Executive VP, Chief Legal Officer & General Counsel

Banner Health•Phoenix, AZ

3d•Onsite

About The Position

In the highly visible role of Executive VP, Chief Legal Officer, we seek a solution-oriented leader to oversee legal, compliance, internal audit, risk, and claims & litigation. This executive is responsive and concise, translating complexity into clear, actionable guidance for senior leadership and the Board of Directors. A leader who brings intellectual curiosity and analytical rigor, they leverage data and innovation to modernize legal operations and proactively manage risk. Discipline and results-driven, they balance legal rigor with business realities to enable growth and sound decision-making. A natural team builder who reimagines how things can be done, they cultivate high-performing teams and elevate the function as a true strategic partner to the enterprise. POSITION SUMMARY This position serves as a critical senior executive who balances high-level business operations with complex regulatory requirements in a healthcare environment. This position is part of the system senior leadership team (SLT), reporting directly into the President & CEO, Banner Health, and is accountable for driving success for legal operations across the organization. This position oversees enterprise-wide legal risks, corporate governance, risk, internal assurance, litigation strategy, and ensures organizational compliance with intricate healthcare laws. The role requires leadership in navigating the complex legal and regulatory landscape of healthcare delivery, including federal and state statutes, patient privacy requirements, and operational compliance. This executive position provides counsel to the Board of Directors, executive leadership, and management teams while directing legal operations across the organization. This position plays a vital role in supporting Banner Health's mission through sound legal guidance, risk mitigation, and strategic business partnerships, while serving as a role model to staff across the system and representing Banner in a positive manner both within and outside the organization.

Requirements

Must possess a knowledge as normally obtained through the completion of a Master's degree in Law (Juris Doctor).
Must possess and maintain an active license to practice law in the State of Arizona.
Requires a minimum of fifteen (15) years of progressive legal experience, including experience working in a large, highly-matrixed, integrated delivery system in an executive level position.
Must demonstrate a proven track record of driving strategic and performance outcomes, as well as accomplishing organizational goals.
Experience anticipating and responding to the needs of internal and external customers is essential.
Proven experience in managing fiscally sound, profitable, efficient, and responsible operations is required.
Must possess strong financial and business acumen with knowledge of budgeting and forecasting methodologies.
Demonstrates skill in effectively engaging management level staff, employees, and stakeholders to build partnerships, achieve strategic initiatives, and attain organizational goals.
Exhibits expertise in managing problems and situations where uncertainty is inherent and constructing innovative solutions for complex and varying problems while approaching issues by considering the larger organizational perspective.
Proven ability in mentoring and coaching management level staff by providing feedback that results in enhanced performance outcomes.
Demonstrates capability in developing and implementing strategic goals and initiatives that show strong commitment to organizational success.
Skilled in effectively allocating resources to accomplish organizational goals and quickly assessing organizational and industry financial dynamics to make appropriate decisions and act on new initiatives.
Possesses strong negotiation skills to achieve favorable outcomes with outside vendors and partners while representing the organization professionally.
Demonstrates ability to develop collaborative relationships with internal and external strategic partners.
Leadership style and characteristics necessary to effectively perform in this role include: systems-thinking; innovation; collaboration; ability to work with teams; active listening; composure under pressure; valuing multiple disciplines; community visibility and leadership; and passion for continuous improvement and providing high quality service to customers.

Nice To Haves

Experience in healthcare law, including regulatory compliance, medical staff matters, and healthcare transactions is highly desirable.
Background in managing large legal departments and working with outside counsel on complex litigation matters is preferred.
Additional related education and/or experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Deeply engaged in the organization’s strategic vision and goals, organizes, recruits and retains a top level strategic legal team that efficiently and effectively advances Banner’s priorities.
Participating as a key Senior Team Leader facilitating outcomes, providing strategic input, outlining risks and mitigation, and potential solutions.
Focuses legal team on organization’s priorities, holds business partners accountable for clarity in endpoints and monitoring deliverables, drives rapid turnaround and relentless follow up, Escalate process challenges and delays urgently to Senior Team.
Leverages technology to organize, streamline and ensure accuracy, compliance, and contract adherence.
Communicates clearly, concisely and frames issues in a way to engage meaningful discussion about pending issues. Keeps Senior Team updated on legal and regulatory changes that impact success of future plans.
Ensures comprehensive regulatory and compliance oversight by maintaining organizational adherence to federal and state healthcare statutes including the Stark Law, Anti-Kickback Statute, HIPAA, HITECH Act, EMTALA, and billing regulations; oversees patient privacy protections and data breach protocols; and navigates hospital operations including licensing, scope-of-practice limitations, and medical staff bylaws.
Directs enterprise-wide risk management and litigation strategy by developing comprehensive approaches to minimize organizational, clinical, and employment liability; manages internal legal teams and outside counsel in medical malpractice claims, torts, and commercial lawsuits; advises on medical staff issues including credentialing, peer review processes, and physician disciplinary actions; and provides direction and counsel to identify and resolve the most complex legal issues and problems impacting initiatives and operations.
Leads corporate governance initiatives by directing legal due diligence and contract negotiations for mergers, acquisitions, and strategic partnerships.
Ensure legal expertise is engaged to review and draft complex clinical service agreements, vendor contracts, and provider agreements
Serve as a staff resource to the organization's Governing Board and applicable committees.
Oversees labor and employment legal matters. Navigate National Labor Relations Board, employee legal matters and potential union issues providing counsel on internal human resources matters including compliance with the ADA, FMLA, and FLSA; and ensuring organizational adherence to employment laws and regulations.
Oversees the development, implementation, and consistent application of effective organizational policies and practices; maintains an effective internal control environment to ensure that assets are safeguarded, policies and operating procedures are followed, necessary controls are effective and efficient, proper compliance with existing laws and regulations is achieved, and operations comply with the legal and regulatory parameters in which the organization operates.
Develops, reviews, and monitors financial and performance outcomes to assure attainment of organizational objectives; manages fiscally sound, profitable, efficient, and responsible legal operations; maintains effective budgeting and capital planning discipline in conjunction with operational management to ensure planned revenues, expenses, and profit goals are met; and effectively allocates resources to accomplish organizational goals.
Serves as the primary advisor to the organization’s senior management team and the Governing Board on matters related to Compliance and Internal Assurance. Builds and supports effective collegial relationships with applicable internal and external stakeholders and organizations, ensuring and fostering a high level of collaboration to develop partnerships, coordinate activities, review work, exchange information, and resolve problems; negotiates favorable outcomes with outside vendors and partners while representing the organization professionally; promotes and models positive relationships among various entities; and develops collaborative relationships with internal and external strategic partners.
Leads senior legal leaders across the organization by fostering a culture of accountability and innovative thought leadership for achieving plans and performance targets; provides mentorship and coaching to management level staff through clear and comprehensive feedback that results in enhanced performance outcomes; develops staff to ensure continued professional growth and talent management to support the growth and long-term success of the organization; and ensures the integration of new and innovative legal operations and services by providing leadership that maximizes management staff's contributions and assures timely decision-making reflective of the mission, vision, and values of the system.