VP & General Counsel- WVUH & UHA

About the role

The Vice President & General Counsel (VP) serves as the on-site General Counsel for West Virginia University Hospitals, Inc. (WVUH) and West Virginia University Medical Corporation d/b/a University Health Associates (UHA), reporting to the Senior Vice President & Chief Legal Officer (CLO) of WVU Health System.

Responsibilities

• Serves as the key legal advisor to WVUH and UHA senior leadership, providing high-level counsel on complex legal matters.
• Oversees the on-site, day-to-day legal affairs of UHA and WVUH, including risk management, contracts, medical staff affairs, corporate matters, insurance, and day-to-day legal issues.
• Assists WVUHS Litigation Counsel with handling malpractice, employment, and other lawsuits against UHA, WVUH, and its subsidiaries.
• Assists Associate General Counsels, AVPs, and the CLO with handling contracts and transactions involving UHA, WVUH, and its subsidiaries.
• Oversees or participates in the oversight of outside counsel for UHA, WVUH, and its subsidiaries.
• Develops and implements an educational program for the Boards of Directors, committees, officers, and employees regarding applicable laws and legal duties.
• Manages sensitive employee relations investigations and maintains confidentiality and fairness.
• Develops and implements policies and procedures to ensure organizational compliance and consistency.
• Manages multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment and makes sound judgments and decisions on high-stakes legal matters.

Requirements

• Minimum of 10 years of legal experience, with at least 5 years focused on healthcare or hospital legal matters.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, including mentoring or supervising other legal professionals.
• Prior experience as in-house counsel within a healthcare system.
• Prior experience supporting multi-site or multi-entity healthcare organizations and/or academic medical centers.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
• Active and unrestricted license to practice law in West Virginia or eligibility to obtain licensure within one year of hire.

Skills

• Strong knowledge of healthcare, contracts, employment law, medical staff affairs, regulatory compliance at the federal and state level, and corporate governance.
• Excellent legal research, analytical, and problem-solving skills with the ability to assess risk and offer practical, business-minded solutions.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex information in a clear, concise, and professional manner.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and collaborate effectively across all levels of the organization.
• Proven ability to manage and oversee sensitive employee relations investigations while maintaining confidentiality and fairness.
• Proven ability to develop, implement, and interpret policies and procedures to ensure organizational compliance and consistency.
• Skilled in leading and mentoring others.
• Proactive approach with strong organizational and project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Sound judgment and decision-making abilities, with the confidence to advise senior leaders on high-stakes legal matters.
• Commitment to professional growth and staying current on healthcare, employment, and contract law trends, regulatory changes, and best legal practices.