Come work as a Senior Legal Counsel (Medical Affairs) with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH)!

Vancouver Coastal Health is looking for a Senior Legal Counsel (Medical Affairs) to join the team.

Reporting to the General Counsel, the Senior Legal Counsel (Medical Affairs) possesses strong leadership abilities and expertise to provide general legal support and advice to executive leaders at Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) and assist in managing the operations of the Legal Services department. The position handles escalated and challenging files in various specialized areas of law, and reviews and drafts documents/contracts, conducts legal research, advises on organizational risk management and other legal issues related to VCH business operations in healthcare.

In addition, the Senior Legal Counsel leads a coordinated approach to the negotiation of complex clinical service contracts and provides expert advice to internal partners—including operational and corporate leaders—on sustainable and cost-effective service models. The role requires building and maintaining strategic partnerships with key contacts such as VCH Vice Presidents, Senior Medical Directors, Department Heads, Operations Leaders, and external legal counsel to ensure consistency and transparency in negotiations and agreements.

The Senior Legal Counsel (Medical Affairs) supports the General Counsel in implementing the department’s strategic direction, managing the provision of legal services to the organization, administering the VCH regional policy framework, providing direction and guidance for various organizational programs, such as the VCH Whistleblower program, and supervising, mentoring and supporting the development and work of other legal and support staff across the department. Builds and supports partnerships both internally to the organization, as well as with external legal counsel in a strategic manner to support the growth of VCH Legal Services.

Apply today to join our team!

As a Senior Legal Counsel (Medical Affairs) with Vancouver Coastal Health you will:

• Lead and advise on the negotiation of complex clinical service contracts to ensure alignment with organizational goals and sustainability of service delivery.
• Provide expert legal support and guidance to VCH executive and senior leadership, staff and clients and other members of legal services team to enable effective decision-making.
• Support the General Counsel with short-term planning and monitoring of day-to-day operations of VCH Legal Services team. Leads the development of legal strategy and supports policy development as applicable.
• Respond to a variety of legal issues, including escalating and challenging files that affect the healthcare industry, medical affairs and the business operations of VCH. May strategize and/or contract with external counsel on (sections of) files and projects, in order to ensure organizational efficiency and effectiveness.
• Provide overall leadership and direction to team members using effective management techniques (e.g., coaching, mentoring, skill and leadership development, performance management). Inspires team toward the achievement of organizational and departmental strategic direction and goals through ensuring the culture is one in which individual competencies can thrive. Administers and supervises summer student and articling program as required.
• Review, research and prepare legal opinions that may have significant impact to the organization, its programs and services and to staff. Assists and informs the implementation of relevant policies and practices.
• Advise on new and existing legislation applicable to healthcare and the impact to the organization, programs and services, and staff.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Education & Experience

• Law Degree from a recognized University supplemented by a minimum of ten (10) years’ recent, related experience. Experience in healthcare and contract negotiations is required; a degree in Business Administration and/or knowledge of business management is an asset.
• Current member in good standing of the Law Society of British Columbia or eligible for membership within a specified period.

Knowledge & Abilities

• Substantial knowledge of and demonstrated familiarity with the legislative and regulatory framework governing healthcare.
• Expertise in analyzing, researching, evaluating and interpreting legal issues.
• Exemplary legal writing and preparation of correspondence, summaries and reports.
• Expertise in providing legal opinions and advice taking into account and understanding the needs of others to achieve helpful results.
• Effectively communicates both verbally and in writing to a variety of audiences.
• Expertise in negotiating and drafting legal documents.
• Expertise in commercial transactions and real property law.

Shared Values:

You care for everyone:

• You are compassionate, empathetic, and sensitive to the needs of others.
• You are respectful, treating people as equals, and valuing others’ perspectives and differences.
• You are appreciative of others’ efforts and give them praise when it’s due.

You are always learning:

• You are open minded, always receptive to different perspectives and ways of doing things.
• You are curious and ask questions to find a deeper understanding.
• You share your expertise and mentor others by sharing your knowledge and experience.

You strive for better results:

• You are accountable, and take responsibility for what you say, what you do, and who you engage in achieving better results.
• You are a solution finder, empowered to solve the challenges we face in healthcare.
• You take ownership for growth and development and personal development, always seek feedback and opportunities to improve how we do things.

As per Ministry of Health policy, all health care workers working in publicly-funded health care facilities are required to report their past receipt of certain vaccines or history of certain infections. Collecting these records will allow for offering of any missing vaccines, and for appropriate actions to be taken in the event of any future exposure to a communicable disease or during outbreaks. For all new hires and appointments to Vancouver Coastal Health, you will be asked to provide this information as part of the onboarding process.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Harleen Dastur-Randhawa, Manager, Executive Talent Acquisition at executivecareers@vch.ca.

WHY JOIN VANCOUVER COASTAL HEALTH?

VCH is a world class innovator in medical care, research, and teaching, delivering service to more than one million BC residents. At VCH, we embrace thinking boldly, taking smart risks, and "going first" when we believe it will lead to the best possible outcomes for patients and their families. We invite you to join us in creating healthy lives in healthy communities by showcasing our passion for care, connection to the communities we serve and our culture of teamwork that makes VCH a great place to work.

• Comprehensive health benefits package, including MSP, extended health, and dental and municipal pension plan.
• Grow your career with employer-paid training and leadership development opportunities.
• Wellness supports, including counselling, critical incident and innovative wellness services are available to employees and their immediate families.
• Award-winning recognition programs to honour staff, medical staff and volunteers.
• Access to exclusive discount offers and deals for VCH staff.

At Vancouver Coastal Health, our vision of healthy lives in healthy communities inspires us and our values and pillars guide us. We support equitable practices, diverse teams, and inclusive environments, which are integral to creating welcoming spaces where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and feel supported. We encourage applications from equity-deserving communities, including Indigenous Peoples and members of racialized groups, people with disabilities and people of all gender identities and expressions and sexual orientation.

Vancouver Coastal Health is proud to be recognized as one of Canada's Top 100 Employers in 2024.

Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for this posting.

***Employees of VCH must apply online via the Internal Career Portal on CareerHub, you are currently viewing the External Career Portal. Refer to the https://my.vch.ca/working-here/job-postings site for instructions on how to view internal job postings and how to apply as an employee. Current VCH employees who apply to this posting using this external site will be considered as an external candidate. Seniority will not apply.***

Thank you for your interest in Vancouver Coastal Health.