CONTACT:

Kathy Bridge, MPA
Senior Associate
Foley Proctor Yoskowitz
14 Ridgedale Avenue, Suite 209
Cedar Knolls, NJ  07927
Phone: (973) 605-1000 x19
Facsimile: (973) 605-1020
Email: kbridge@fpysearch.com

Elizabeth Ryan
President & CEO

Belinda Cooper
Vice President, Human Resources

POSITION:

General Counsel

The General Counsel’s role at NJHA is a broad one, serving NJHA and its affiliated entities. The position reports directly to the President and CEO, is a member of senior leadership, and as described below carries significant responsibilities across a broad array of areas. In addition to having broad credibility with all constituencies, the General Counsel will need to have strength in negotiations, contracting and transactional work; compliance, risk mitigation and HR employment issues; healthcare legislative and regulatory matters; as well as insurance and managed care. This position will also retain and monitor outside legal counsel as needed. The General Counsel leads an in-house Counsel group which meets quarterly, and participates in an American Hospital Association allied Counsel group from all 50 states. This position also serves as Chief Compliance Officer for NJHA and in that capacity supports the CEO and senior management as well as NJHA’s Board of Trustee’s Audit and Compliance Committee. The General Counsel must have a strong presence at Board meetings, be able to clearly and confidently articulate and explain issues and have a full grasp of those issues to respond effectively to Board members. A strong commitment to confidentiality is essential.

Reporting to the General Counsel is a part-time paralegal and a shared administrative assistant. At the core of this position’s success will be a collaborative philosophy supported by a credible, articulate presence, and the stature and experience to deal effectively at all levels within NJHA’s matrixed organization, among constituent members as well as with outside regulators, legislators and other external relationships.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The General Counsel provides executive direction on all legal matters on a corporate-wide basis to the NJHA and its Affiliated Corporations; also provides legal advice and counsel to these corporations, Boards of Directors, officers, and management staff in matters of corporate law, health law and litigation. This counsel also serves as NJHA Corporate Compliance Officer.

Specific responsibilities include:

1. Provides legal advice on corporate and health law matters including litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory and legislative analysis, telecommunications, service and supply contracts, insurance, real estate, tax, and human resources issues including employment discrimination and ERISA.
2. Provides direction and support on legal matters to NJHA member hospitals and their affiliated corporations.
3. Serves as lead counsel or co-counsel in matters involving litigation and provides advice regarding threatened or potential litigation and settlement of claims on behalf of or against NJHA.
4. Reviews all subpoenas and summonses to NJHA or management staff; advises and directs action to be taken.
5. Selects, retains and monitors outside legal counsel. Supervises the Amicus Curiae process with all relevant parties.
6. Reviews all NJHA legal documents, including contracts, and policies with respect to law, regulation and recent court decisions, as well as for internal consistency. Recommends appropriate changes.
7. Reviews legislation and proposed rules and regulations, and provides comments to NJHA legislative staff and leadership.
8. Provides administrative direction to staff of the Office of Legal Affairs. Responsible for budget and planning responsibilities of the Office of Legal Affairs.
9. Participates in policy decision making as a member of the NJHA Executive Staff. Participates in staff meetings of the President and in meetings of the Boards of Trustees for HRET, HBS, Insurance Fund, Joint Unemployment Compensation Reserve Fund, HealthPac, NJHA and the Executive Committees of NJHA
10. Participates in corporate decisions regarding strategic issues via Board, individual meetings with key staff and meetings of the Executive Staff.
11. Consults with and advises the Committees of the NJHA and its Board of Trustees in their role of policy development for the NJHA’s Board of Trustees.
12. Provides educational programs to NJHA members.
13. Acts as liaison between NJHA and the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Health and Hospital Law Section.
14. Leads in-house counsel constituency groups and supports related communications and listserv. Supports Corporate Compliance Constituency Group and other NJHA constituency groups as needed.
15. Supports the managed care executive constituency group and other related communications and listserv; supervises Project Manager for same.
16. Participates in the development of resources to assist hospitals operating under Managed Care. Participates in lobbying for legislation and regulations that address a number and variety of managed care issues. Coordinates statewide forums with state agencies allowing members to raise issues/concerns and identify strategies to effectively address those concerns, particularly as they relate to legal and related policy issues.
17. Serves as NJHA Corporate Compliance Officer.
    1. Provides staff support and coordinative functions for the NJHA Internal Corporate Compliance Committee, and acts as staff to the CEO and NJHA Board of Trustees’ Audit and Compliance Committee by monitoring and reporting results of the compliance/ethics efforts of the company and by providing guidance to the Audit and Compliance Committee and senior management team on matters relating to compliance;
    2. Develops, maintains and revises policies and procedures for the general operation of the Compliance Program and its related activities to prevent illegal, unethical, or improper conduct, and manages the Compliance Program’s day-to-day operations;
    3. Develops, periodically reviews and recommends revisions to the NJHA Code of Conduct to ensure continuing currency and relevance in providing guidance to management and employees;
    4. Collaborates with other departments to direct compliance issues to appropriate existing channels for investigation and resolution, and monitors and coordinates compliance activities of other departments to remain apprised of status of all compliance activities and to identify trends;
    5. Responds to alleged violations of rules, regulations, policies, procedures, and the Code of Conduct by evaluating or recommending the initiation of investigative procedures, and develops and oversees a system for uniform handling of such violations; and
    6. Provides independent review and evaluation to ensure that compliance issues/concerns are being appropriately evaluated, investigated and resolved.
18. Abides by the terms and conditions of the Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreement.

