Details
Posted: 18-Sep-23
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Salary: Open
Discover Vanderbilt University Medical Center: Located in Nashville, Tennessee, and operating at a global crossroads of teaching, discovery, and patient care, VUMC is a community of diverse individuals who come to work each day with the simple aim of changing the world. It is a place where your expertise will be valued, your knowledge expanded, and your abilities challenged. Vanderbilt Health recognizes that diversity is essential for excellence and innovation. We are committed to an inclusive environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and where your diversity of culture, thinking, learning, and leading is sought and celebrated. It is a place where employees know they are part of something that is bigger than themselves, take exceptional pride in their work and never settle for what was good enough yesterday. Vanderbilt's mission is to advance health and wellness through preeminent programs in patient care, education, and research.
Organization:
OLA (Legal Affairs) 20
Job Summary:
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Description - External
Division Counsel, Employment and Benefits position is offered at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) based in Nashville, Tennessee. VUMC is seeking candidates for the role of Division Counsel, Employment and Benefits to join its growing in-house legal department. This Division Counsel position is a unique opportunity at one of the most respected healthcare and research institutions in the U.S.
Reporting to the [Managing Counsel for Healthcare Delivery and Operations], the Division Counsel, Employment and Benefits is responsible for providing legal expertise regarding broad labor and employment law, employee benefits, ERISA, and tax. They will also collaborate with other attorneys, human resources, benefits, finance and senior administration.
The Division Counsel, Employment and Benefits is a highly strategic and proactive legal counsel that is well versed in the business dynamics and regulatory environment of employment and benefits. This individual is tactful and diplomatic while addressing often highly sensitive matters related to personnel, faculty and student matters. This person will serve as the go to person on the legal team when dealing with benefits-related issues and related tax implications.
This is an outstanding opportunity to join a high performing in-house legal team and work in a positive, open and responsive team environment. It is important that the Division Counsel, Employment and benefits is viewed as credible, visible, and accessible; someone who exhibits high integrity, a willingness to listen effectively and work collaboratively. The Division Counsel, Employment and Benefits will serve as a strategic business partner of the organization and proactively provide counsel and training in employment law and benefits subject matters.
The successful candidate must have excellent academic credentials, a law degree from an ABA accredited school of law, membership in the State Bar of Tennessee or eligibility for admission on reciprocity is required and an outstanding record of achievement with at least five (7) years of experience with employment law, employee benefits, ERISA, and other regulatory areas gained in-house or through working closely with complex clients. Experience in all or most of the following areas will be highly valued in this position:
Labor and employment matters including hiring, termination, reductions in workforce, discrimination/harassment/retaliation, restrictive covenants, conduct and discipline. Civil rights law, EEOC discrimination, disability, leave, and workplace accommodations. Benefits, ERISA, health plan and retirement plan compliance and related tax issues.
Position Summary:
Reporting to the Managing Counsel for Healthcare Operations, Labor & Employment, the Division Counsel, Employment and Benefits will provide a broad range of healthcare legal services, with a strong emphasis on employment and matters where benefits and related tax issues arise. In this role, the Division Counsel, Employment and benefits will collaborate effectively with VUMC's Human Resources, Benefits, Finance, and other internal stakeholders.
The Division Counsel, Employment and Benefits should be a strategic thinker, an approachable adviser and a strong relationship builder who thrives in a challenging environment and is clearly aligned with VUMC's values.
Key Responsibilities:
The Division Counsel, Employment and Benefits provides legal analysis and advice in complex areas and is responsible for providing effective legal advice for employment, benefits, tax, and related matters, as well as other regulatory issues affecting VUMC's workforce.
- Advise VUMC on compliance with federal and state regulations they relate to labor and employment, ERISA, health plan and retirement plan compliance and related tax issues.
- Advise on VUMC policies and procedures as relates to employment practices and benefits and related tax and regulatory issues.
- Advise on legal matters that arise from any VUMC employment matters.
- Advise and develop strong collaboration with VUMC Administration, Human Resources, Benefits, Finance, and other internal stakeholders.
- Prioritize and timely manage labor and employment and benefits issues, including responding to internal inquiries and responding to legal challenges and/or threatened litigation.
