We are looking for Game Changers

The types of people who wake up excited to make a difference. The superheroes of their field who care about the people they serve. If that sounds like you, we want you on our team. We recognize the importance of a quality work life balance and offer a generous paid time off program and flexible work arrangements to meet the changing needs of our workforce.

This position functions in the capacity of Easterseals MORC’s General Counsel. Responsibilities include directing the company’s legal strategy to ensure maximum protection of its legal rights and to maintain its operations within the limits prescribed by law. In performance of these duties, this position partners with other departments across all areas of the organizations’ business, providing support and counsel to the President/CEO and other members of the Senior Leadership Team. This position represents Easterseals MORC in all affairs requiring legal knowledge and expertise or legal privilege.

Another component of this position is to ensure the quality of the health and safety services for Easterseals MORC employees through project management of all health and safety concerns, and risk management/loss control and prevention pertaining to the agency. This position will ensure Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (MIOSHA) rules and regulations, American Disability Act (ADA), as well as other applicable laws, standards, regulations and policies associated with safety standards. Another component of this position is to oversee contract administration and management, ensuring that changes impacting the organization are communicated to appropriate leadership team members for execution and compliance.

Internal Investigations

• Ensures that system wide audits are established to investigate and monitor compliance with standards and procedures required by federals and state laws.
• Reviews reports of allegations of illegal conduct or behavior believed to be in violation of the Easterseals MORC Employee Handbook, agency Policies and Procedures or federal, state and local law.
• The investigation will include: determination of how problem was discovered, review of relevant policies and procedures, interviews of organizational members, utilization of outside resources as needed, review of information gathered to determine potential liability, and a determination of appropriate course of action, including a corrective action plan.
• Completes reports based on the findings of the internal investigation.
• Logs and maintains a copy of the report in a secure, confidential file.
• Makes recommendations for disciplinary action against any individual found to be in violation of the Easterseals MORC Employee Handbook, agency Policies and Procedures or federal, state and local law as requested.

Legal Compliance and Management

• Facilitates implementation of system-wide programs, policies and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable federal and state laws and regulations, such as those for Medicare, Medicaid, HIPAA, Michigan Mental Health Code, Hi-Tech, etc
• Develops and writes policies and procedures that establish standards for compliance, giving specific guidance to management, medical staff, and individual departments or employees, as appropriate.
• Directs the Easterseals MORC legal strategy while anticipating, managing and reducing areas of legal and business risk. Provides expert and strategic advice to members of the organization’s leadership team on legal matters impacting the organization.
• Selects and retains outside counsel, as required, to obtain legal opinions or to handle claims and litigation. Maintain ongoing communication with outside counsel.
• Reviews, researches, interprets, and prepares both written and oral opinions on a wide variety of legal issues.
• Drafts, reviews, and approves policies and procedures, regulations, bylaws, contracts, leases, purchase agreements and other legal documents as appropriate.
• Directs Easterseals MORC office location and real estate transactions, including negotiation of Leases, Purchase Agreements and management of real estate broker relationships.
• Represents or oversees the representation of Easterseals MORC and management, as needed, in judicial, administrative and dispute resolution proceedings, and in negotiations with other business and governmental entities, including purchase, merger and acquisition transactions.
• Provides counsel to the President/CEO on corporate governance issues.
• Reviews and coordinates response to subpoenas, including coordination of requests for documents or personal testimony of employees when directly related to their duties with Easterseals MORC.

Contract Drafting, Negotiation and Compliance

• Drafts agreements for independently contracted individuals and entities. Negotiate terms and conditions of agreements where required.
• Reviews and negotiates contracts for supplies and services purchased by Easterseals MORC.
• Enforces Easterseals MORC contractual provisions against breaching individuals and entities. Negotiate settlements and repayment provisions in lieu of enforcement actions.
• Represents Easterseals MORC in contractual disputes and dispute resolution including litigation. Preserves Easterseals MORC interests, rights and defenses through pre-enforcement activities.
• Reviews prospective contracts and advise President/CEO on risks, obligations and benefits of executing agreements.

Communication and Reporting

• Encourages open communication regarding compliance.
• Serves as chairperson of the Corporate Compliance Committee and primary contact person and consultant on all corporate compliance issues.
• Responds to reasonable requests for information from the federal, state or local government.
• Reviews complaints, concerns, or questions relative to compliance issues, and provides consultative leadership and support to all entities as appropriate and coordinates the organization’s response to such inquiries.
• Reviews internal and external monitoring activity findings for trends and issues and makes recommendations as necessary for strengthening corporate operations.
• Prepares an annual summary of corporate compliance activity for administration and Board review as requested.
• Maintains a system of reporting that provides timely and relevant information on all aspects of compliance issues.
• Ensures that internal controls throughout the system are sufficient to provide for accurate, complete, and compliant programs and processes.

