Assistant General Counsel

Come join our team and become part of what the Boston Globe has recognized as one of the Top 100 Women-Led Businesses in Massachusetts 2018 - 2025! 

Saving lives through organ and tissue donation is the mission uniting our employees and drives the work we do. 

New England Donor Services (NEDS) coordinates organ and tissue donation in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, the eastern counties of Vermont and Bermuda. Responsible for one of the largest of the 55 Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) that make up the nation’s donation system, NEDS works with over 200 hospitals and serves nearly 15 million people in our region, screening nearly 55,000 potential donor referrals annually. With approximately $150M in operating revenues, NEDS employs 387 clinical and non-clinical staff members throughout New England and across the country.

Our vision is to be a leader in the development and implementation of strategies to increase the life-saving and life-enhancing gifts of organ and tissue donation through effective relationships with our clinical partners, donor families and the communities we serve.

The Assistant General Counsel directly provides legal advice to the employees of New England Donor Services, Inc. and its subsidiary New England Organ Bank, Inc. (“NEDS”) assuring the appropriate consideration of strategic Legal issues and risk reduction in the achievement of the organization’s mission and goals.  The Assistant General Counsel will provide legal advice and counsel in a variety of areas including general healthcare laws and regulations, laws and regulations governing organ procurement organizations and tissue recovery agencies, contract drafting and negotiation, employment and employee relations, health care compliance and corporate law.  In addition, the Assistant General Counsel will assist the Chief Legal Officer in matters as required.

• This is a hybrid position with travel to the Waltham office as needed. There is also an on-call requirement  50% of the time. 
• Knowledge of organ and tissue donation processes and terminology. Knowledge of laws, regulations, and policies (federal and state) that apply to organ and tissue donation and transplant strongly preferred. 
• Admitted to the Massachusetts Bar or eligible for admission within six months.

FOCUS AREAS/ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

Regulatory Compliance:

• Advise on federal and state healthcare laws and regulations, including the National Organ Transplant Act and implementing regulations, the Uniform Anatomical Gift Act, Human Cells, Tissues, and Cellular and Tissue-Based Products regulations and relevant fraud and abuse laws.
• Provide advice on compliance with CMS Conditions of Participation and OPTN Policies
• Support the corporate compliance program and provide legal advice related to compliance matters, including conflicts of interest and data privacy and security
• Conducts legal research and analysis on relevant laws, regulations, and case law, writing legal memoranda as requested
• Assist with investigations and responses to CMS, OPTN or other government inquiries or enforcement actions
• Monitor and interpret emerging regulatory changes and advise on operational impact and risk mitigation strategies
• Assist in responding to and drafting proposed legislation and regulation impacting NEDS
• Assists Chief Legal Officer in overseeing the NEDS Compliance Program and Conflict of Interest Process

Operational Legal Support

• Drafts, reviews and negotiates agreements including vendor, services and supplier agreements
• Responds to subpoena requests and requests for donor and other records from regulatory agencies, donor families and third parties
• Assists in drafting and revising organizational policies and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations
• Participates in on-call rotation to serve as a real-time/on call resource to clinical staff for legal issues, which may arise during donation cases
• Assists Privacy and Security Officers to maintain policies and procedures related to information privacy and security program
• Manages the organization’s emergency response program. Maintains and updates emergency preparedness program. Conducts risk assessments, plans tabletop exercises, and emergency drills. Coordinates with local and regional officials and partners in emergency planning.
• Assists Chief Legal Officer and Human Resources staff in addressing employee relations matters.

