Associate General Counsel

Are you ready to step into a rare and impactful in-house legal leadership role? 

Our health system—the largest employer in the region and a nationally recognized provider of high quality care—is seeking an Associate General Counsel to join us onsite in Illinois. This role offers the extraordinary opportunity to work side-by-side with our current General Counsel, who is planning for retirement in 6 to 12 months.  You’ll be mentored directly by a seasoned legal executive with the clear expectation of stepping into the Chief General Counsel role. With a broad and engaging legal scope—from regulatory and employment matters to civil litigation, contracting, governance, and risk management—this is far from a narrow legal focus. You’ll enjoy autonomy, variety, and influence while working closely with a collaborative executive leadership team that values legal insight and ethical excellence.

The Associate General Counsel will serve as the primary legal officer of Riverside Healthcare. This position will oversee all legal and regulatory matters affecting the health system, with a specific focus on physician contracting, healthcare compliance, corporate governance, risk management, employment matters and general legal affairs. The Associate GC will be a key strategic advisor to the executive leadership team, guiding decisions that align with legal requirements and the organization’s business objectives. The Associate General Counsel will work in a professional office environment in an onsite capacity and may have occasional travel requirements. Occasional evening or weekend work may be required to meet deadlines or support urgent legal matters.,

Essential Job Duties:

1. Legal Counsel and Guidance:

• Serve as the primary legal advisor to the CEO, Board of Directors, and other senior management, providing counsel on a broad range of legal issues, including healthcare regulations, corporate governance, labor and employment law and contracts.
• Lead legal strategy and analysis on key operational, strategic, and business decisions.
• Ensure the health system’s legal and compliance risks are identified, assessed, and properly managed.

2. Physician Contracting:

• Oversee and manage the drafting, negotiation, and review of new and existing physician and provider contracts, including employment agreements, independent contractor agreements and physician group contracts.
• Understand basic knowledge of current visa status and immigration law as it relates to hiring providers.
• Ensure compliance with healthcare laws and regulations, including Stark Law, Anti-Kickback Statute, and applicable state laws, in all physician contracts and compensation arrangements.
• Advise on physician practice acquisition, mergers, and joint ventures, and ensure compliance with applicable healthcare regulations.
• Collaborate with the HR and business development teams to structure compensation arrangements and manage related legal considerations.

3. Healthcare Compliance:

• Ensure the health system complies with all federal and state healthcare laws and regulations, including HIPAA, Stark Law, Anti-Kickback Statute and the Affordable Care Act.
• Develop and oversee the organization’s compliance programs, including policies, training, and monitoring to mitigate legal and regulatory risks.
• Act as the point of contact for government agencies and auditors in relation to compliance investigations, audits and inquiries.

4.Risk Management and Litigation:

• Oversee the management of the health system’s litigation portfolio, including working with external counsel on any ongoing or potential lawsuits, claims, and disputes.
• Identify and assess legal risks and advise on the development of risk management strategies and policies.
• Support the health system’s insurance and claims management strategies, ensuring proper legal protections are in place.

5. Corporate Governance:

• Advise and support the Board of Directors and executive management on corporate governance best practices, board policies, and related legal issues.
• Coordinate and provide legal support for Board meetings, ensuring compliance with relevant laws, bylaws, and policies.

6. General Legal Management:

• Oversee and manage the health system’s legal department, including external counsel relationships, budgeting and departmental performance.
• Provide training and guidance to other departments on legal matters and ensure adherence to organizational policies and procedures.
• Monitor and stay updated on legal trends, changes in healthcare law and regulatory developments that impact the health system.

Required Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
• Active license to practice law in Illinois.
• Minimum of 5-10 years of experience in healthcare law, with significant experience in physician contracting, healthcare compliance, risk management and general counsel responsibilities.
• Proven expertise in healthcare regulations including the Stark Law, Anti-Kickback Statute, HIPAA, and other applicable federal and state healthcare laws and regulations.
• Strong experience in negotiating, drafting, and reviewing physician contracts, including compensation arrangements, employment contracts, and physician group agreements.
• Demonstrated ability to provide strategic legal advice to senior leadership and work collaboratively across departments.
• Strong communication, negotiation and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience working in a mid-sized or independent health system.
• Experience with mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures in the healthcare industry.
• Knowledge of risk management, litigation and insurance programs in healthcare setting

Employee Health Requirements

Exposure/Sensory Requirements:

Exposure to:

Chemicals: Printer, copier, and fax toners; liquid paper

Video Display Terminals: Extreme

Blood and Body Fluids: None

TB or Airborne Pathogens: None other than normal hospital environment exposure.

Sensory requirements (speech, vision, smell, hearing, touch):

Speech: Telephone and in person communication with customers, physicians, staff, and peers.

Vision: View computer screen, medical records, reports; access and review hard copy & online references & resources; file and retrieve records; identify and copy requested documents; prepare and distribute reports

Smell: N/A

Hearing: Telephone and in person communication with customers, physicians, staff, and peers; hear and respond to telephone, overhead pages, and emergency announcements; participate in continuing education programs

Touch: Write, keyboard; file/retrieve documents, reports

Activity/Lifting Requirements:

Percentage of time during the normal workday the employee is required to:

Sit: 88%

Twist: 0%

Stand: 2%

Crawl: 0%

Walk: 3%

Kneel: 1%

Lift: 2%

Drive: 0%

Squat: 1%

Climb: 1%

Bend: 1%

Reach above shoulders: 1%

The weight required to be lifted each normal workday according to the continuum described below:

Up to 10 lbs: Frequently

Up to 20 lbs: Frequently

Up to 35 lbs: Occasionally

Up to 50 lbs: Not Required

Up to 75 lbs: Not Required

Up to 100 lbs: Not Required

Over 100 lbs: Not Required

Describe and explain the lifting and carrying requirements. (Example: the distance material is carried; how high material is lifted, etc.):

Stacks of charts, supplies carried waist high approximately 300 ft. May have to carry records up/down circular staircase. Carrying/lifting/bending with charts to file or retrieve in various department locations. Carrying paper/file folders through department. Reams of paper to printers/photocopier

Maximum consecutive time (minutes) during the normal workday for each activity:

Sit: 240

Twist: 0

Stand: 10

Crawl: 0

Walk: 2

Kneel: 0

Lift: 2

Drive: 0

Squat: 1

Climb: 1

Bend: 1

Reach above shoulders: 2

Repetitive use of hands (Frequency indicated): 

Simple grasp up to 10 lbs. Normal weight: 5-10# frequent

Pushing & pulling Normal weight: 50# rare

Fine Manipulation: Writing instruments, clips, fasteners, stapler & staple remover; keyboarding, filing/retrieval, copying, folder creation, record review, sorting, accessing reference materials.

Repetitive use of foot or feet in operating machine control: None 

Environmental Factors & Special Hazards:

Environmental Factors (Time Spent):

Inside hours: 8

Outside hours : 0

Temperature: Normal Range

Lighting: Average

Noise levels: Average

Humidity: Normal Range

Atmosphere: Dust

Special Hazards:

Protective Clothing Required: None