- Assists VUMC administration, faculty and staff in the development of legal strategies which consider VUMC needs and priorities and take into account risk and legal exposure.
- Advise physicians, faculty and staff on employment policies and legally appropriate responses to any complaints.
- Engage, manage and oversee outside counsel when necessary
Goals and Objectives
The successful candidate will strive to achieve the following goals:
- Gain credibility, trust, and respect of the VUMC legal team and key stakeholders.
- Provide appropriate advice in order that employment issues are handled as effectively and efficiently as possible.
- Build relationships and understand corporate structure; asks questions; can navigate key influencers and understand who to include in key discussions.
- Serve as primary legal resource with respect to benefits and related regulatory matters; advise and work with VUMC stakeholders to assist in meeting all applicable federal and state requirements and provide appropriate legal advice in the development of related internal processes.
- Be recognized as insightful, responsive, collaborative, and approachable with strong follow-through.
- Become familiar with the Vanderbilt University Medical Center structure and mission critical components.
- Support the innovative and highly collaborative culture of the organization by demonstrating understanding of the business of healthcare and related employment law and benefits issues.
- Advise and consult on legal and regulatory matters related to employment benefits and related tax issues.
- Appropriate judgment and skill to interpret the intent of the laws and regulations as applies to specific areas of work.
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Our professional administrative functions include critical supporting roles in information technology and informatics, finance, administration, legal and community affairs, human resources, communications and marketing, development, facilities, and many more.
At our growing health system, we support each other and encourage excellence among all who are part of our workforce. High-achieving employees stay at Vanderbilt Health for professional growth, appreciation of benefits, and a sense of community and purpose.
Core Accountabilities:
* Organizational Impact: Establishes key tactical and operational plans of a sub-function or multiple departments that has longer-term effect on results of the sub-function. * Problem Solving/ Complexity of work: Integrate knowledge and in-depth analysis from several areas to resolve complex problems that are both technical and operational. * Breadth of Knowledge: Applies comprehensive knowledge of professional/technical area and broad management knowledge of other professional areas to carry out objectives. * Team Interaction: Leads multiple departments with a function.
Core Capabilities :
Supporting Colleagues: - Develops Self and Others: Acts upon constructive feedback from all levels of the organization and initiates strategies to develop talent in others. - Builds and Maintains Relationships: Leverages relationships and insight to forecast potential future needs and influence delivery of work to exceed expectations. - Communicates Effectively: Anticipates difference audience concerns, styles and finds mutually beneficial solutions across conflicting and sensitive issues. Delivering Excellent Services: - Serves Others with Compassion: Demonstrates in-depth knowledge of broad-based issues and considers the interests of others to improve satisfaction of services. - Solves Complex Problems: Critically evaluates complex information and identifies trends/risks to make recommendations to improve processes across areas. - Offers Meaningful Advice and Support: Provides ongoing feedback and development discussions to motivate and support team members to maximize performance.Ensuring High Quality: - Performs Excellent Work: Anticipates problems or obstacles which may interfere with quality standards and develops plants to ensure area's quality standards are met. - Ensures Continuous Improvement: Routinely draws upon valuable learning from others, past experiences, and new information to determine key opportunities. - Fulfills Safety and Regulatory Requirements: Develops appropriate corrective actions for unsafe environments in order to ensure operational and safety compliance. Managing Resources Effectively: - Demonstrates Accountability: Identifies potential obstacles to goal achievement and develops solutions to address those obstacles. - Stewards Organizational Resources: Creates the appropriate systems and processes to effectively manage resources. - Makes Data Driven Decisions: Applies in-depth knowledge of data to recommend and implement new approaches to improve decision making capabilities. Fostering Innovation: - Generates New Ideas: Identifies opportunities and leads development of new initiatives that create value across areas. - Applies Technology: Creates the energy and drive for self/others to identify and leverage technology in new, innovative ways to drive greater efficiencies. - Adapts to Change: Anticipates the change process and clearly communicates impact on others/own team(s), assisting them in embracing the change.
Position Qualifications:
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Education:
Master's
Vanderbilt Health recognizes that diversity is essential for excellence and innovation. We are committed to an inclusive environment where everyone has the chance to thrive and to the principles of equal opportunity and affirmative action. EOE/AA/Women/Minority/Vets/Disabled
