Chief Legal Officer and Vice President of Government Relations

HFSC • New Britain, CT

85d

About The Position

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.

Requirements

• 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.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with nonprofit healthcare organizations.
• Familiarity with digital health, telemedicine, and data privacy laws and regulations.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• Manages Corporate Compliance Officer, Regulatory Counsel, and Legal Assistant.
• Oversees the organization's compliance programs and ensures adherence to federal, state, and local regulations.
• Provides counsel on Medical Staff privileging and related regulatory and risk management activities.
• Develops and implements strategies to minimize legal exposure in conjunction with Quality and Risk Management.
• Drafts, reviews, and negotiates a wide range of contracts including vendor agreements, physician employment contracts, service agreements, and business associate agreements.
• Supports and advises on governance matters, including bylaws, board policies and corporate structure.
• Performs Corporate Secretary duties and directs the Assistant Secretary regarding managing minutes of Center and affiliates.
• Manages and oversees all litigation, claims, and disputes, including coordination with external counsel.
• Advises Human Resources (HR) and leadership on employment law issues including labor relations, employee disputes, and internal investigations.
• Drafts and updates internal policies to reflect legal and regulatory changes.
• Leads legal training and education programs for staff and management.
• 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.
• Drafts policy briefs, testimony, position papers, and legislative/regulatory comments.
• Educates key internal stakeholders on relevant enacted statutes, regulations, and other legal changes.

Benefits

• Competitive benefits package.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees