside counsel for all of Atlantic Health.
•    Partners with senior functional leaders to develop integrated cross‑functional legal, regulatory, and government affairs strategies and plans that protect the organization and advance its mission.
•    Oversees the System's risk management activities to minimize liability and proactively address issues. Oversees the resolution of all legal claims against the System and its component parts. Oversees the Vice President, Chief Risk Officer in coordinating with healthcare professional liability, general liability, casualty and employment practices insurance programs as to policy limits, deductibles or retentions, and claims. 
•    Works with the Vice President, Chief Compliance Officer to coordinate and implement strategy related to privacy and compliance to ensure alignment of regulatory interests and organizational objectives. 
•    Oversees Legal Department personnel, budget, policies, and responsibilities to ensure appropriate internal staffing, allocation of budgets for internal and external spend, and consistent standards of operation.
•    Advances a culture of collaboration with internal stakeholders to arrive at legally compliant and policy‑informed solutions that support business goals.
•    Develops and implements standards for the provision of legal services to enhance quality, efficiency and value, including through the broad use of existing and emerging technology.
•    Stewards legal resources by issuing RFPs for legal services, negotiating and monitoring fee arrangements and by directing and evaluating the work performed by retained counsel for quality, efficiency, performance and results.
•    Collaborates with other functional leaders in the development and review of policies and procedures.
 

Responsibilities as Strategic Partner:
•    Understands the legal, operating and financial structures of Atlantic Health and analyzes the legal impact of current or planned activities within those structures.
•    Understands and clearly articulates legal issues affecting the operations of Atlantic Health, including applicable law and regulatory matters.
•    Maintains a deep understanding of the healthcare industry and developing trends.
•    Provides solution-oriented, strategic legal and business advice and options to senior leadership to facilitate growth and success of Atlantic Health.
•    Aligns legal priorities and resources with organizational strategy and business goals.
•    Monitors and educates senior leadership regarding changes in the law and developments impacting the healthcare industry and the organization, its operations and goals.
•    Provides strategic counsel and legal support regarding business strategy and various commercial business transactions (including the purchase, sale, lease, and other transactions involving real estate, construction, physician groups or entities, and related healthcare organizations). 
•    Provides legal expertise and support on mergers, affiliations, and other organizational transactions, including compliance with the Federal Trade Commission and/or other federal and state regulatory bodies, and participates actively on the team responsible for coordinating and managing related processes, especially during the due diligence, merger, and transitional phases. 
•    Assumes direct involvement as appropriate in complex legal issues and in overseeing and negotiating critical contracts and developing effective solutions. 
•    Assesses and advises on responses to crisis situations impacting Atlantic Health.
•    Oversees government affairs team and represents the interests of Atlantic Health in contacts with outside parties, including attorneys, other companies and government agencies.

Responsibilities in Recruitment and Retention:
•    Fosters a culture that attracts and retains talent and that embraces Atlantic Health’s mission, vision and values. 
•    Supports, recognizes and rewards colleagues for their work, through mentoring and providing opportunities to develop and expand their knowledge, experience and growth. 
•    Advances team connectivity and knowledge through Legal Department meetings, huddles and educational sessions on legal developments and challenges.

 

Preferred Qualifications 

•    JD degree from an accredited law school and active law license, with the ability to obtain a New Jersey in‑house license if not admitted in New Jersey.
•    Ten years of healthcare law experience, with deep knowledge of hospital and payor regulation and expertise supporting hospital/healthcare business operations and contracting. 
•    Prior experience in a large national or regional law firm, including exposure to sophisticated healthcare, corporate, regulatory, and litigation matters.
•    Legislative or government affairs experience, including interpreting, influencing, or responding to federal and state legislative or regulatory developments affecting healthcare organizations.
•    Significant transactional experience, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, partnerships, joint ventures, and other transactions involving healthcare organizations, providers, for‑profit and nonprofit entities, payors, ambulatory surgery centers, imaging centers, and/or related entities.
•    Experience with the Federal Trade Commission and Hart‑Scott‑Rodino (HSR) filings, including pre‑merger notification requirements, regulatory strategy, and coordination with federal and state agencies.
•    Antitrust experience, including advising on competition issues, market‑power considerations, integration strategies, and compliance with federal and state antitrust laws.
•    Litigation experience, including managing outside counsel, overseeing complex litigation, and advising on strategy for professional liability, commercial disputes, employment matters, and regulatory enforcement actions.
•    Well‑versed in healthcare fraud and abuse laws, including the False Claims Act, Anti‑Kickback Statute, Stark Law, and related enforcement trends.
•    Knowledge and experience across all aspects of health law, including acute care and outpatient/community‑based operations, compliance, reimbursement, privacy, information technology, nonprofit governance, and tax‑exempt organization requirements.
•    Proven track record of providing strategic legal advice to senior leaders and negotiating complex legal issues in the healthcare industry.
•    Strong leadership experience, serving as a trusted and proactive advisor to an organization of comparable size and complexity.
•    Previous management responsibility for a legal organization, including establishing or maintaining systems, processes, policies, and procedures to run a highly professional department and support strategic and charitable goals.
•    Deep understanding of federal and state laws and regulations impacting healthcare systems, along with a strong grasp of emerging industry trends.
•    Ability to interact effectively with system leaders, government officials, opposing counsel, regulators, and other stakeholders.
•    Ability to establish credibility internally and externally, instilling confidence while ensuring legal and regulatory compliance.
•    Strategic, innovative thinker capable of influencing across broad constituencies.
•    Poised, credible, and confident executive presence that commands respect and fosters trust.
•    Strong leadership and management skills, including strategic planning, change management, communication, team building, continuous improvement, problem solving, decision‑making, innovation, and financial stewardship.
•    Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to simplify and clearly articulate complex legal, regulatory, and business issues in both written and oral form. 
 

Salary range: $442,396 - $827,307 based only; excludes all incentives.