Legal Officer (Contract Law) – Office of Legal Affairs

Legal Officer (Contracts) – Office of Legal Affairs 

Position Summary

UTHealth Houston is seeking a Legal Officer to provide legal advice and counsel, primarily in the areas of contract compliance and compliance with the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA). Recognized as the most comprehensive academic health center in the UT System and the U.S. Gulf Coast region, UTHealth Houston is Texas’ resource for healthcare education, innovation, and excellence in patient care. Our mission is to educate health science professionals, discover and translate advances in the biomedical and social sciences and model the best practices in clinical care and public health. In addition to our seven schools, our faculty practice plan, UT Physicians, employs over 2,000+ providers that operate our 100+ clinical locations. We are also home to the largest academic behavioral health hospital in the country.

We are seeking candidates that are collaborative and take great pride in building relationships. In addition, the Legal Officer must have excellent research skills and a keen eye for detail. The Legal Officer should be able to interpret and apply complex laws and regulations, draft legal documents, and provide sound advice to key stakeholders across the university. Candidates should also have excellent oral and written communication skills, strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, and the ability to work independently and collaboratively with internal and external teams. This key position will report directly to our Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, Melissa Pifko, J.D.

Candidates should have a minimum of three (3) years of experience, hold a Juris Doctorate (JD) degree from an American Bar Association accredited law school and a license to practice law in Texas. All candidates will be considered with a preference for those with prior experience in healthcare, higher education, or transactional law.

Position Key Accountabilities

• Provides interpretation and opinions regarding various laws, regulations, and internal and external policies regarding contract compliance and compliance with the Teas Public Information Act (TPIA). 
• Reviews, drafts and negotiates a broad range of contracts. 
• Monitors the contract process to assure compliance with the organization’s contractual guidelines, satisifaction of customer specifications and adherence to organization policy. 
• Monitors and manages the TPIA process to ensure compliance with state law. 
• May act as a contract liaison between the organization and customers/vendors, including participation in precontract discussions, contract negotiations and contract changes. 
• Coordinates litigators and litigation and certain regulatory investigations involving the institution and its employees. 
• Drafts and/or reviews various documents and forms as required for institutional business purposes.
• Advises as necessary the various institutional committees and managers.
• Coordinates certain internal hearings and assures institutional policies are followed, and due process is achieved.
• Interacts and/or intervenes with The University of Texas System Office of General Counsel, the Texas Attorney General, and various private attorneys.
• Negotiates on behalf of the institution in mediation and other situations encountered in pursuit of resolving legal conflicts to which the institution is a party of interest.
• Attends depositions and other legal proceedings to assist/coordinate outside attorneys representing the institution.
• Conducts or participates in training on various legal issues.
• Responds to subpoenas and requests for information and records.
• Performs other duties as assigned. 

Certification/Skills:

• ATT- JD Attorney, Licensed by the State Bar of Texas required. 
• Proficiency in legal research via library or computer.

Minimum Education:

Juris Doctorate degree from an American Bar Association accredited law school required.

Minimum Experience:

Three (3) years of experience. Experience in health law, higher education, or transactional law preferred.

Physical Requirements:

Exerts up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds frequently and/or a negligible amount constantly to move objects.

Security Sensitive:

This job class may contain positions that are security sensitive and thereby subject to the provisions of Texas Education Code § 51.215

Residency Requirement:

Employees must permanently reside and work in the State of Texas.

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