General Counsel

Key Responsibilities

• Serves as principal legal advisor to the CEO, Executive Leadership Team, and Board of Directors on strategic, operational, regulatory, governance, employment, transactional, and clinical matters.
• Provides practical, risk-balanced legal guidance that advances organizational priorities while protecting the health center’s mission, assets, reputation, and regulatory standing.
• Advises leadership on emerging healthcare laws, regulatory developments, litigation risks, reimbursement changes, and operational implications affecting FQHCs and safety-net providers.
• Partners with operational and clinical leaders to proactively identify legal and compliance risks and develop effective, mission-aligned solutions.
• Oversees management of outside counsel and legal expenditures.
• Drafts, reviews, negotiates, and oversees a wide range of contracts and legal agreements, including: Provider and professional services agreements, Managed care and payer agreements, Technology, software, and information services contracts, Real estate and lease transactions, Vendor and procurement agreements, Affiliation, partnership, and clinical integration agreements.
• Supports complex strategic initiatives, affiliations, acquisitions, partnerships, and business transactions.
• Develops efficient systems and workflows for contract review, approval, renewal, and tracking.

Healthcare Regulatory & Clinical Legal Support

• Advises on healthcare regulatory compliance matters, including: Section 330 FQHC program requirements, HRSA scope of project rules, FTCA deeming and risk management, Medicare, Medi-Cal, and payer compliance, Provider credentialing and privileging, HIPAA and patient privacy, Clinical quality and risk management issues, Fraud and abuse laws, including Stark Law, Anti-Kickback Statute, and False Claims Act.
• Provides counsel regarding professional liability, medical-legal issues, clinical operations, peer review, and medical staff matters.
• Supports organizational readiness for audits, investigations, accreditation reviews, and regulatory surveys.

Corporate Governance & Board Relations

• Serves as a trusted advisor to the Board of Directors and Board Committees regarding governance, fiduciary obligations, healthcare regulatory requirements, and corporate best practices.
• Supports Board development, governance education, and compliance oversight activities.
• Assists with preparation and review of Board resolutions, bylaws, policies, governance documents, and committee structures.
• Reports regularly to the Board and relevant committees regarding legal, compliance, enterprise risk, and regulatory matters.

Corporate Compliance & Ethics

• Provides executive oversight of the organization’s enterprise compliance and ethics program.
• Designs, implements, and continuously strengthens a comprehensive compliance infrastructure consistent with OIG guidance and healthcare industry best practices.
• Leads organizational compliance risk assessments and develops annual compliance work plans and monitoring activities.
• Oversees compliance investigations, reporting mechanisms, hotline processes, corrective action plans, and response protocols.
• Develops and maintains policies, procedures, and internal controls to prevent, detect, and address regulatory or ethical concerns.
• Collaborates with operational leaders to integrate compliance into clinical and business workflows.
• Oversees organization-wide compliance education and training programs for staff, leadership, and the Board.

Policy Development & Organizational Leadership

• Oversees legal review and development of organizational policies, procedures, and governance documents.
• Participates in executive and management committees and contributes to organizational strategic planning and operational decision-making.
• Promotes a culture of integrity, accountability, transparency, equity, and mission-centered service.