Associate Counsel, Labor & Employment

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is an academic private health system, focused on delivering compassionate, high quality care and putting discovery and innovation into practice at the bedside. Partnering with the University of Maryland School of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Nursing and University of Maryland, Baltimore who educate the state’s future health care professionals, UMMS is an integrated network of care, delivering 25 percent of all hospital care in urban, suburban and rural communities across the state of Maryland. UMMS puts academic medicine within reach through primary and specialty care delivered at 11 hospitals, including the flagship University of Maryland Medical Center, the System’s anchor institution in downtown Baltimore, as well as through a network of University of Maryland Urgent Care centers and more than 150 other locations in 13 counties. For more information, visit www.umms.org.

General Summary

Under limited supervision, this position is responsible for providing legal counsel regarding labor and employment matters to Human Resources and leaders, managers and employees of University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) and its member organizations.

Principal Responsibilities and Tasks

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this classification.  They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.

1. Provide legal counsel to Human Resources. 
2. Counsel management regarding complex employee relations matters, including but not limited to performance concerns, internal complaints, and requests for reasonable accommodations; work with clients to develop solutions that meet organizational goals and are compliant with federal, state and local labor and employment laws.
3. Represent UMMS and member organizations before federal, state and local administrative agencies that enforce workplace statutes and regulations, including but not limited to EEOC, MCCR and Department of Labor.  
4. Conduct internal investigations.
5. Participate as strategic counsel to workgroups and internal committees as the practice group representative.
6. Partner with ERISA counsel to ensure compliance with legal requirements applicable to employee benefit plans
7. Develop, review and revise employment-related policies and procedures within the Medical System to comply with applicable laws and regulations.
8. Draft and negotiate employment-related agreements (e.g., offer letters, severance agreements, settlement agreements).
9. Oversee immigration-related matters within the Medical System, including monitoring the activities of outside immigration counsel.  
10. Review inquiries/complaints from state and federal administrative, regulatory and other governmental agencies, perform necessary research of the law and internal practices, coordinate, draft, and negotiate the response and/or reviewing responses to the government agency.
11. Prepare and perform various legal training courses to Medical System employees and contractors, as required.
12. Corporate compliance work including investigating internal issues and interpreting applicable law.
13. Other duties as assigned.

Scope of Position

The responsibilities of this position require the individual to independently research, evaluate, interpret and resolve problems. Further, the individual guides and advises corporate officers and managers to ensure they are fully aware of the legal ramifications of their actions and decisions and advises them as to the proper and controlling legal requirements or precedents

This position affects corporate programs and established policy through participation as legal advisor on committees developing/implementing policies, programs and projects.

The individual in this position must remain current with labor and employment issues affecting the Medical System and its employees.

The individual acts within corporate policies and guidelines and according to the tenets of behavior of the legal profession.

Education and Experience

1. Juris Doctor Degree from an accredited law school.
2. Admission to the bar of at least one state, preferably Maryland.
3. At least five (5) years of progressively responsible experience as a practicing labor and employment attorney. 
4. Experience practicing labor and employment law in a law firm setting preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

1. Current knowledge of federal, Maryland state, and local labor and employment laws.
2. Strong consensus-building skills to align parties around recommendations that keep within the confines of the law but enable the organization to meet targeted business objectives.
3. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with attorney colleagues and clients in fast-paced practice group and legal department.
4. Established organizational and prioritization skills, including the ability to navigate competing priorities and handle multiple, complex matters with independence.
5. Proven ability to provide advice about legal requirements in specific contexts and find ways to meet them while pursuing operational objectives.
6. Highly effective verbal and written communication skills that enable the individual to successfully work with medical staff, management, residents, executive staff, and other personnel at all levels; regulators; other attorneys; and the community.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.

 Compensation

• Pay Range: $77,760-$200,000
• Other Compensation (if applicable):

Review the 2024-2025 UMMS Benefits Guide

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