Special Counsel, Health Affairs, Privacy & Data Protection

Position Summary

Reporting to the Systemwide Chief Health Counsel and Deputy General Counsel, Health Affairs, Privacy and Data Protection, the Special Counsel advises UC Health, Office of the President, Faculty Senate, and other campus and Oakland stakeholders on a broad range of federal civil rights matters, federal investigations, federal health law and regulatory matters, and privacy and cybersecurity affecting the University's academic medical centers, health sciences schools, and other clinical, research, and education operations.

Responsibilities

75% Core Client Service

• Establishes effective relationships with key internal and external constituencies.
• Recognizes strategic needs of organization and proactively builds relationships with appropriate stakeholders to ensure successful outcomes.
• Provides highest-level strategic leadership and counsel on federal civil rights matters, federal investigations, federal health legal and regulatory matters, privacy and security, and federal research investigations and compliance, including independently initiating, managing and completing long-term projects, anticipating areas of risk, concern, and/or liability, proposing fully-developed solutions that anticipate challenges, and taking full accountability for recommendations and decisions.
• Works with colleagues at the Office of the President or campus/medical center locations to develop and modify practices and procedures to conform with changing legal requirements.
• Serves as nationwide, recognized expert within the University in all issues related to federal civil rights, federal investigations, and other federal health legal and regulatory matters.
• Independently and with minimal or no supervision advises senior leadership in UC Health and the medical centers and the research enterprise on the above issues.
• Directly negotiates matters on behalf of The Regents.
• May act as a liaison with outside counsel, and/or represent the University in complex regulatory matters, investigations, or litigation.
• Provides guidance to attorneys interested in field of expertise.
• Develops objectives and ensures service according to established priorities.
• Represent institutional concerns persuasively to internal and external parties.

15%

Streamlines and improves business processes, policies or practices, including identifying threats and opportunities in these areas and providing training and education to executive leadership and developing practical client alerts and tools to ensure compliance.

10% Resource Management

• Typically manages outside counsel budget for area of specialty.
• Prepares cost/benefit proposals concerning areas of work to perform in-house, versus payment for an outside firm.
• Ensures accurate record keeping in compliance with OGC data quality protocols.
• Complies with delegations of authority for committing University funds.
• Appropriately delegates work to maximize efficiency of University resources and provide opportunities for growth of the legal staff.
• Provides clear expectations and mentors legal support staff to establish strong commitment to teamwork and to meet expected levels of productivity and accuracy.