General Counsel

General Counsel

Frederick Health is seeking a strategic, experienced General Counsel to serve as the organization’s chief legal advisor at a pivotal time in its continued growth and community impact. This role partners closely with executive leadership and health system leaders to provide trusted counsel across complex healthcare, regulatory and business matters, while upholding the highest standards of integrity, governance, and accountability.

The General Counsel is responsible for leading the organization’s legal and legislative affairs functions with direct responsibility for contract review and negotiations, advising on employment and labor matters, governance, medical staff and credentialing issues, regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, and serving as the primary lead for government affairs/advocacy.

Working collaboratively with leaders across the organization, the General Counsel supports operational and strategic initiatives while safeguarding Frederick Health’s legal, ethical, and reputational integrity. This role completes legal work in‑house and strategically engages and coordinates outside counsel when necessary, ensuring that policies, decisions, and business strategies align with applicable laws and industry best practices.

Caring for you as you care for the Community.

Frederick Health offers a comprehensive and affordable benefits package. Health, Dental and Vision insurance are offered the 1st of the month after 30 days of employment to all employees hired to work at least 20 hours per week and we offer multiple plans to best meet your and your family's needs. Life insurance, Short-Term Income Replacement and Long-Term Disability are employer paid for eligible employees. Frederick Health offers a robust Paid Time Off program for eligible employees. Our 403B retirement plan helps you save for your retirement and includes an employer match to eligible employees. All employees have access to free financial planning sessions. We also offer an educational assistance program to support your education goals as well as an employer paid Employee Assistance Program. Pay is based on experience, skills and education.   

Review the full job description here:

The General Counsel serves as the chief in‑house legal advisor to Frederick Health and reports directly to the President & CEO. This executive provides expert, hands‑on legal counsel across the full spectrum of health‑system operations, overseeing and managing complex legal matters with direct execution, collaborating with outside counsel only when necessary for specialized expertise. The GC collaborates closely with the Corporate Compliance Officer (who separately oversees Corporate Compliance, Risk Management, and Privacy) and serves as Frederick Health’s primary liaison for Government Affairs.

Primary Responsibilities:

1. Legal Strategy & Advisory: Provide strategic and practical legal advice to the CEO, senior leadership, Boards, and medical staff leaders on regulatory, transactional, operational, and patient‑care‑related matters.
   
   2. Contracting & Transactions: Independently negotiate, draft, and review templated and complex contracts including new services, physician arrangements, joint ventures, real estate leases, MSAs, BAAs, MOUs, grants, acquisitions, and financing/bond documents. Ensure appropriate risk allocation, indemnification, and business‑aligned terms.
   
   3. Regulatory & Health Law Expertise: Provide expert advice on Medicare/Medicaid, billing/coding, Stark, Anti‑Kickback, fraud and abuse, HIPAA, emerging federal privacy rules, and other federal/state healthcare laws. Support resolution of billing errors, overpayments, and payback determinations.
   
   4. Collaborative Compliance Support: Partner with the Chief Compliance Officer on investigations, audits, policy development, conflict‑of‑interest processes, and internal audit privilege. Participate in Audit & Compliance Committee processes as appropriate.
   
   5. Employment & Human Resources Support: Advise HR on policy compliance, EEOC matters, employment law issues, and employee‑relations concerns.
   
   6. Patient Care, Medical Staff & Clinical Operations: Provide guidance on medical staff bylaws, credentialing, peer review protections, and patient‑rights matters. Provide advisement on legal responses to patient grievances, subpoenas, and privacy complaints as requested.
   
   7. Risk Management & Claims: Support the Risk Manager with complex patient/family, ethics and care questions such as complex guardianships and placement issues. Serve as the health system’s resident agent.
   
   8. Government Affairs: Serve as Frederick Health’s legislative and regulatory liaison at local, state, and federal levels. Monitor and interpret policy developments and advise leadership on strategic implications.
   
   9. Governance & Board Support: Provide legal guidance on governance requirements, bylaws, entity structure, corporate records, and filings. Support the Board and Board committees as needed.
2. Internal Capacity Building: Develop templates, policies, educational tools, and training programs to strengthen internal legal capabilities. Reduce dependence on outside counsel through initiative-taking internal development.

Required Education:

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• Admission to the Maryland Bar (or reciprocity eligibility).
  
  Required Experience:
• Minimum 7–10 years of legal experience supporting hospitals/health systems.
•  Hands‑on execution of legal work in contracting, regulatory counsel, and healthcare operations
• Experience advising executives and boards.

Required Skills and Competencies:

• Strong relationship‑building skills and ability to convey complex concepts clearly.
• Deep knowledge of healthcare law, billing, reimbursement, antitrust, real estate, privacy, compliance, and patient‑care law.
• Exceptional drafting, negotiation, analytical, and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple complex priorities.

Position Structure:

• Reports to President and CEO
• Works closely with: Corporate Compliance, Risk Management, Privacy Officer
• Direct reports: None; shared executive assistance with Compliance Officer

Success Profile

• Hands-on executor of legal work
• Strategically initiative-taking
• Health-law fluent
• Operationally grounded
• Collaborative and mission aligned

Physical Demands:

Sedentary - Light Work - Lifting to fifteen pounds on an infrequent basis (less than one lift every three minutes).  While work is mostly done sitting, a certain amount of walking or standing is often necessary.