Description:

Job Description:
Position Overview:

The Assistant General Counsel – Employment and Benefits represents MHS and its wholly owned affiliates and operating divisions and leads and implements the legal strategies as assigned for employment and benefit matters. MHS is a large, dynamic, and growing organization, with seven acute care hospitals, a medical group, jointly owned surgical hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers, as well as numerous additional affiliations and operating divisions.

The Assistant General Counsel partners strategically with leaders across the system, including those in the areas of human resources, benefits, physician strategy, medical staff matters, operations, risk, and various wholly owned subsidiaries and joint ventures, all with respect to employment and benefit matters.

This is an outstanding opportunity to join a high-performing in-house legal team and work in a positive, collaborative, and responsive team environment. The Assistant General Counsel must be visible, credible, and accessible, as well as an individual of the highest integrity. The ability to listen effectively and work collaboratively in a matrixed environment is essential.

Position Responsibilities:

Essential Functions.

The Assistant General Counsel – Employment and Benefits (ACG) works under the direction and supervision of the Chief Legal Officer, reporting directly to the Chief Legal Officer.
The AGC is lead counsel on the following:
Employment operations and related advice (e.g., FMLA, ADA, etc.)
Employment litigation, demand letters, and EEOC charges
Benefits, including retirement plans
Occupational Injury Benefit Plan matters
Employment contracting
HR Policy support
The AGC also supports Graduate Medical Education, the Police Department, including policy support, and the Clinical Research Institute.
This position provides accurate and timely legal advice and analysis to leaders on a variety of legal issues including, but not limited to, contract disputes, drug diversion, training and development, termination claims and regulatory agency investigations.
The AGC is the Office of Legal Affairs liaison to the Corporate Compliance Committee for Discrimination Grievances, and to other committees, congresses, and task forces, such as the System Workplace Violence Committee. The AGC provides New Leader Orientation on behalf of OLA.
The ACG will undertake other duties as assigned.

Job Specific and Unique Knowledge, Skills and Abilities.

Full technical proficiency in the principles and practices of representing management and counseling senior leadership regarding employment and benefits.
Experience in leading strategic, complex projects and initiatives. Demonstrated track record in leading legal aspects of and innovating legal concepts related to employment and benefits.
Outstanding analytical, negotiating, and drafting ability. Pragmatic business acumen with the ability to recognize the broader implications of legal advice.
Demonstrated excellence in oral and written communication. Innovative thinking that adds value for clients and finds creative solutions to complex legal issues.
Interpersonal skills that foster successful interaction with a diverse array of legal and operational colleagues, clients, and leaders at all levels.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks and initiatives; prioritizing and working independently in a highly collegial and high performing environment. High degree of personal integrity, sound judgment, and a commitment to accountability.
Extensive knowledge of federal and state laws relating to wage and hour and employment practices laws including ADA, FMLA, and FLSA. Working knowledge of ERISA.

Educational And Experience Requirements

Bachelors Degree and Juris Doctor (J.D.); an active license to practice (Texas license or ability to apply for and obtain Texas license); and a minimum of 10 years of relevant health law experience in a law firm practice and/or in-house is required.
Prior representation of a complex, sophisticated health system preferred. Good working knowledge of the key operational and strategic issues and challenges currently affecting hospitals, health systems, providers, health care delivery organizations, and/or integrated delivery systems preferred.