Assistant General Counsel

Wellmark, Inc.; Iowa (LA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Wellmark, Inc. seeks an Assistant General Counsel to support the Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer in delivering legal, regulatory, and transactional services for Wellmark and its subsidiaries. The role requires reviewing, drafting and negotiating vendor contracts; providing strategic legal advice to internal partners; and representing Wellmark with regulators and external audiences.

A J.D. and active license in good standing are required, with 7+ years in healthcare or insurance

Qualifications

• J.D. and license to practice law in the U.S. in good standing.
• 7+ years of legal practice in health care, insurance, corporate transactions, or related areas.
• Excellent research, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
• Strong contract drafting and advisory capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Assist and support the Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer in corporate goals and regulatory compliance.
• Provide legal opinions and manage outside counsel where needed.
• Deliver legal analysis on business strategy, draft contracts, and advise leadership.
• Anticipate and mitigate risks in contractual, regulatory, and financial areas.
• Stay current on federal/state laws affecting provider networks, utilization, and pharmacy managers.
• Obtain and maintain knowledge of ACA, HIPAA, ERISA, and related laws.
• Conduct confidential corporate investigations and support contracting efforts.
• Review corporate communications for legal sufficiency and accuracy.
• Prepare materials for board of directors and management with proper legal framing.
• Balance priorities to meet corporate goals; act as a collaborative partner.
• Be a great teammate and handle other duties as assigned.

Skills

Contract drafting

Interpersonal skills

Oral & written communication

Regulatory advice

Education

J.D. degree

Active bar admission

Continued legal education

Job description

Why Wellmark: We are a mutual insurance company owned by our policy holders across Iowa and South Dakota, and we’ve built our reputation on over 80 years’ worth of trust. We are not motivated by profits. We are motivated by the well-being of our friends, family, and neighbors–our members. If you’re passionate about joining an organization working hard to put its members first, to provide best-in-class service, and one that is committed to sustainability and innovation, consider applying

Learn more about our unique benefit offerings here.

Wellmark’s Assistant General Counsel will assist and support the Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer in the performance, representation, and delivery of all legal, compliance, and regulatory services for Wellmark and its subsidiaries. This requires a thorough and in-depth understanding of the legal and regulatory environment affecting Wellmark's business and the health care industry. This individual will be accountable for reviewing, analyzing, preparing, and communicating legal and regulatory issues that influence or impact Wellmark’s business. In addition, this individual will represent Wellmark with members, stakeholders, regulators, and other external audiences.

The position is expected to have heavy emphasis on transactional work, including contract negotiation and drafting; as well as general business and financial acumen to support Wellmark’s corporate strategies from a transactional and regulatory perspective. This individual will provide support to Wellmark’s procurement and contracting teams advising on and drafting complex vendor contracts to support Wellmark business needs and providing strategic legal advice and counsel to internal business partners.

Ideal candidates will have experience providing legal and / or regulatory compliance advice in a healthcare setting or other highly regulated industry such as financial services, utilities or other insurance sectors. You have exceptional interpersonal capabilities, allowing you to build long-term, productive relationships internally and externally. You embrace your role as an adviser and pride yourself on the ability to learn the business, allowing you to consult with your stakeholders more effectively. If this sounds like you,

Preferred

• Significant knowledge of insurance or health care industry.
• Experience advising health systems, physician groups, pharmacies, Pharmacy Benefit Managers, or other health care providers on contracting, regulatory, value-based payment, clinical or operational issues.
• Current license in good standing to practice law in Iowa and/or South Dakota or ability to become licensed on motion.

Required

• J.D. and current license in good standing to practice law (any state acceptable).
• No history of federal or state professional disciplinary proceedings or regulatory disqualifications.
• Continuing legal education must be current in accordance with state requirements for licensed attorneys.
• 7+ years of experience practicing law in a corporate, governmental, judicial or private practice environment in the subject areas of health care, insurance, corporate and business transactions, antitrust, finance, procurement and contracting, or related area.
• Excellent research, analytical, and critical thinking skills. Strong understanding of applicable rules, regulations, and key interdependencies.
• Excellent contract drafting skills.
• Effectively build relationships across the organization that are supportive and collaborative.
• Advanced consulting and interpersonal skills. Ability to understand the needs of the business and develop legal advice that balances subject matter expertise with stakeholder needs. Viewed as a credible, trustworthy business partner. Comfortable with decision making ability in a complex, multi-dimensional team environment.
• Ability to adapt and thrive in a constantly changing regulatory landscape.
• Strong oral and written communication skills with the ability to effectively articulate and support complex information and decisions to varied audiences.
• Ability to understand the scope of your role and elevate matters for resolution when needed.
• Proven ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
• Proactive self-starter with strong time management skills and the ability to balance competing priorities with flexibility. Ability to anticipate risks, assess impacts, and take appropriate action.
• Ability to proactively identify, assess and analyze risks and take appropriate action to protect Wellmark against legal risks in collaboration with business partners.

a. Assist and support the Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer in achieving corporate and divisional goals and in maintaining corporate compliance with all applicable laws, rules, and regulations.

b. Provide appropriate and timely legal opinions or secure such opinions through management of outside legal counsel, regarding legal strategies and positions for Wellmark and communicating such opinions to management, CLO, and/or CEO.

c. Provide proficient legal analysis and advice regarding business strategy and corporate transactions; draft and analyze contracts and other legal documents; work closely with business partners to ensure that contract standards are met and other appropriate contract language is included; and provide legal advice to leadership, all in a manner that is prudent, innovative, compliant with laws, and best serves the strategic interests of Wellmark and its members.

d. Consistently anticipate, evaluate, develop mitigation strategies for, and advise management of potential risks in contractual, regulatory, litigation, compliance, financial and reputational areas.

e. Keep current on new or changing state and federal laws and regulations applicable to provider network requirements, utilization and care management, and pharmacy benefits managers; assist management with designing and implementing business policies and procedures to assure compliance with same; and partner with compliance and business partners to review proposed and pending legislation on such topics.

f. Obtain and maintain advanced knowledge of laws governing the conduct of the Company’s business, including, as applicable, Affordable Care Act, HIPAA, ERISA, and other state and federal laws.

g. Conduct confidential and/or privileged corporate investigations.

h. Support Wellmark’s provider and pharmacy contracting and operational efforts, including value-based arrangements, contract management, strategic initiatives, and ongoing compliance matters.

i. Review and approve corporate communications of all types, for legal sufficiency and accuracy.

j. Prepare and review corporate and board of directors' materials for legal sufficiency and accuracy.

k. Manage competing priorities effectively to meet corporate and divisional goals.

l. For all job accountabilities, meet performance standards and comply with other job requirements established and communicated by Company and Divisional leadership.

m. Be a great teammate.

n. Other duties as assigned.

An Equal Opportunity Employer

The policy of Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield is to recruit, hire, train and promote individuals in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by law.

Applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation due to a disability at any stage of the employment application process should contact us at [e-mail]

Please inform us if you meet the definition of a "Covered DoD official".

At this time, Wellmark is not considering applicants for this position that require any type of immigration sponsorship (additional work authorization or permanent work authorization) now or in the future to work in the United States. This includes, but IS NOT LIMITED TO: F1-OPT, F1-CPT, H-1B, TN, L-1, J-1, etc. For additional information around work authorization needs please refer to the following resources: Nonimmigrant Workers and Green Card for Employment-Based Immigrants

Wellmark supports and expects the responsible use of AI for our workforce! We welcome the responsible use of these tools by job seekers as well and are interested in learning from you; you will have an opportunity in the application process to share which tools you used and how you applied them.