Associate General Counsel

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Deliver legal services for Bon Secours Mercy Health and its affiliated entities both domestically and internationally.

• Act as the primary legal advisor and subject matter expert on employee benefits, executive compensation, executive benefits, and fiduciary governance.

• Provide counsel regarding ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code, Department of Labor guidelines, the Affordable Care Act, COBRA, church plan issues, and executive compensation regulations.

• Advise Human Resources, Finance, Compliance, governance committees, and other business stakeholders.

• Offer guidance on plan design, administration, compliance correction strategies, fiduciary responsibilities, participant communications, and governance activities.

• Review plan documents, summary plan descriptions, amendments, policies, procedures, and employee communications.

• Provide expert advice on tax-exempt executive compensation, physician compensation interactions, deferred compensation, and incentive compensation.

• Track legal and regulatory changes, assess risks, and advise on compliance responsibilities and corrective measures.

• Draft, review, amend, and negotiate contracts, agreements, letters, and other legal documents.

• Assist in mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, and strategic transactions with benefits due diligence and integration analysis.

• Prepare or evaluate committee materials, governance documents, resolutions, minutes, fiduciary education, and leadership recommendations.

• Participate in meetings, committees, presentations, and training sessions.

• Assist with or oversee litigation, regulatory inquiries, audits, claims, and remediation strategies.

• Supervise and collaborate with external counsel on legal, regulatory, litigation, transactional, and compliance issues.

• Negotiate with third parties on contracts, settlements, and plan administration matters.

• Collaborate with leadership, Legal Network, Human Resources, Compliance, Finance, and other departments to ensure compliance and operational reliability.

• Assist with budgeting, project oversight, process improvement, policy documentation, and enhancing Legal Network efficiency.

• Perform additional job-related duties as required, subject to reasonable accommodation.

⛳️ Requirements

• A valid law license in good standing and admission to practice law in at least one U.S. jurisdiction (required).

• Eligibility for registration or admission as in-house counsel in the applicable jurisdiction, if mandated by state law or BSMH policy (required).

• Juris Doctor degree from an accredited U.S. law school (required).

• A minimum of ten (10) years of relevant legal experience (required).

• At least ten (10) years of experience in employee benefits, executive compensation, Human Resources, ERISA, tax, or related regulatory areas (required).

• Proven experience advising complex health systems, hospitals, nonprofit organizations, church plans, or large multi-entity employers on matters related to benefit plans, executive benefits, or Human Resources (required).

• Experience managing outside counsel, vendors, audits, compliance corrections, litigation, or significant legal projects (preferred).

• Continuing Legal Education in employee benefits, executive compensation, ERISA, tax, healthcare law, compliance, or Human Resources legal issues (preferred).

• Training in fiduciary governance, benefit plan administration, compliance correction programs, contract negotiation, or project management (preferred).

• Knowledge of employee benefits law.

• Familiarity with ERISA, the Internal Revenue Code, and regulations from the IRS and Department of Labor.

• Understanding of the Affordable Care Act, COBRA, church plan rules, and IRC sections 409A and 4958.

• Experience in drafting benefit plan documents and employee communications.

• Proficiency in contract drafting, review, negotiation, and interpretation.

• Skills in legal research, regulatory analysis, and risk assessment.

• Support experience for governance and fiduciary committees.

• Expertise in litigation, claims, audits, investigations, and regulatory remediation counseling.

• Involvement in mergers and acquisitions due diligence and integration analysis.

• Proficiency in managing outside counsel and vendors.

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and third-party database or matter management applications.

• Ability to produce high-quality reports and memoranda for presentations.

• Capability to interact effectively with physicians, executives, board members, patients, and team members.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Demonstrated sound judgment, discretion, and ability to maintain confidentiality.

• Excellent negotiation, advocacy, and facilitation abilities.

• Strategic thinker with practical, business-oriented problem-solving skills.

• Ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and meet deadlines.

• Experience in collaboration across Legal Network, Human Resources, Finance, Compliance, Operations, and external partners.

• Attention to detail and adaptability in a complex, multi-entity healthcare environment.

• Professional demeanor and capability to advise leadership on sensitive issues.

🏝️ Benefits

• Competitive compensation.

• Incentive programs.

• Referral bonuses.

• 403(b) plan with employer contributions (when eligible).

• Coverage for medical, dental, vision, and prescriptions.

• Options for HSA/FSA.

• Life insurance coverage.

• Mental health resources and discounts.

• Paid time off.

• Parental and FMLA leave.

• Short- and long-term disability coverage.

• Backup care services for children and elders.

• Tuition assistance programs.

• Opportunities for professional development.

• Support for continuing education.