SENIOR ASSOCIATE COUNSEL - 81022

State of Tennessee; Nashville (TN); Hybrid; USD 106,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

State of Tennessee, TennCare Office of General Counsel in Nashville, seeks a Senior Associate Counsel to support legislative and rulemaking functions. The attorney will translate complex legal issues into practical guidance and work with agency leadership, program staff, and legislators.

Minimum qualifications include Tennessee bar admission and 5+ years of relevant legal experience. The role offers a hybrid work arrangement and a competitive salary starting at $118,296 annually.

Qualifications

• Active License to practice law in Tennessee is required.
• 5+ years of relevant legal experience preferred.
• Strong writing and oral communication skills.
• Knowledge of Medicaid and state government is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Analyze proposed legislation and amendments for legal, operational, and programmatic impact to TennCare; identify issues and provide timely advice to agency leadership and staff.
• Provide legal support to TennCare's Legislative team during the legislative process, including hearings and meetings with legislators and staff.
• Provide legal support for TennCare's rulemaking process, including drafting materials and coordinating with stakeholders.
• Prepare for and provide testimony or representation before legislative committees and other bodies as appropriate.
• Build collaborative relationships with OGC attorneys, TennCare staff, other state agencies, and legislative staff.
• Develop and maintain knowledge of TennCare program areas and applicable state/federal authorities.
• Provide general legal advice, research, and interpretation on matters affecting TennCare.

Skills

Tennessee Bar

Legal experience

Analytical writing

Oral communication

Organizational skills

Medicaid experience desired

Legislation and rulemaking knowledge

Job description

Executive Service

Background Check

This position requires a criminal background check. Therefore, you may be required to provide information about your criminal history in order to be considered for this position.

SENIOR ASSOCIATE COUNSEL

Division of TennCare Office of General Counsel (OGC)

Nashville, TN

Minimum Annual Salary: $118,296.00

Closing Date: 09/28/2026

Background Check

This position requires a criminal background check. Therefore, you may be required to provide information about your criminal history in order to be considered for this position.

Who We Are And What We Do

TennCare is Tennessee's Medicaid managed care program, serving over 1.4 million Tennesseans, including children, pregnant women, older adults, and individuals with disabilities. With an annual budget exceeding $19.2 billion, TennCare operates under the oversight of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

TennCare's mission is to improve the lives of Tennesseans by providing high-quality, cost-effective care. At TennCare, we are driven by purpose. Our team is committed to improving outcomes for Tennessee's most vulnerable populations through innovation, integrity, and collaboration. Employees at TennCare report a deep sense of impact and satisfaction in their work. We prioritize people and process equally to create a workplace that values meaningful service, professional development, and shared success.

Job Overview

TennCare compensation is equitable and will be based on education and experience for a qualified candidate in accordance with Department of Human Resources (DOHR) policy.

The Division of TennCare is dedicated to providing our employees with a hybrid work environment. All TennCare positions have a combination of work from home and work in the office, which varies by position, department, and business need. You may review the specific expectations with our hiring team.

TennCare's Office of General Counsel (OGC) provides legal advice and counsel to all divisions of TennCare. The Federal Unit within OGC handles a wide variety of legal matters, including advising executive leadership and agency staff; providing support for state legislation and rulemaking; civil rights compliance; supporting ethics and compliance. OGC is seeking a Legislative Counsel whose primary responsibilities will be supporting TennCare's legislative and rulemaking functions. The attorney will work closely with OGC attorneys, TennCare's Legislative team, program leadership, other state agencies, members of the General Assembly, and legislative support staff. The position requires an attorney who can translate complex legal and programmatic issues into clear, practical advice and who is comfortable working in a fast-paced legislative and regulatory environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyze proposed legislation and amendments for legal, operational, and programmatic impact to TennCare; identify legal issues and implementation considerations; and provide timely, practical advice to agency leadership and staff during the legislative session.
• Provide legal support to TennCare's Legislative team throughout the legislative process, including attending legislative hearings and meetings in person, participating in meetings with legislators and legislative staff as needed, and assisting the agency in responding to legislative questions and requests.
• Provide legal support and advice throughout TennCare's rulemaking process, including reviewing and drafting rulemaking materials, advising program staff regarding rulemaking requirements and process, coordinating with internal and external stakeholders, and attending rulemaking hearings as needed.
• Prepare for and provide testimony, legal support, or other representation on behalf of TennCare before legislative committees and other governmental bodies as appropriate.
• Build and maintain collaborative working relationships with OGC attorneys, TennCare program staff and leadership, counterparts at other state agencies, contractor representatives, members of the General Assembly, and legislative staff.
• Develop and maintain strong working knowledge of TennCare program areas and the state and federal legal authorities that affect the agency's legislative and rulemaking work.
• Provide thorough and timely general legal advice, legal research, guidance, and interpretation on other matters affecting TennCare, and support additional OGC projects as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Active License to practice law in Tennessee is required.
• Preferred Experience:5+ years of relevant legal experience.

Desirable Qualifications

• Five+ years of relevant legal experience is strongly preferred.
• Legal experience sufficient to independently manage complex legislative, rulemaking, and advisory assignments.
• Demonstrable legal research, analytical, writing, and oral communication skills, including the ability to explain complex legal issues clearly to attorneys and non-attorneys.
• Strong organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize, multi-task, adapt to changing priorities, and meet specific deadlines with minimal supervision, particularly during legislative session and active rulemaking periods.
• Excellent professional judgment and interpersonal skills, with the ability to develop productive working relationships across legal, programmatic, executive, and legislative environments.
• Experience working in or with Medicaid is preferred. Comparable health care law experience or significant knowledge of state government may be considered in lieu of Medicaid experience.
• Knowledge of or meaningful experience with the legislative process, including legislative analysis, committee proceedings, or testimony before legislative bodies, is preferred.
• Knowledge of or meaningful experience with state administrative rulemaking is preferred.

Pursuant to the State of Tennessee's Workplace Discrimination and Harassment policy, the State is firmly committed to the principle of fair and equal employment opportunities for its citizens and strives to protect the rights and opportunities of all people to seek, obtain, and hold employment without being subjected to illegal discrimination and harassment in the workplace. It is the State's policy to provide an environment free of discrimination and harassment of an individual because of that person's race, color, national origin, age (40 and over), sex, pregnancy, religion, creed, disability, veteran's status or any other category protected by state and/or federal civil rights laws.