Training

• Provide New Hire Orientation Compliance and Legal issues training
• Provide training to staff on matters related to laws and regulations governing donation and transplant as needed and determined by the Chief Legal Officer and organization leadership.
• Provide training to external stakeholders on legal issues related to donation and transplantation

Litigation and Risk Management

• Assists Chief Legal Officer in managing litigation, including reviewing motions, discovery, pleadings, and communicating with outside counsel
• Assists Chief Legal Officer in organizational risk mitigation efforts including oversight of Conflict of Interest process, adverse event investigation, RCA and CAPA process and collaboration with the Information Technology Department to identify and address programmatic risk related to privacy and security

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Clinical Knowledge: Knowledge of organ and tissue donation processes and terminology. Knowledge of laws, regulations, and policies (federal and state) that apply to organ and tissue donation and transplant.
• Data Analysis: Ability to research, analyze and interpret regulatory information and determine its potential impact to the organization.
• Skilled Data Presenter: Experience in drafting and negotiating agreements and have a clear understanding of the lawyer's role as a legal and business advisor.
• Project Management Skills: Demonstrated ability to lead, organize, and manage multiple projects, adapt to changing priorities, and utilize time-management skills to meet deadlines.
• Problem Solving:  Ability to identify and appropriately balance risks and alternatives. Ability to analyze highly complex situations with multiple variables and make sound recommendations
• Decision Making:  Makes sound decisions under pressure and is willing to make difficult and unpopular decisions when necessary.  Foresees the consequences of decisions and takes decisive action based on well documented facts.
• Initiative:  Is a self-starter.  Seeks solutions and makes practical suggestions.  Displays ingenuity in anticipating and meeting unexpected situations.
• Organization: Able to successfully prioritize when faced with demands, requests and deadlines.  Effectively handles competing priorities. Is able to distinguish between the crucial and trivial.  Sees the big picture.  Keeps situations in proper perspective
• Optimization:  Ability to research, analyze and interpret regulatory information and determine its potential impact to the organization.
• Compliance: Knowledge of employment law and human resources management
• Confidentiality: Ability to handle highly confidential information in a professional manner.  High level of judgment and discretion.
• Workload Management: Ability to prioritize and manage diverse business priorities to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills.  Skilled at preparing complex written materials including correspondence, legal memos, presentations, and legislative testimony to meet purpose and audience.
• Interpersonal Skills: Strong interpersonal skills and ability to critically think, problem solve, and work productively both independently and as a team participant. Skilled in active listening and proven ability to handle sensitive and confidential information.
• Computer & Application Literacy: Proficiency Microsoft 365 suite

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• J.D. from an accredited institution
• 4-6 years of practice as a health care attorney representing hospitals and healthcare providers, with a preference for experience as in-house counsel.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS:

• Admitted to the Massachusetts Bar or eligible for admission within six months.

What You’ll Be a Part Of:

You will be part of a team that supports the NEDS mission, to Save and Heal Lives, through the gift of Organ and Tissue Donation.  As an NEDS employee, our benefits include:

• Generous paid time-off program
• Health, Dental, Vision, and Mental Health insurance coverage
• 2x Annual Salary Life Insurance
• Fertility Benefits
• Inclusive Healthcare Programs
• Flex Spending Account Options
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with Organizational Contributions
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Pet Insurance
• Working Advantage discounts Program.
• Personal career and skill development opportunities

You can also participate in Corporate sponsored events like the annual Blue & Green Walk, Community Volunteering opportunities, Organization-wide team-building outings, and more!

HIRING ALERT: NEDS continues to take precautions to protect our community, staff and partners from COVID-19. In order to be employed at NEDS, you must be vaccinated and boosted for COVID-19.

When you join New England Donor Services you can expect competitive salaries and a great benefit package. Benefits include a generous paid time off program, BCBS Health and Dental Insurance, Healthcare Reimbursement Account, 2x Annual Salary Life Insurance, Pet Insurance, Flexible Spending Account (FSA), Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Coverage, 403(b) Retirement Contribution, Tuition Reimbursement, Employee Assistance Program and Discounts through Working Advantage.

New England Donor Services is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates from all backgrounds to apply to meet the needs of the communities we serve.

Hear from some of our employees at www.neds.org/careers