General Counsel and Compliance Officer - LOPA

Job Title:General Counsel and Compliance Officer

Department:Executive

Reports to:Chief Executive Officer

Exemption:Exempt

Date Revised:8/7/2024

Position Summary

The General Counsel and Compliance Officer is responsible for providing counsel, legal advice to the leadership of LOPA and its Board of Directors to ensure the appropriate consideration of legal issues and risk reduction in the achievement of the organization’s mission and goals. 

Essential Functions

• Serves as a legal resource and provides counsel to the Board of Directors, CEO, and the leadership of the organization to ensure understanding of risks and consideration of legal issues in the achievement of organizational goals. 

• Provides legal analysis and advice on matters impacting the organization.

• Resolves contractual matters impacting LOPA.

• Serves as a real time/on call resource to clinical staff for legal issues that may arise during  donation cases.  

• Educates leadership/staff about current legal landscape within the industry.

• Keeps the CEO informed of any legislation, regulations, or other legal events that may impact LOPA.

• Advises the CEO on matters of corporate or board governance.

• Oversees active litigation with outside counsel and represents LOPA in court proceedings.

• Oversees and responds to subpoena requests.

• Serves as the corporate compliance officer for LOPA to achieve compliance, minimize risk and ensure the organization adheres to all Federal/state laws and regulations, as well as policies and accreditation standards.

• Establishes advocacy goals for LOPA at the Federal and state levels to support the achievement of favorable organ and tissue donation laws/regulations.  

• Establishes and maintains positive relationships with legislators, governmental departments, and legal executives at key healthcare entities to ensure support for and passage of desired legislation.

• Provides input to the executive team regarding vision, strategy, and policies.  

Represents LOPA by serving as an active contributor to national industry groups. 

Job Role Expectations

• Reviews, negotiates, or approves all contracts, and ensures compliance with applicable laws.

• Creates and maintains the contracts database.

• Annual review of agency policies for compliance with applicable state and federal laws

• Establishes programs and processes to assure compliance; develops, provides and/or oversees training for staff and board members on corporate compliance programs. 

• Collaborates with HR on the implementation of LOPA’s conflict of interest policy, including the review of the annual disclosure.

• Investigates and resolves corporate compliance issues or concerns, involving outside resources as needed. 

• Collaborates with Community and Marketing to develop and execute legislative strategy that will support goal achievement. 

• Provides leadership in the development and implementation of risk reduction strategies for LOPA to minimize risk and improve clinical and/or business processes.

• Collaborates with the CEO and CFO on LOPA’s liability insurance policies.

• Oversight of LOPA’s safety program to minimize safety risks to employees, and collaborates with HR on worker’s compensation claims and processes.

• Collaborates with department leaders to identify risk management goals for their area of responsibility.

• Advises staff on case-specific legal issues to determine options and appropriate actions.

• Investigates and resolves adverse events or other potential liabilities.

• Provides direction to the CEO and the organization in the identification of risk trends and improvement strategies. 

Organizational Expectations

• Upholds LOPA core values of selfless, authentic and passionate

• Serves as a role model for all employee and leadership written expectations 

• Timely completion of all required educational training, tasks, and SOP reviews by assigned due date.

Supervisory or Advanced Responsibilities

Supervision of direct reports per the Org Chart.

Work Environment

• Possible exposure to communicable diseases, bloodborne pathogens, airborne illnesses, hazardous materials, pharmacological agents with little likelihood of harm if established health precautions are followed.

• May, at times, have exposure to blood, packaged organs and tissues for transplant and/or research in a hospital setting or while in the office. 

• Possible mental and visual fatigue associated with detailed work.

• This position requires travel, as needed.

Physical Demands

• May require extended periods of sitting

• Requires driving and/or flying when travel is needed

Work Hours

Full time, salaried position. Typical work hours are Monday-Friday 8:30am to 5:00pm with flex time available at the discretion of the direct supervisor. May be required to advise on cases outside of normal work hours.

Education and Experience

• Juris Doctorate degree and 7+ years of legal experience in health care of government related law required.

• Member of the Bar in the state of Louisiana required.

• 5+ years in a corporate or non-profit environment preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of laws, regulations, and policies (federal and state) that apply to organ and tissue donation and transplant.  

• Knowledge of the functions and activities of a non-profit Board of Directors; knowledge of information that must be shared with the Board to satisfy fiduciary responsibilities.  

• Knowledge of legislative protocols, including public hearings on proposed legislation; skill in working with others for successful passage of desired legislation  

• Knowledge of organ and tissue donation processes and terminology.

• Skilled in thinking strategically about legal advice and its implications to operations.   

• Skilled in preparing complex written materials, including correspondence, legal briefs, legal memos, board memos, presentations, and legislative testimony to meet purpose and audience.  

• Establish and maintain positive relationships with Board members, leadership, and a wide variety of constituencies. 

• Skill of dealing with diverse business problems, issues, and opportunities in which many problems exist simultaneously, the problems compete for immediate attention, and the issues are interrelated.  

• Skill in problem-solving, including the ability to identify and appropriately evaluate alternatives. 

• Ability to make effective decisions and execute a course of action considering appropriate variables.  

• Ability to analyze and interpret regulatory information, determine its potential impact to the organization, and take appropriate action. 

• Ability to negotiate by collaborating with others to arrive at a conclusion using compromise, persuasion, rationale, and diplomacy.