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Senior Counsel, Health Affairs

State University of New York

Position Link
Category: Professional Positions
Department: General Counsel
Locations: Albany, NY
Closes: Open Until Filled
Type: Full-time
Job Description:
About The State University of New York:
The State University of New York, or SUNY, is the largest comprehensive system of public higher education in the United States, with 64 colleges and universities spanning the state from Long Island to the Adirondacks to Buffalo. SUNY System Administration employees, based in Albany and New York City, provide critical support for SUNY campuses, employees, and students to advance SUNY's mission of providing high-quality, affordable higher education for all.
Across a wide range of roles, from finance and legal counsel to student support, academic affairs, IT, admissions, and more, our employees work toward advancing the four priority pillars established by SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. and the SUNY Board of Trustees: student success; research and scholarship; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and economic development and upward mobility.  SUNY System Administration is a mission-driven workplace with robust New York State benefits including health insurance, retirement, time off, and paid family leave.
About the Office of General Counsel 
The Office of General Counsel (OGC) provides legal services and support to the Board of Trustees, the Chancellor and senior officers for the State University of New York (SUNY) at SUNY System Administration at Albany, New York, and the presidents and administrators of the campuses within the System. Under the leadership of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs and the General Counsel, the SUNY Office of General Counsel is responsible for providing legal services to the System and the 29 state operated campuses.  The OGC consists of more than 70 experienced higher education attorneys, paralegals and support staff located in Albany at the System Administration headquarters and in campus-based offices at the four University Centers, the Health Science Centers, and various SUNY colleges and universities.
The legal practice of the OGC involves a substantial array of topics, including public procurement, governance and ethics, legislation, health care, capital construction, public finance, labor grievances and arbitration, litigation oversight (the State's Attorney General defends litigation brought against the University), student affairs, and the use of real property, among others.  The OGC represents the State University in interactions with State officials who may regulate the affairs of the State University, including the Attorney General, State Comptroller, the Governor and staff, and members of the State Legislature and staff as well as other state and local agencies and entities.
Duties and Responsibilities
The State University of New York System Administration, located in Albany, New York invites applications for the position of Senior Counsel - Health Affairs.  As a staff member of the Office of the General Counsel, the Senior Counsel - Health Affairs will serve as the primary attorney for the OGC in providing comprehensive healthcare legal services and guidance to the State University and its State-operated campuses.
Responsibilities will include providing legal services related to healthcare compliance, complex healthcare transactions, matters involving state and federal fraud and abuse compliance, general health law and regulatory issues, including hospital physician compensation, physician practice acquisitions, provider-based agreements, and other joint business ventures. The Senior Counsel - Health Affairs, will work collaboratively with OGC attorneys across the campuses to support the various SUNY medical centers, medical schools, clinical or faculty practice plans operated by SUNY, including:
  • SUNY's hospitals and academic medical centers at (i) SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University and its  Schools/Colleges of Medicine, Graduate Studies, Nursing, Health Professions and Public Health; (ii) Stony Brook University and its Schools/Colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, Health Professions; (iii) SUNY Upstate Medical University and its Schools/Colleges Medicine, Nursing, Health Professions and Graduate Studies (biomedical sciences); and, (iv) University at Buffalo and its Schools/Colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Dental Medicine, Social Work, and Public Health and Health Professions.
  • SUNY's public research institutions including, without limitation, the above SUNY institutions, the University at Albany, SUNY College of Optometry, SUNY Poly, Binghamton University, and other SUNY State-Operated institutions.
Additional responsibilities may include providing legal advice on a wide range legal matters on behalf of the SUNY and its State-operated campuses, including, but not limited to, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and affiliations; complex commercial contracts, software contracts; procurement agreements; general hospital and physician transactions; managing P3 arrangements for campus projects, academic affiliation & exchange agreements; medical staff bylaws; clinical safety/risk management and medical malpractice; health information technology; managed care; Medicare/Medicaid  Conditions of Participation (CoPs) and Conditions for Coverage (CfCs) and provider-based rules; pharmacy/controlled substances; research and sponsored research projects (including basic science, government and foundation research, product development, animal and human subjects research, and clinical trials); revenue cycle appeals;  scientific misconduct; research conflicts of interest; good laboratory practices, laboratory accreditation and certification; researching legal issues, statutory and regulatory interpretation;; and such other duties as may be assigned.

Requirements:
Required Minimum Qualifications:
  • Juris Doctor degree from an accredited American Bar Association law school (or foreign equivalent). 
  • Admission to the New York State Bar (or eligibility for admission within six months) and a strong academic background.
  • This position requires 10+ years of exceptional legal experience in the area of health law with demonstrated specialized legal expertise in the area of healthcare regulatory and transactional law.
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Significant experience working in an in-house legal office at an academic medical center and/or vertically integrated non-profit health system.
  • Superior written and oral communication and interpersonal skills, and the ability to present complex legal concepts to diverse, non-legal professionals.

Additional Information:
·        Salary is dependent on a variety of factors, including but not limited to, experience, education, training, and certifications. The range as an Senior Counsel position is $143,400 - $190,00.
·        Excellent Benefit Package which includes: NYS health insurance, free dental and vision coverage, competitive retirement options, tuition assistance, parental leave at full pay, and generous vacation, sick, and holiday time. 13 days of paid holidays per year; 21 days of vacation and 21 days of sick time accrued each year.  Please see our Management/Confidential benefits summary for additional information.
·        Management/Confidential appointments work under the leadership and discretion of the appointing authority and are not represented by a union. 
·        This position is located in Albany, New York. Limited telecommuting may be available. Some travel may be required depending on the needs of clients.
Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. VISA sponsorship is not available for this position. Applicants with a valid driver's license are preferred.
SUNY System Administration Benefits
SUNY System Administration provides an outstanding and comprehensive benefits package to support you and your family through the many life changes you may experience while you work for SUNY.  Our nationally recognized benefits include:
·        Retirement: The choice between a fully funded pension plan and a self-driven defined contribution plan, along with two supplemental plans to increase your ability to save for retirement.
·        Health Insurance: Several health insurance options at an affordable cost that provide full coverage without mandatory deductibles.
·        Time Off:Paid time off with separate vacation and sick leave accruals up to 21 days a year for each category.
·        Additional paid leave policy options for childbirth, adoption, elder care, and other family care situations.
·        Flexible Working Arrangements:  Flexible working arrangements, including hybrid schedules, are available depending on position.
Explore our full benefits offerings here: www.suny.edu/benefits

Application Instructions:
Interested candidates are invited to apply online using the following link: https://sunysystem.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=183837
Interested candidates are invited to apply online. Please submit a cover letter, resume and three professional references when applying.  The review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. 
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