Associate General Counsel

ACC San Diego - Association of Corporate Counsel; Durham (NC); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Duke University is seeking an experienced employment attorney to provide strategic counsel to the University and Duke University Health System on employment matters affecting a broad employee population, including physicians and medical staff. The role requires collaboration with Health System leadership, University leadership, and Human Resources to guide policy and risk management.

Candidates should have a JD, NC licensure within 12 months, and at least 7 years of relevant experience in a

Qualifications

• J.D. degree from ABA-accredited law school.
• Licensed to practice law in North Carolina or eligibility to become licensed within 12 months.
• At least 7 years’ experience as an attorney, focused on employment matters in healthcare settings.
• Experience advising hospitals/health systems and handling physician employment matters.
• Ability to work collaboratively with leadership, HR, and outside counsel.

Responsibilities

• Provide legal counsel on a broad range of employment matters for Duke University and Duke University Health System.
• Advise leadership and HR on discrimination, investigations, wage-hour, and physician employment issues.
• Draft and review policies, agreements, and workforce documents supporting institutional operations.
• Manage workforce-related disputes, pre-litigation matters, and regulatory compliance in a healthcare context.
• Collaborate with HR and outside counsel to develop practical solutions and risk mitigation.

Education

Juris Doctor (J.D.) from ABA-accredited law school

Job description

The Office of Counsel at Duke University is seeking to hire an experienced, strategic, client-focused, and team-oriented employment attorney to provide legal counsel and support to Duke University Health System and Duke University (“Duke”) on employment matters affecting Duke's broad employee population, including physicians, advanced practice providers, medical and nursing staff, faculty, non-faculty employees, and more. The Associate General Counsel partners with Health System leadership, University leadership, and Human Resources to provide thoughtful legal guidance, manage legal risk, support workforce operations, and advise regarding compliance with applicable federal and state employment laws and other regulatory and licensure requirements. The successful candidate will join a group of highly experienced attorneys dedicated to Duke’s nonprofit, academic, and healthcare missions.

Work Arrangement

On-site. Work Location: Durham, NC, in person (current office schedule: Monday-Thursday in-person, with the option for remote work on Friday).

DEPARTMENTAL PREFERENCES

• Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from an ABA-accredited law school or other appropriately accredited institution of higher education required.
• Licensed to practice law in the State of North Carolina or become licensed within 12 months of employment.
• Experience advising hospitals, health systems, academic medical centers, or other healthcare organizations on employment matters.
• Experience advising on employment agreements and personnel matters involving physicians, advanced practice providers, medical staff, and other healthcare professionals within a health system or academic medical center environment.
• Experience supporting institutions of higher education and/or academic medical centers.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

LLB or JD degree. Licensed to practice law in the State of North Carolina or become licensed within 12 months of employment.

Experience

Must have at least 7 years’ experience as an attorney.

Skills

• Ability to work successfully in a team-oriented, high-volume, in-house law office environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a demonstrated track record of collaborating effectively with a wide variety of audiences, building strong, effective relationships, and providing practical and credible guidance to various stakeholders.
• Strong writing, research, problem solving, and analytical skills.
• Committed, consistent, trustworthy and reliable, exhibiting excellent judgment, and a creative and positive “can-do” attitude.
• Ability to calmly and successfully manage competing and changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Keen sense of client service and ethical obligations in the in-house setting.

WORK PERFORMED

• Provide legal counsel and support to Duke University and Duke University Health System on a broad range of employment matters, including employee relations, workplace policies, performance management, disciplinary actions, employment agreements, and compliance with federal and state employment laws.
• Advise University and Health System leadership and administrative units on employment-related matters including discrimination and harassment complaints, workplace investigations, wage and hour compliance, employment and professional conduct matters, employee benefits, and compensation-related issues.
• Advise Duke Health leadership and human resources on workforce and personnel matters unique to the health care setting, including physician and advanced practice provider employment agreements, clinical privileges and medical staff membership, professional licensure and certification issues, faculty physician compensation, faculty and clinical appointments, resident and fellow employment, regulatory compliance, and performance management within a complex academic medical center.
• Provide legal counsel and strategic guidance on workforce issues affecting provider staffing, recruitment and retention, and other matters impacting healthcare operations within a complex academic medical center.
• Provide strategic legal counsel on employment-related disputes, including managing pre-litigation matters, developing strategies to mitigate risk, and managing administrative charges and proceedings, subpoenas, mediation, arbitration, and litigation.
• Collaborate with Human Resources, colleagues, leadership, and outside counsel to develop practical solutions to challenging employment issues, to manage a broad and challenging portfolio of employment-related disputes, and to support the successful resolution of workplace matters.
• Draft, review and provide guidance regarding policies, procedures, communications, agreements, and other documents relevant to workforce management in support of institutional operations and priorities.

Perform other related duties as assigned.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this classification. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required of personnel so classified.

The Office of Counsel encourages applications from individuals who will contribute to and help advance Duke’s values of respect, trust, inclusion, discovery, and excellence.

Duke is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation or military status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions

Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essential job functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.