Assistant General Counsel, Behavioral Health - Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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Job Description - Assistant General Counsel, Behavioral Health (24000AU6)

The General Counsel’s Office of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) is seeking an attorney to provide legal support for MassHealth and other EOHHS programs. The General Counsel's Office functions as EOHHS’ in-house counsel. Attorneys in EOHHS’ General Counsel’s Office perform a wide range of complex legal activities associated with the development, implementation, and administration of EOHHS programs and initiatives involving both MassHealth providers and members. The attorney to be hired will be an Assistant General Counsel and will provide legal support for MassHealth’s long term services and supports programs, including MassHealth’s array of 1915(c) Home and Community-based Services waivers.

Duties and Responsibilities (these duties are a general summary and not all inclusive):

• Offer advice and risk analysis concerning applicability of and compliance with all federal and state statutes and regulations that may affect EOHHS’ ongoing activities and new initiatives.
• Provide legal opinions and advice to EOHHS and EOHHS agency program managers and staff on various matters.
• Maintain a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of state and federal laws related to Medicaid, state and federal finance and appropriations, and public procurements.
• Identify and evaluate potential legal exposures, developing legally defensible alternative courses of action, and assisting clients in formulating creative problem resolutions and strategies.
• Analyze the impact and applications of existing, proposed, and developing law on EOHHS and EOHHS agency programs.
• Identify the need for, and assisting in the drafting of, new legislation and regulations.
• Represent, and assist the Attorney General's Office in representing, the agency in both affirmative and defensive litigation.
• Review and draft legal documents, including both regulatory and sub-regulatory interpretive material, briefs, memoranda, and correspondence.
• Review and draft requests for proposals, contracts, interagency service agreements, and related procurement documents.

Required Qualifications:

• At least three years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional experience in the practice of law or in a position requiring membership in the Bar.
• Background in and/or strong interest in learning about state and federal government operations, health and administrative law, health care issues and public policy.
• Experience as, or comparable to, in-house or outside counsel to public agencies, private businesses or other organizations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Excellent academic background and demonstrated skills and significant experience in counseling clients, legal research and analysis.
• Excellent oral and written advocacy, and creative problem solving.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple projects simultaneously.

About the Executive Office of Health and Human Services:

EOHHS is the Commonwealth’s largest secretariat responsible for developing, coordinating, and managing the Commonwealth’s health, welfare and human services operations and programs. EOHHS administers the Commonwealth’s Medicaid program, known as MassHealth, which provides health care benefits for uninsured families, disabled individuals, children, long-term unemployed adults, and seniors.

Pre-Offer Process:

A criminal background check will be completed on the recommended candidate as required by the regulations set forth by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services prior to the candidate being hired.

MINIMUM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must have a Juris Doctor (JD) degree, admission to the Massachusetts Bar and at least three years of full-time, or equivalent part-time, professional experience in the practice of law.

An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer. Females, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.