Employment Attorney

About the role

Baystate Health is seeking an experienced Employment Attorney to join its Legal Department in Springfield, MA The Employment Attorney will provide strategic, practical legal guidance on a broad range of employment and labor relations matters.

RESPONSIBILITIES: Reporting within the Legal Department and working under the oversight of the Chief Legal Officer, this role partners closely with organizational leadership, Human Resources, Risk Management, and other stakeholders to proactively identify and mitigate legal risk.

The Associate General Counsel will manage employment-related litigation and government investigations, advise on complex workplace matters, and help ensure compliance with applicable employment laws and regulations.

This is an opportunity for an accomplished employment attorney to serve as a trusted legal advisor within a complex healthcare organization, balancing sound legal strategy with operational priorities and organizational objectives.

Provide Strategic Legal Counsel: Advise organizational leadership and Human Resources on employment and labor relations matters, including hiring, physician recruitment and contracting, performance management, discipline, termination, discrimination, harassment, accommodations, and workforce restructuring.

Manage Litigation and Claims: Oversee employment-related litigation, administrative charges, disputes, and government investigations, coordinating case strategy, resolution, and settlement with internal stakeholders and outside counsel. Lead Workplace Investigation Support: Provide legal guidance on internal investigations, employment disputes, and strategies to prevent and mitigate employment-related risk.

Partner with Outside Counsel: Serve as the primary liaison with outside employment and labor counsel, collaborating on litigation defense, case management, negotiations, and legal strategy. Coordinate with Risk Management: Work with Risk Management and the captive insurance program to evaluate potential employment claims and lawsuits, manage defense strategies, and support appropriate resolutions.

Draft and Negotiate Agreements: Prepare, review, and negotiate employment agreements, physician employment agreements, severance and separation agreements, settlement agreements, contracts, legal memoranda, and other legal documents.

Support Healthcare Professionals: Provide employment-related legal guidance involving physicians and other healthcare professionals in collaboration with medical staff, Human Resources, and operational leaders. Develop Legal Education: Create and deliver training on employment law, regulatory compliance, emerging legal issues, and effective workplace practices.

Monitor Legal Developments: Stay informed of changes in employment law, healthcare regulations, and industry trends to help ensure appropriate legal strategies and practices. Collaborate Across the Organization: Partner with leaders across functional areas to address reputational, financial, operational, and legal risks while advancing organizational priorities.

Maintain Confidentiality: Protect attorney-client privileged information and sensitive organizational information in accordance with applicable ethical and legal requirements.

LOCATION: 280 Chestnut St. Springfield, MA Requires travel to all Baystate Health Entities QUALIFICATIONS: 7+ years of progressively responsible employment law experience, including substantial experience with employment litigation and advising organizations on employment-related legal risk.

Current licensure and good standing to practice law in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, including membership in good standing with the Massachusetts Bar. Demonstrated expertise in employment law, litigation strategy, administrative proceedings, government investigations, and regulatory compliance.

Strong knowledge of employment matters involving ADA accommodations, FMLA and other leaves, terminations, reductions in force, performance management, workplace investigations, and employee relations. Experience providing practical, strategic legal advice in a business environment. Excellent legal research, writing, analytical, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.

Ability to evaluate complex situations and develop clear, concise, and effective legal solutions. Strong interpersonal, influencing, and collaboration skills. Professional judgment, integrity, discretion, and the ability to anticipate legal issues and organizational risks. Business and financial acumen, with an understanding of how legal decisions affect organizational operations and objectives.

Education: Juris Doctor (Required) Certifications:

Compensation

Note: The compensation range(s) in the table below represent the base salaries for all positions at a given grade across the health system. Typically, a new hire can expect a starting salary somewhere in the lower part of the range. Actual salaries may vary by position and will be determined based on the candidate's relevant experience. No employee will be paid below the minimum of the range. Pay ranges are listed as hourly for non-exempt employees and based on assumed full time commitment for exempt employees.