General Counsel

Chief legal advisor for all legal affairs concerning SCPMG Physicians and the SCPMG Partnership. Holds primary accountability for facilitating resolution of high-risk and often high-visibility legal concerns. Oversees team of SCPMG attorneys and supports the SCPMG Board of Directors.

Essential Responsibilities:

Clinical Situation Management - Provides legal advice on how to manage difficult clinical situations.

Education - Travels to medical centers, medical offices and offsite meetings across SCAL region to present on various legal topics. Holds quarterly 'Legal Lunch', a region-wide Skype meeting during the lunch hour on a legal topic of general interest.

Bioethics Support - Co-chairs Regional Committee and advises on challenging bioethical concerns and disputes. Develops bioethics policies ranging from Managing Requests for Non-Beneficial Care, to Resuscitative Services, to Selection of Surrogates.

Deal Making - Researches and develops agreements for deals developed between SCPMG and other entities. Explores possible arrangements, understanding the parties' interests and attempting to put together agreements that are acceptable to the parties.

Supporting Work Performance Improvement - Guides Area Medical Directors and Permanente HR Physician Relations team through performance management policy. Mediates between physicians and their attorneys and the physician's Chief and Area Medical Director.

Overseeing and Supporting HR Litigation - Manages and oversees litigation. For cases ending in settlement, assesses settlement value and obtain authority to settle. Negotiates settlements and writes settlement agreements.

Department Management - Leads Legal department of one nurse expert coordinator, 3 claims specialists, an office manager, 4 clerical persons, a discovery specialist, a Release of Information specialist and 4 attorneys. Conducts annual reviews for department members. Counsel, Support and Guide Department Attorneys and Health Plan Attorneys - Assists attorneys on legal team with areas of health law with which they are unfamiliar or aspects of SCPMG operations and Rules/Regulations. Malpractice Case Management - Leads team to evaluate, work up, manage and oversee about 500 claims each year. Responsible for educating outside contracted attorneys and guiding them through strategies for trying, arbitrating, or settling each case. Conducts case conference 'roundtables' where the entire claims staff (HP and Med Group) and outside counsel weigh in on the management of complicated and high-risk cases. Management of about $350M on malpractice claims annually, including defense costs. Government Relations - Reads all new state and federal bills potentially impacting healthcare and identifies sections that will be most impactful to KP, working with content experts for comment. Provides feedback and direction to lobbyists. Participate in developing strategies for complex or especially detrimental bills, including coalition building, tapping legislators with whom the GR Leads have developed relationships, etc.

Supporting Board Support and the Board, Proposal Writing/Rewriting - Provides legal analysis for every proposal submitted to SCPMG Board of Directors. Writes, reviews, and/or edits Board minutes from legal lens. Attends monthly SCPMG Board meetings.

Recruiting Support, Employment Contract Modification - Consults on contract language and application of SCPMG Rules and Regulations to potential new hires. Writes any changes to contract language.

Implementing New Laws and Regulations - Facilitates implementation of new workflows in response to changes in health policy.

Maintain as Current the Medical Legal Manual - Maintains a Medical Legal Manual covering commonly received questions. The Manual is available on our website 24/7/365. Makes and/or reviews/approves all the edits.

Basic Qualifications:

Experience

Minimum ten (10) years' experience advising health care institutions. Consideration will be given to qualified candidates advising health care institutions and clinical experience with a combined total of ten or more years' experience.

Education

Law degree from an accredited law school

License, Certification, Registration

Membership in the California Bar or eligibility for admission

Additional Requirements:

Proven ability to function successfully in a complex organization

Strong leadership and coaching skills

Proven ability to render timely and sound legal and strategic advice

Excellent persuasion and negotiation skills

Excellent communication skills, both orally and in writing

Expertise in corporate governance matters

General knowledge of California law and/or past law practice in the areas of: medical malpractice; employment and/or labor law; bioethics; federal and California health care laws and regulations; and California law applicable to physicians and other health care providers, including licensing boards and hospital matters

Preferred Qualifications:

Familiarity with Kaiser Permanente

Experience as a health care professional

Public speaking skills

Primary Location: California,Pasadena,Regional Offices-Walnut 393 E. Walnut St.

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 40

Shift: Variable

Workdays: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu, Fri

Working Hours Start: Varies

Working Hours End: Varies

Job Schedule: Full-time

Job Type: Standard

Employee Status: Regular

Employee Group/Union Affiliation: Salaried, Non-Union, Exempt

Job Level: Executive/VP

Job Category: Legal / Government Relations

Department: SCPMG Legal

Travel: Yes, 20 % of the Time

Kaiser Permanente is an equal opportunity employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), age, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, parental status, ancestry, disability, gender identity, veteran status, genetic information, other distinguishing characteristics of diversity and inclusion, or any other protected status.

External hires must pass a background check/drug screen. Qualified applicants with arrest and/or conviction records will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with federal and state laws, as well as applicable local ordinances, including but not limited to the San Francisco and Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinances.