Vice President - Deputy General Counsel

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Job Description: Vice President and Deputy General Counsel

Company Overview

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is a community-focused, tax-paying, not-for-profit health plan, operating as an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. We manage approximately $15 billion in annual health care spending for our customers and employ a diverse workforce of 3,800 associates. Our mission is the relentless pursuit of quality, affordable health care with an unparalleled consumer experience. We are proud to foster a diverse and inclusive workplace and believe that our strength lies in our differences. Consistent with our corporate mission of showing up for everyone like they are the only one, we are rated among the nation’s best health plans for member satisfaction and quality.

The Position

The Vice President and Deputy General Counsel is a senior leadership role within our 17-lawyer Law Department, reporting directly to the General Counsel. This individual will be a key member of the legal leadership team, responsible for overseeing the team of lawyers that supports many of the company’s key business areas. In addition to management responsibilities, the DGC will actively contribute to complex transactional matters, particularly in the areas of vendor and IT contracting, and provide guidance to key business areas on legal and regulatory matters.

We are seeking a forward-thinking leader who is passionate about legal innovation and has experience leveraging technology, including Artificial Intelligence, to transform the delivery of legal services.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and mentor a team of high-performing lawyers and legal professionals, fostering a culture of performance, collaboration, and professional growth.
• Oversee the legal teams supporting key transactional functions, including provider contracting and vendor contracting, ensuring efficient and effective legal support for the business.
• Act as a hands-on contributor by personally supporting a variety of complex commercial agreements, with a primary focus on strategic vendor and IT contracts.
• Drive the adoption and optimization of new legal technologies, including the company's AI-powered contracting platform, to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the legal function.
• Provide strategic legal counsel and guidance to senior business leaders on a wide range of matters, including strategic alliances and other innovative collaborations.
• Identify, analyze, and mitigate legal risks to help the company achieve its business objectives within a complex regulatory environment.
• Champion inclusion initiatives within the Law Department, and contribute to the company's inclusive culture.
• Manage the recruitment, professional development, and retention of legal talent, with a focus on building a strong pipeline for future leadership roles.
• Represent the company in negotiations with key external partners.

Requisite Skills and Experience

• JD degree from an ABA-accredited law school and an active membership in good standing of the Massachusetts Bar.
• A minimum of 15 years of sophisticated corporate and transactional legal experience, gained through a combination of law firm and in-house roles.
• Demonstrated experience managing and leading teams of lawyers covering a broad spectrum of subject matters in a corporate legal department or law firm.
• Significant experience in drafting and negotiating complex commercial contracts, with deep expertise in vendor and IT agreements strongly preferred.
• Proven experience with the implementation and use of legal technology and AI tools to drive efficiency and transform legal processes. A track record of leading change and innovation is essential.
• Experience in health law (e.g., payer, provider, life sciences, etc.) and regulatory compliance.
• Prior experience with payers or providers desirable.
• Exceptional business acumen and judgment, with the ability to provide practical, solutions-oriented legal advice that aligns with business goals.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and build consensus with senior leaders and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated potential for executive leadership.

Key Leadership Competencies

• Strategy: Thinking, Aligning & Innovating – An individual’s ability to develop strategy, align others around a strategy, be innovative and approach issues with a strategic mindset.
• Execution: Driving & Adapting – An individual’s ability to drive execution for results and being adept in executing and adapting in a changing environment.
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