County/District Attorney Division Director

Travis County; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 137,000 - 181,000; Full time

Job summary

The Travis County Attorney’s Office seeks a Director-level Chief Legal Counsel to serve as the principal legal advisor for Central Health, guiding compliance with healthcare and public governance laws. This on-site role partners with the CEO and Board, directing policy and risk management in a mission-driven public health system.

You will lead a legal team, oversee contracts, counsel executives, and coordinate with compliance, strategy, and finance to protect organizational interests and ensure

Qualifications

• J.D./LL.B. from an accredited law school.
• Fifteen years licensed attorney work experience, including five years of mid-to senior level supervisory management experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop, implement, and oversee the organization’s legal strategy to protect and advance Central Health’s interests.
• Provide proactive legal counsel to the CEO, executive leadership, and the Board of Directors on governance and regulatory matters.
• Oversee contract negotiation, drafting, and execution across the organization.
• Lead and mentor the Central Health legal department and coordinate with compliance, strategy, finance, HR, and clinical leadership.
• Manage external counsel to ensure cost-effective, high-quality legal services.

Skills

Supervising others

Problem-solving

High-level analysis

Verbal and written communication

Education

J.D./LL.B. from accredited law school

Tools

Word processing

Spreadsheets

Databases

Job description

The Travis County Attorney’s Office provides legal representation to Central Health under Texas Health & Safety Code Section 281.056 (b-1). This position is a Director level position of the Travis County Attorney’s Office and serves as the Chief Legal Counsel and principal legal advisor for Central Health providing expert guidance on legal, regulatory, and risk management matters to ensure compliance with applicable laws and the highest standards of legal and ethical responsibility.

This position is an Assistant County Attorney reporting directly to the Executive County Attorney and is designated to work as Chief Legal Counsel and within the executive leadership team of Central Health working onsite of Central Health. This position provides legal counsel to the CEO, Board of Directors, and executive leadership on a wide range of issues, including corporate governance, healthcare laws and regulations, compliance, employment law, patient privacy, contracts, litigation, and risk management. This role requires deep expertise in healthcare law and regulatory frameworks, as well as an understanding of the complexities of operating a mission-driven, public health system that serves diverse communities while ensuring proper stewardship of public funds.

This position ensures efficient and effective legal support across all organizational functions. They collaborate closely with compliance, strategy, finance, human resources, and clinical leadership to develop and implement policies that align with ethical and legal standards while supporting the organization's commitment to patient-centered care.

The salary range for this position is $136,751.32 - $181,195.50 annually, with an additional supplement commensurate with experience and the market for a Chief Legal Counsel role with similar Texas Hospital Districts.

• Manage and direct the divisions' professional and support personnel, equipment, facilities and finances. Evaluates personnel and services of the division. Allocates division resources and plans for the future services and budgetary needs of the division.
• Develop, implement, and oversee the organization’s legal strategy to protect and advance Central Health’s interests and meet the needs of the organization across a broad scope of legal services and areas of expertise.
• Provide proactive legal counsel to the CEO, executive leadership, and the Board of Directors on a variety of matters.
• Advise the Board of Managers and executive leadership on organizational governance best practices.
• Advise the Board of Managers on key legal trends, emerging risks, and regulatory developments that may impact business operations.
• Ensure the organization adheres to applicable governance regulations and fiduciary responsibilities.
• Support the preparation of legal documentation for organizational records regulations, and fiduciary responsibilities.
• Establish and oversee organization-wide policies to promote legal awareness and risk mitigation.
• Oversee the legal department’s contributions to the negotiation, drafting, and execution of a broad range of contracts in close collaboration with organizational leaders and contract owners.
• Ensure that contracts align with company policies, mitigate risks, and optimize financial and operational outcomes.
• Manage Central Health’s relationship with external counsel, ensuring effective communication, collaboration, and strategic alignment. This includes optimizing the use of external legal resources by setting clear expectations, leveraging specialized expertise, and ensuring cost-effective service delivery. Serve as a key liaison between internal stakeholders and external counsel and ensure legal matters are handled efficiently while maximizing the organization’s internal knowledge and resources.
• Lead and mentor Central Health legal department team members, providing strategic direction and professional development opportunities.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

J.D./LL.B. from an accredited law school AND fifteen (15) years licensed attorney work experience, including five (5) years of mid-to senior level supervisory management experience.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements

Licensed to practice law in the State of Texas.

Knowledge of

• Strong expertise in corporate law, healthcare law, policy and regulations, and general regulatory compliance.
• Management and supervisory principles, practices and techniques.
• Jurisprudence, criminal and civil law and procedures, including constitutional and statutory law.
• Federal, State, Local and County applicable laws, rules, regulations and guidelines pertaining to area of assignment.
• Methods and practices of pleading cases and of effective techniques for presentation of cases in court or to effectively present facts and precedents orally and in writing in law related matters.
• Policies, practices, procedures and legal terminology related to court system.
• Accounting, purchasing and budgetary theory, principles and practices.
• Investigative techniques.
• Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases and a variety of software packages.
• Business English, spelling and arithmetic, letter writing, grammar and punctuation, and report preparation.
• May be required to develop knowledge of and adhere to federal and state laws requiring the confidential handling of certain health information.

Skill in

• Supervising others, allocating resources and evaluating programs.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• High-level analysis and appraising facts, policies, procedures and legal precedents in public health care.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including presentations.

Ability to

• Motivate, train, supervise and develop attorneys and support staff.
• Analyze and appraise facts, procedures, and legal precedents affecting complex court cases in area of specialty.
• Conduct legal research and analysis, both manually and electronically.
• Present facts, precedents and arguments orally and in writing and apply negotiation skills.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Work independently and efficiently.
• Manage time well, perform multiple tasks and organize diverse activities.
• Work well under pressure and exercise tact in trying situations.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental clientele, representatives of outside agencies, other County employees and officials, and the general public.

This position has scheduled evening public meetings. Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 25 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, walking, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, client/customer contact, squatting to perform the essential functions.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

Work Hours: 8 am -5 pm, Monday-Friday. May work some holidays, some nights, some weekends

Location: 5800 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX 78752

Department: County Attorney

Criminal, Driving, Education, and Employment Background Checks Required.

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.