The Senior Director of Compliance and Regulatory Affairs provides subject matter expertise, leadership and direction to support Federally Qualified Health Centers and other member organizations in understanding and maintaining compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and programmatic/funding requirements. The Senior Director will develop resources and interpretive aids, provide legal and regulatory-related training and updates, facilitate professional communities focused on legal and compliance matters, and promote a culture of compliance within member organizations. The Senior Director will serve as an internal legal and regulatory counsel, interfacing with Association leadership and staff, external counsel, agencies, authorities and partners on behalf of the Association's efforts/strategies.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES- Legal and Regulatory Interpretation and Support
- Serves as the primary organizational resource and technical expert in compliance, health law, and regulatory affairs.
- Monitors changes in federal and state laws, regulations, and applicable compliance standards, and ensure the Association and its members receive timely, accurate, and actionable information regarding new or revised laws, requirements and regulations
- Provides consultation and guidance to leadership and cross-functional teams on complex issues and risk management related to federal and state law, compliance and regulations and recommend necessary changes or actions.
- Develops interpretive resources such as fact sheets, memoranda, and briefs on identified regulatory changes, including their sources and effective dates. These resources should include accessible plain-language summaries, relevant citations, links to policies, and highlighted deadlines.
- Triages requests for regulatory interpretations and legal guidance based on urgency, scope, and risk. Coordinate with Association leadership, staff subject matter experts, and other relevant team members to ensure cohesive communications and prioritization of tasks, including dedicated resource support, strategy and coordinated actions where necessary.
- Member Resources and Technical Assistance
- Communicates legal, compliance, and regulatory issues to Association members through appropriate channels (such as email, newsletters, webinars, member community/network posts) using timely and well-documented interpretations, particularly for ambiguous or complex laws and regulations.
- Provides frequent, timely updates on ongoing issues and respond to Member inquiries, posts, and questions through email, member community/network posts, and other appropriate communication channels.
- Promotes a culture of compliance by providing accessible and practical legal/compliance/regulatory education and technical assistance that Association members can apply effectively to defensible decision-making, governance, and day-to-day operations.
- Participates in and organize legal/compliance/regulatory content for Association meetings, monthly updates, conferences, and other forums
- Creates supportive memos, fact sheets, and other legal/compliance/regulatory interpretive resources and develop relevant content for newsletters, etc.
- Collaborates with external legal, regulatory and compliance partners (such as Powers, Feldesman, NACHC Regulatory Affairs Team) around compliance resources and training.
- Facilitates a regulatory and compliance network of relevant Association member staff through the Association's online member community and in-person meetings.
- Legal Counsel Support
- Assists with the drafting, review, negotiation, and management of contracts and other legal documents for MPCA. Ensures that contracts/documents comply with applicable laws, regulations, and organizational policies.
- Supports Association staff leading and carrying out internally focused compliance, privacy, security etc. plans, policies, and procedures.
- As appropriate, provides legal expertise and consults on legal issues on behalf of the Association, including coordinating with external counsel where needed, working closely with the CEO and other Association leadership.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIESKnowledge of:- Health law, federally funded and regulated healthcare and public health programs, and applicable regulatory bodies
- Community-based primary health care systems and the needs of medically underserved populations, as well as private healthcare systems, managed care systems, and reimbursement systems
- Demonstrated high proficiency in written and oral communications, including the use of word processing and electronic communications technology.
- Working knowledge of spreadsheets, database software, and file and document management systems.
Skill/Abilities: - Advocacy: Participates and encourages others to engage in advocacy that supports health centers and the health and well-being of the patients they serve. Helps identify policy opportunities and contributes to expertise in the organization's policy and advocacy priorities and strategy.
- Analytical Thinking : Uses methodical, data-driven approaches to explore opportunities, solve problems, and support decision-making.
- Communication: Effectively exchange ideas, opinions, knowledge, feedback, and information with consideration and clarity so that the message is received and clearly understood through multiple forms of communication, both virtually and in person. Demonstrates the capacity to be aware of, manage, and express one's emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships and conflicts sensibly and empathetically, based on the audience.
- Facilitation and Engagement: Establishes safe and welcoming environments, structures meetings and gatherings to engage and effectively use participants' time, listens actively, encourages participant interaction and contribution, coordinates content for relevance and usefulness, and ensures desired outcomes are evaluated and reached while using feedback to improve future interactions.
- Flexibility, Adaptability, and Learning Agility: Demonstrates a willingness to adapt to new situations and needs, be open to different perspectives, and remain flexible in changing environments.
- Growth and Development: Strives to continually grow professionally, develop and deepen expertise, pursue improvement in individual work effectiveness, and actively promotes and participates in improving team and organizational work outcomes.
- Management: Leads brainstorming, goal setting, work planning, and work assignment processes for relevant staff team(s) and team members. Monitors work and provides effective feedback to support and guide team members, including problem-solving processes, risk/issue resolution, and performance improvement to manage challenges. Performs management-related administrative and personnel processes, including orientation, supporting professional development, overseeing timekeeping, conducting evaluations, and more.
- Leadership: Helps team members connect with the vision and strategy of the organization and its members, as well as how their work contributes. Fosters a shared sense of accountability for the organization's mission, values, and goals. Commits expertise and capacity to planning, carrying out, and evolving organizational priorities and strategy. Champions efforts to advance positive organizational culture and meaningful employee engagement.
- Organizational Culture: Actively engages in culture-building efforts and perpetuates the organization's simple rules- Be Open - Be Real - Be Clear - Be Kind. Supports and contributes to activities that support positive work culture and meaningful employee engagement.
- Project Management: Uses sound project management methods, processes, and tools supported by the organization across all phases of work (initiation, planning, organizing, executing, monitoring, reporting, and closing out).
- Relationships and Influence: Develops trusting relationships with member organizations and other stakeholders to encourage engagement and dialogue, foster comfort in asking for support, and inform individual and organizational work. Leverages relationships to positively influence member organizations.
- Strategic Alignment: Possesses an understanding of the organization's current strategy and goals. Carries out assignments and projects in alignment with the organization's strategies and in collaboration with strategic team members where applicable.
- Technological Efficiency and Adaptability: Uses technology effectively to carry out work responsibilities and assignments. Displays interest in exploring new/emerging technologies and the ability to learn, adapt, and incorporate new technologies into work.
Education/Experience:- Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school and admission to the State Bar of Michigan preferred. Other education/professional certification backgrounds such as health law, healthcare compliance, healthcare risk management etc. will be considered.
- At least 3 years of experience in relevant legal practice (etc), required.
- Experience in government or nonprofit settings preferred