Education and Training

• Coordinates training on issues related to corporate compliance.
• Ensures that training provides clear guidelines for all organizational members.
• Ensures that training provides an understanding of compliance issues related to employment responsibilities and to reinforce organizational commitment to compliance efforts.
• Works with the Corporate Compliance Committee to communicate compliance programs, including written materials and training programs designed to specifically promote an understanding of compliance issues and the consequences for non-compliance.

HIPAA

• Provides development, guidance, and assists in the identification, implementation, and maintenance of organization information related to privacy and security policies and procedures in coordination with organization management and administration, the Corporate Compliance Committee, and coordinates legal counsel.
• Coordinates initial and periodic risk assessments and conducts related ongoing compliance monitoring activities in coordination with other compliance and operational assessment functions.
• Works with legal counsel and management, key departments, and committees to ensure the organization has and maintains appropriate consents, authorization forms, and information notices and materials reflecting current organization and legal practices and requirements.
• Participates in the development, implementation, and ongoing compliance monitoring of all business associate agreements and contractual relationships, to ensure all requirements and responsibilities are addressed
• Establishes with management and operations a mechanism to track access to protected health information, within the purview of the organization and as required by law and to allow qualified individuals to review or receive a report on such activity.
• Establishes and administers a process for receiving, documenting, tracking, investigating, and acting on all complaints concerning the organization’s privacy and security policies and procedures in coordination and collaboration with other similar functions.
• Ensures compliance with privacy and security practices and consistent application of sanctions for failure to comply with privacy and security policies for all individuals in the organization’s workforce, extended workforce, and for all business associates, in cooperation with Human Resources, Corporate Compliance Committee, administration, and legal counsel as applicable.
• Initiates, facilitates, and promotes activities to foster information privacy and security awareness within the organization and related entities.
• Reviews all system-related information security plans throughout the organization’s network to ensure alignment between security and privacy practices, and acts as a resource to the information systems department.
• Works with all organization personnel involved with any aspect of the release of protected health information, to ensure full coordination and cooperation under the organization’s policies and procedures and legal requirements.
• Maintains current knowledge of applicable federal and state privacy and security laws, rules, regulations, and accreditation standards, and monitors advancements in information technologies to ensure organizational adaptation and compliance.
• Cooperates with the Office of Civil Rights, other legal entities, and organization officers in any compliance reviews or investigations.

Risk Management

• Serve as Chairperson for Risk Management Committee and oversees the initiatives associated with mitigating risk.
• Procure and manage appropriate liability insurances for the benefit of the company. Manage company’s relationship with insurance brokers.
• Promote safety and health awareness throughout the company.
• Understand federal and state occupational safety and health regulations and monitors regulatory changes as they occur.
• Ensure MIOSHA rules and regulations, ADA, as well as other applicable laws, standards, regulations and policies associated with safety standards are adhered to.
• Supervise and direct the overall Health and Safety initiatives and on-going practices.
• Ensure the compliance with all applicable laws and regulations associated with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Ensure that all insurance certificates and related requirements are met in the timeframes specified.
• Ensure appropriate response to emergency conditions.

Other

• Serve as a spokesperson for the Chief Executive Officer to support the guiding values and principles of the agency as outlined in the Mission Statement.

Benefits of Being a Superhero!

• We are proud to offer an equitable and inclusive environment that reflects the communities that we serve and encourages, supports and celebrates the diverse voices of our workforce.
• Here at Easterseals, life is good. We have flexible hours, loads of time off, and awesome events.
• 3 weeks of Personal Time Off /PTO PTO 3 floating holidays, in addition to Easterseals MORC 10 observed holidays.
• As a member of our family, you are part of a culture that values professional development, community service and collaboration.
• We keep it open, honest and inclusive. We care about providing our employees a collaborative experience, including quarterly team days.
• We not only offer our employees a competitive salary, we also provide bonuses and extra incentives to reward their hard work & dedication.
• Innovation is at the heart of our organization. We use cutting-edge technology and evidence-based practices.
• We offer fantastic benefits! We have a competitive and comprehensive salary and benefits package including Medical/Dental/Vision coverage with company contribution Flexible Spending Account, Voluntary Dependent reimbursement
• We offer a variety of resources centered on our 6 pillars of well-being to support staff in living a healthy lifestyle. Free access to Calm app? Yes please!
• We offer traditional and 401k options to ensure each of our employees are able to save for their future.
• We are a PSLF (Public Service Loan Forgiveness) Employer

Proud Winners of:

• Metro Detroit's 101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For
• Corp! Magazine Diversity Award Winner
• West Michigan's 101 Best & Brightest Companies to Work For
• Crain's Cool Places to Work
• Oakland Parenting Awareness Coalitions' Family Friendly Employer of the Year

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)