System Director Corporate Counsel

Inspired by faith. Driven by innovation. Powered by humankindness. CommonSpirit Health is building a healthier future for all through its integrated health services. As one of the nation’s largest nonprofit Catholic healthcare organizations, CommonSpirit Health delivers more than 20 million patient encounters annually through more than 2,300 clinics, care sites and 137 hospital-based locations, in addition to its home-based services and virtual care offerings. CommonSpirit has more than 157,000 employees, 45,000 nurses and 25,000 physicians and advanced practice providers across 24 states and contributes more than $4.2 billion annually in charity care, community benefits and unreimbursed government programs. Together with our patients, physicians, partners, and communities, we are creating a more just, equitable, and innovative healthcare delivery system.

LOCATION -Must be located in TX within reasonable driving distance of Houston, TX

Job Summary / Purpose
The Legal Operations Corporate Counsel provides a general array of direct legal services primarily to one or more assigned CommonSpirit Operating Regions, which may include regional delivery systems, acute care facilities, other inpatient or outpatient/ambulatory operations, system-level functions, service lines, or related activities, working independently or under the supervision of one or more senior Legal Team attorneys, in a manner consistent with CommonSpirit’s mission, vision, and values. This position will support CommonSpirit's South Region which includes facilities in Texas with primary responsibility for the Texas markets.

Essential Key Job Responsibilities

• Perform direct and consistent legal services for, represent, and support assigned CommonSpirit Operating Region.  Direct legal services will include, but not be limited to: preparation, review, and revision of complex non-physician agreements and complex hospital-based physician agreements (using templates adopted by the Legal Team, as appropriate); performance of legal research; and provision of legal counsel and guidance related to health care operational issues, including patient consent, bioethics, risk management, medical staff, licensing and certification, policies, contractual arrangements (rights and responsibilities), regulatory requirements, Stark and Anti-Kickback compliance, and other areas of health care operations subject to state and federal laws and regulations.
• Assist more senior Legal Team attorneys in the delivery of legal services, including preparation of legal analyses and recommendations, development of preliminary legal documents, and provision of support for legal operations projects.
• Provide sound legal advice to assigned Operating Region staff and management, to boards and committees, when requested, and to other members of the Legal Team and be knowledgeable about other health care laws applicable to CommonSpirit.
• Actively engage and coordinate with other Legal Team members, as needed, for effective delivery of health care legal operations services across the enterprise; and actively participate in Legal Team initiatives.
• Supervise, direct, manage, and collaborate with paralegals, executive assistants, and other Legal Team support staff, as applicable.
• Manage and evaluate outside counsel engaged to provide health care operations-related legal support.
• Prepare, review, and revise corporate documents (e.g., articles of incorporation and bylaws) and assist with internal CommonSpirit approval processes (e.g., Governance Matrix, Approval and Signature Authority Policy, etc.) for designated facilities or entities within assigned Operating Region.
• Assist with assigned Operating Region litigation, administrative proceedings, and other regulatory (including licensure and certification) proceedings or matters.

Minimum Qualifications

Required Education and Experience 
Juris Doctor or equivalent degree from a law school accredited by the American Bar Association.  Health law or specialty professional education, or equivalent experience (preferred). 
Minimum of five (5) years’ legal work experience either with a law firm or in-house legal department involving the performance of general, operational, or specialty legal services for hospitals, health systems, medical foundations or groups, clinics, providers, health care delivery organizations, or integrated delivery systems (preferred).

Required Licensure and Certifications
Active State Bar licensure, registration as in-house counsel, or equivalent acceptable status for state of primary work location.

Required Minimum Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Training

• Strong decision-making skills and judgment
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Strong drafting skills suitable to more complex and sophisticated matters
• Understanding of and ability to adhere to confidentiality obligations
• Effective and collegial interpersonal skills; ability to perform legal functions with integrity and consistent with CommonSpirit’s mission, vision, and values
• Ability to work independently, manage a diverse workflow, and timely and effectively complete assigned work
• Possess an understanding of when to inform or advance legal issues to or seek input from Legal Team supervisor
• Ability to use in-house and outside legal resources to accomplish work while achieving cost effectiveness

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