QUALIFICATIONS:

The successful candidate will have a JD or LLB with a license to practice. Candidates must be a member (in good standing) or eligible for admission to the New Jersey Bar, or licensed as an in-house counsel by the New Jersey Bar. A minimum of five years experience in contract review and development is required. Prior solid hospital or health law experience is strongly preferred. The successful candidate must be articulate with proven analytical skills, as well as the ability to facilitate, collaborate and interact cooperatively with senior executives and all key constituencies. This position requires a creative, confident leader, comfortable in political and regulatory arenas, with excellent research, analytical, interpersonal, communication, writing and presentation skills. Familiarity and a solid understanding of the political process on a state and national level are essential.

PERSONAL QUALITIES OF THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE:

• Must have a professional image reflected in appearance, behavior, and high integrity
• Must have excellent judgment
• Must have excellent interpersonal and collaborative skills as well as a proven ability to deal effectively with people at all levels and with varied professional backgrounds
• Must have the ability to communicate effectively, gain credibility and establish positive relationships with senior executives, physicians, board members, client organizations and representatives of industry and governmental groups
• Must demonstrate an ability to facilitate large meetings, develop consensus positions, and articulate consensus positions to external and regulatory bodies
• Must be extremely organized, with strong planning, operational, and prioritization skills, as well as attention to detail
• Must be strong, self-confident, outgoing and comfortable working effectively with different personalities and cultures in a matrix management environment
• Should be a high-energy individual with a good sense of humor

BENEFITS:

NJHA offers a significant benefits program for this position, including among others the following: choice of medical and dental coverage through Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, with varying levels of employee contribution based on chosen plan; flexible spending account; life insurance; AD&D; long-term disability insurance; sick/short term disability; cash balance pension plan; and 401K; and Employee Assistance Program. In addition there are 12 holidays/personal days annually, sick time, and vacation of three weeks to start, increasing to four weeks after five years, and five weeks after ten years.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIP:

The General Counsel reports to NJHA’s President and CEO, Elizabeth A. Ryan, Esq.

INTERVIEW CYCLE:

Candidate will initially be interviewed by Elizabeth Ryan, Esq., President and CEO and Belinda Cooper, Vice President of Human Resources. Further interviews may include additional members of the senior management team

RELOCATION:

Will be determined on an individual basis.

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