Chief Litigation Officer

About the Role

The Vice President, Chief Litigation Officer provides executive leadership for the health system’s litigation, claims management, and insurance risk financing functions. This includes oversight of significant claims, complex litigation, self-funded liability programs, and related strategic risk financing initiatives. The role advises senior leadership and the board on material exposures, litigation strategy, and insurance matters, while providing practical, strategic guidance that supports the mission and objectives of a nonprofit, patient-centered health system.

Responsibilities

• Identify, assess, and mitigate claims, litigation, and liability exposures across clinical, operational, regulatory, and strategic domains.
• Oversee medical malpractice risk, catastrophic and high-severity claims, systemic loss trends, class actions, and other material exposure matters, including reserving strategy and claims valuation.
• Manage high-risk litigation and investigations, including False Claims Act/qui tam matters, regulatory enforcement, and significant commercial disputes.
• Develop and implement risk financing and insurance strategies, including self-funded liability programs, insurance funding and reserving strategies, excess and commercial insurance coverage, and enterprise insurance program design.
• Evaluate alternative risk financing structures such as captive insurance arrangements.
• Oversee claims governance, reserve and settlement strategy, outside counsel management, and litigation portfolio performance to align claims outcomes with organizational objectives.
• Partner with patient safety and quality functions to support loss prevention strategies and reduce preventable harm.
• Advise executive leadership and boards on risk governance, emerging exposures, insurance oversight, and enterprise risk strategy.

Qualifications

• JD required.
• Bar membership in Missouri (or other state(s) where Mercy operates).
• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in professional liability litigation, complex claims management, insurance coverage, risk financing, or related healthcare litigation leadership roles.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision coverage.
• Paid time off.
• Tuition support.
• Matched retirement plans for team members working 32+ hours per pay period.

About Mercy

Join a caring, collaborative team where your voice matters. At Mercy, you'll help shape the future of healthcare through innovation, technology, and compassion. As we grow, you'll grow with us.