General Counsel - Executive

The General Counsel serves as the primary legal advisor for a behavioral healthcare organization operating a behavioral health hospital and affiliated companies across Kentucky, New Mexico and North Carolina. This position provides comprehensive legal counsel to executive leadership, corporate boards, and operational leaders on a broad range of legal, regulatory, compliance, governance, employment, and business matters. The General Counsel partners with leadership to proactively identify legal risks, develop practical solutions, and ensure compliance with applicable federal and state laws while supporting the organization's mission of providing high-quality behavioral healthcare services. This position also provides leadership and supervision to Associate Counsel and other legal department personnel while fostering a collaborative, service-oriented legal function. ### **Why Join Our Team?** - Competitive pay - Comprehensive health, dental, vision, and Telehealth benefits - Paid time off plus 9 paid holidays - Retirement plan options - Tuition reimbursement and free CEUs - Clinical supervision and professional development - Wellness and Employee Assistance Programs - Mileage reimbursement for work-related travel - Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer - Eligible clinical positions may qualify for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Loan Repayment Program **Essential Duties and Responsibilities** **Executive Leadership and Strategic Legal Counsel** - Serve as principal legal advisor to the Chief Executive Officer, executive leadership team, and Boards of Directors. - Provide practical, business-oriented legal advice that balances legal risk with operational objectives. - Participate in executive leadership and board meetings as legal counsel. - Analyze legal risks associated with strategic initiatives and recommend solutions. - Assist leadership with organizational planning, business strategy, affiliations, and expansion initiatives. - Maintain attorney-client privilege and confidentiality while fostering trusted relationships across the organization. **Legal Department Leadership** - Supervise, mentor, and provide professional development for Associate Counsel and other legal department staff. - Assign and prioritize legal work to ensure timely and effective support for organizational operations. - Establish legal department priorities, workflows, and best practices. - Review work product prepared by Associate Counsel to ensure consistency, quality, and legal sufficiency. **Contract Negotiation and Management** - Draft, negotiate, review, interpret, and revise a broad range of agreements, including, but not limited to: - Physician and provider agreements - Managed care and payer agreements - Information technology and software licensing agreements - Real estate purchase, lease, and construction agreements - Advise leadership regarding contractual obligations and business risk. **Healthcare Regulatory Compliance** - Develop and maintain expertise regarding federal and state healthcare laws affecting behavioral health providers, hospitals, outpatient services, and affiliated companies. - Advise leadership regarding compliance with healthcare regulations and accreditation standards. - Assist with oversight of the Corporate Compliance Program. **Working knowledge should include, but not be limited to:** - HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules - Medicaid and Medicare regulatory requirements - Federal and state employment and labor laws - False Claims Act - Behavioral health licensing regulations - Hospital licensing requirements - Confidentiality of substance use disorder records (42 CFR Part 2) **Employment Law** - Provide legal guidance regarding employment and labor matters. - Advise Human Resources and executive leadership regarding: - Workplace investigations - Wage and hour compliance - FMLA - ADA accommodations - Title VII and other anti-discrimination laws - Assist with EEOC charges,…