Vice President, General Counsel of CSS and CRISP

Company and Job Summary

The General Counsel advises the CRISP Shared Services’ and CRISP President and CEO, Boards of Directors, and Senior Leadership Team on all legal implications and potential issues pertaining to the operation of the Company’s business. They collaborate on company strategies and their implementation, advise on HIPAA matters, negotiate and structure partner agreements, and manage operational issues. They engage outside legal resources as appropriate.

CRISP Shared Services is an innovative, entrepreneurial, non-profit technology company, providing services to health information exchanges and states across the country. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the General Counsel ensures that CSS navigates legal issues carefully and advocates on a local, regional, and national level for interoperability matters. Importantly, this role is a dual General Counsel role, with a successful candidate acting as both the General Counsel for CRISP Shared Services, a technology and resource provider for health information exchanges (HIEs) throughout the country, and CRISP, the Maryland HIE.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Strategic Legal Advice

• Actively participate as member of C-Suite; provide strategic legal and business advice to a growing company, including guiding the Chief Executive Officer, President, and Board of Directors on new business and overall governance structures; provide this expertise at both CSS and CRISP
• Serve as a collaborative legal resource to both company’s departmental heads, including Security, Technology, HIE Projects, People Operations, Finance, and Administration
• Draft and negotiate both small and large contracts with customers, technology vendors, and governmental entities
• Develop policies and procedures to ensure compliance with state and federal laws, including employment and not-for-profit regulations
• Manage multiple outside counsel relationships
• Provide Maryland-specific advice and guidance for multiple Maryland-based projects

Data Privacy and Health IT Policy

• Provide data and health legal and policy advice for health information exchanges and health data utilities in the mid-Atlantic region, including regularly interfacing with patients and consumer advocates, partnering with technologists to shape products and services while promoting individual privacy, and interfacing with state and federal
• Lead collaborative discussions and solutioning workgroups with multi-state, multi-stakeholder representatives on technological, policy, and legal solutions for protecting privacy within electronic health records
• Manage a team to provide policy guidance and requirements for new and existing technology, access controls, and user monitoring; monitor, track, and resolve all privacy issues

Governance

• Manage a team responsible for the governance of five Boards and several emerging entities, including Board management, corporate compliance, and governance processes
• Provide advice and generate materials for multiple committees across five entities, including auditing, privacy and security; and data use committees; staff the Maryland Consumer Advisory Council and Research Committee

Industry Leadership

• Provide general HIE knowledge and expertise to advise CSS’ HIE Partners in various states and territories
• Advise states and territories, including government officials, outside of the CSS’ HIE partners on best practices for health data exchange, including developing and updating model legislation and regulations for states and territories and participation in National Networks (e.g., TEFCA, Carequality, eHealth Exchange)
• Regularly speak and publish on industry topics important to CSS and CRISP
• Participate in Boards and Councils relevant to CSS and CRISP

Advocacy

• Actively participate in various trade associations’ government relations and advocacy committees, including participating in federal congressional and executive branch meetings
• Monitor emerging federal regulations affecting industry sector; draft comments on proposed federal regulations representing CSS and its HIE partners; draft comments on Maryland regulations affecting CRISP
• Prepare testimony and testify in state legislative hearings on issues relevant to CRISP and CSS; collaborate with advocacy groups to provide technical advice and education on draft legislation
• Participate in HIE policy boards in multiple states and territories, providing feedback on draft state regulations and emerging policy issues

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, the incumbent must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Ability to synthesize and evaluate complex issues and recommend solutions
• Ability to quickly understand technical concepts
• Ability to manage individuals and work effectively with a variety of people in a team environment
• Skill and proven experience with negotiations and contract drafting
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize, and work under deadlines
• Flexibility to adapt to changes in priorities and direction
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, verbally and in writing
• Ability to communicate and interact with officials at all levels of government and to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community, including C-level executives
• Demonstration of consistently sound judgment
• Strong administrative and project management skills
• Demonstrated eagerness to learn

Experience and/or Education Requirements

• Juris Doctor degree; Always mention GoInhouse.com when submitting your application.
• Admission to the Maryland bar
• At least 10+ years of legal experience, in positions of responsibility, with work on complicated issues and experience advising senior decision-makers
• Experience managing teams of at least 5 people
• Experience in health care and/or health IT
• Subject matter expertise in Privacy and Security, federal (HIPAA, HITECH and 42 CFR Part 2) and state health care regulatory requirements, with a specific emphasis on Maryland laws and regulations
• Strong understanding of health information exchange (HIE) and National Network Policy
• State and/or Federal advocacy experience