Chief Legal Officer and Vice President of Government Relations

We are dedicated to creating an environment of care and engagement that makes us one of the most desirable places to work, providing exceptional care to each patient each and every day!

Chief Legal Officer and Vice President of Government Relations

Position Summary:

The Chief Legal Officer and Vice President of Government Relations develops and institutes the legal philosophy and policy for Center of Special Care, Inc. (“Center”) and all of its wholly or partially owned affiliates, including but not limited to, Hospital for Special Care, HSC Community Services, Inc., CSI Residential, Inc., Hospital for Special Care Foundation, Inc. and Manes & Motions Therapeutic Riding Center, Inc. (collectively referred to as “affiliates”).

The Chief Legal Officer and Vice President of Government Affairs is responsible for leading and managing the legal affairs of Center and its affiliates, including providing legal guidance to the executive team, and ensuring compliance with state and federal regulation. This role also oversees all legal aspects of Center’s and its affiliates’ operations and transactions.

Key Responsibilities:

Legal Strategy & Advice

• Serves as an advisor to the CEO, senior leadership, and Board on all legal and regulatory matters.
• Provides legal guidance on relevant laws and regulations, including HIPAA, Stark Law, Anti-Kickback Statute, ACA, and Medicare/Medicaid compliance, among others impacting Center and its affiliates.
• Manages Corporate Compliance Officer, Regulatory Counsel, and Legal Assistant.

Regulatory Compliance and Risk Management

• Oversees the organization's compliance programs and ensures adherence to federal, state, and local regulations, among others, impacting Center and its affiliates.
• Provides counsel on Medical Staff privileging and related regulatory and risk management activities.
• Provides relevant legal guidance to Board members, executives, Medical Staff and others to support organizational operations that align with applicable policies and risk mitigation practices.
• In conjunction with Quality and Risk Management, develops and implements strategies to minimize legal exposure.

Contract Management

• Drafts, reviews, and negotiates a wide range of contracts including vendor agreements, physician employment contracts, service agreements, and business associate agreements.

Corporate Governance

• Supports and advises on governance matters, including bylaws, board policies and corporate structure, among others.
• Performs Corporate Secretary duties and directs the Assistant Secretary regarding managing minutes of Center and affiliates, sending notices, acting as a custodian of records not in the custody of Treasurer, and advising on procedural and related matters.

Litigation Management

• Manages and oversees all litigation, claims, and disputes, including coordination with external counsel.
• Represents the organization in legal proceedings as necessary.

Employment Law

• Advises Human Resources (HR) and leadership on employment law issues including labor relations, employee disputes, and internal investigations.
• Supports HR Department with CHRO and other related claims.

Policy Development

• Drafts and updates internal policies to reflect legal and regulatory changes.
• Leads legal training and education programs for staff and management.
• Has familiarity with nonprofit healthcare organizations (if applicable).
• Possesses familiarity with digital health, telemedicine, and data privacy laws and regulations.

Government Relations

• Monitors, analyzes, and reports on legislative, regulatory, and proposed developments affecting Center and its affiliates.
• Coordinates lobbying efforts and strategy with external consultants and trade associations, in conjunction with the CEO.
• Drafts policy briefs, testimony, position papers, and legislative/regulatory comments.
• Educates key internal stakeholders on relevant enacted statutes, regulations, and other legal changes.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• Member in good standing of CT state bar
• Minimum 7 years of legal experience, with at least 3 years in the healthcare sector.
• Deep knowledge of healthcare laws and regulations (HIPAA, EMTALA, Stark Law, AKS, etc.).
• Experience in both in-house and law firm settings preferred

Physical Demands

• This position is generally sedentary in nature, but may occasionally require lifting of up to 50 lbs. This position also requires frequent keyboarding and telephone use

Cognitive Demands

• The position requires a high ethical standard and professional integrity.
• Ability to manage complex legal issues in a dynamic healthcare environment.
• Strategic mindset with attention to operational impact.
• Also, required on a continual basis is the ability to effectively communicate legal opinions and draft and interpret legal and related documents.
• This position requires on a frequent basis the ability to problem solve issues of complex and sensitive nature.
• The position also demands on a continual basis the ability to exhibit strong written and verbal communication skill

Work Demands

• The position requires working in a pleasant climate-controlled environment.
• The position requires extreme flexibility that is required for this type of independent work.
• The position requires attendance at outside meetings to represent Center and affiliates.
• The position demands frequent schedule changes and also irregular working hours to accommodate fluctuations in business needs.