General Counsel

At Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin, Inc. (PPWI), we work to provide quality, affordable health care services, comprehensive education, and strong advocacy.  We serve over 60,000 patients annually in 22 health centers statewide, making us the largest and most trusted reproductive health care provider in Wisconsin.  Our goal is to help keep Wisconsin safe, healthy and strong!

 

This is an excellent opportunity for a General Counsel (40 hrs. /wk., benefits eligible).

PURPOSE of POSITION:  

The General Counsel position leads the Office of General Counsel responsible for thedevelopment and implementation oflegal strategies aimed atcreating a climate where reproductive and sexual health services andcomprehensive sexuality education is protected andpromoted.This includes leading legalstrategies designed to extend and defend constitutional rights associated with reproductive health and healthcare, including gender affirming care, contraception, and abortion. This positionadvises on the development and implementation of administrative agency, legislative and community strategies aimed at supporting PPWI's mission. This position will also lead the agency's risk management and compliance work. It is the lead agency liaison for legal, compliance and litigation efforts. 

 

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: 

Must be committed to excellent customer service and the vision and values of PPWI. 

Demonstrated competency in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and leadership anchored in equity. 

Must possess demonstrated legal research and writing skills. 

Must possess diplomatic skills and the ability to work effectively with internal and external stakeholders, including colleagues, consultants, government officials, outside counsel, and partner organizations. 

Ability to operate autonomously and in concert with others and ensure that projects are completed thoroughly and on time.  

Ability to serve as a public spokesperson as necessary. 

Must maintain confidentiality. 

Must be committed to comprehensive, voluntary family planning programs and a patient's right to make personal decisions regarding health care, including abortion and gender affirming care.  

Must have the ability to monitor and operationalize agency strategic objectives that fall under the purview of the Office of General Counsel.  

Ability to effectively communicate both orally and in writing to a variety of audiences, including colleagues, board members, supporters, community members and other stakeholders and partners.  

EDUCATION  and/or EXPERIENCE:  

Juris Doctorate from an ABA accredited law school, current license to practice law in the state of Wisconsin and member of the State Bar of Wisconsin required.  

Five (5)years of legal experience, with a preference for prior experience in the development of litigation strategy or organizational risk, quality management work.  

Prior legal experience with campaign finance law, 501(c)(3)/501(c)(4) compliance, public interest law, commercial leases, employment contracts or healthcare law preferred.  

Related work experience in community organizing, governmental relations, public policy, and/or public affairs work is also preferred.   

Requires supervisory experience.  

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:  

Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The position is predominantly sedentary, requiring the ability to sit, bend, stand and walk.  May require occasional stooping, reaching, stair-climbing and repetitive motions of the hands and wrist related to writing and typing on an electronic keyboard.  Rarely requires kneeling, pushing/pulling and repetitive motions of the feet. 

Physical demands of the position necessitate hearing, talking, handling and grasping regularly.  May require lifting, up to 30 pounds. Specific vision conditions include close vision reading.  Requires the ability to operate a computer, telephone, fax, copy machine and adding machine or calculator. 

WORKING CONDITIONS: 

The position is generally performed in an office environment but involves frequent interruptions.  The noise level is generally low to quiet.  The work environment characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this position.  Reasonable accommodations, however, may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform said essential functions. 

Evening and/or weekend hours may be necessary. 

This position requires occasional traveling statewide, therefore a valid driver's license and auto insurance in accordance with agency liability standards is required.  Must have transportation. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES:

• At the direction of the Chief Strategy Officer, in consultation with the President and CEO and other senior leadership, manage in-house counsel and represent PPWI's interests in matters related to government agencies and officials, opposing counsel, health care compliance, employee matters and agency-wide corporate compliance.   
• Work to enhance the safety and security of PPWI patients and staff through legal strategies related to federal, state, and local laws and ordinances 
• Develop, direct and implement a legal strategy that builds PPWI's statewide power and strengthens and protects a patient's legal and constitutional rights to access the full range of reproductive healthcare, including contraception, gender affirming care, and abortion services. Participate in formulation of administrative agency and legislative strategies that promote these goals.  
• This position will work with the Chief Strategy Officer to develop and grow PPWI's Office of General Counsel. 
• Development of departmental budget. 
• Conduct legal research on issues impacting PPWI and assess whether internal or external counsel is appropriate.  
• Serve as strategic lead on PPWI's litigation strategy. Coordinate litigation strategy with Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) litigation and law team and/or outside legal counsel, and/or other advocacy organizations on potential or active PPWI lawsuits. 
• Assist PPFA litigation and law attorneys and/or outside counsel in the preparation of motions, briefs, discovery requests, witness preparation and other trial or appellate related documents. 
• Provide legal updates to internal staff, board, or other stakeholders on any litigation efforts that impact reproductive rights and protect the organization's ability to provide necessary services. 
• Act as media spokesperson on legal, operations and policy issues as assigned. 
• Act as legal counsel for PPWI as applicable. 
• Review changes to agency policy and protocol to ensure that they are in compliance with relevant laws. 
• Oversee qualified staff to prepare regular state lobbying filings to state ethics board in accordance with state and federal law. 
• Serve as the C3/C4 separation compliance officer. Create and implement training and compliance processes as needed. 
• Research, monitor and review new, existing and proposed federal and state laws and regulations that affect health care systems; collaborate with Chief Strategy Officer to recommend policies and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations. 
• Prepare legislative and regulatory analysis, memos and materials on relevant public policy matters. 
• Analyze and draft legislative amendments and legislation, or direct appropriate staff to draft. 
• Work with government relations staff to inform and advance government relations strategies related to protecting and expanding access to the full range of reproductive health care, including abortion.  
• As assigned, attend and participate in related hearings, committee meetings, legislative sessions, and other public forums by providing testimony and working with public affairs staff to secure coalition, organizational and individual support/opposition as well as favorable media coverage of issues. 
• As assigned, serve as lobbyist registered with the state of Wisconsin. 
• Perform other duties as assigned. 

PPWI is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity in the workplace.