Chief Legal Officer

The Opportunity

Bassett Healthcare Network (Bassett) has partnered with AMN Leadership Solutions in the recruitment of a new Chief Legal Officer (CLO). The CLO serves as the organization’s principal legal advisor and a key member of the Executive Leadership Team. The CLO provides sound legal counsel and makes recommendations to the CEO, Board of Directors, and senior leadership, ensuring the organization operates in compliance with applicable laws and regulations while enabling sound, timely business decisions.

In this capacity, the CLO oversees all legal matters for Bassett Healthcare Network including healthcare regulatory compliance, governance, contracts, employment law, privacy, and litigation management. This is an outstanding opportunity to assume an executive leadership position with the region’s healthcare leader.

Bassett Healthcare Network (Bassett), a leading integrated academic health system in rural upstate New York, serves an eight-county region covering 5,600 square miles and is a major teaching affiliate of Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. The hub of the network is Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown, which, in addition to traditional hospital-based care such as a birthing center and inpatient medical and surgical care, also offers sophisticated outpatient diagnostic and treatment capabilities.

This nationally recognized tertiary care hospital houses the Bassett Heart Care Institute and the Bassett Cancer Institute.

The Bassett Medical Group is comprised of a full-time, salaried staff, numbering more than 500 physicians and other advanced practice clinicians who provide primary and specialty care at the Bassett Clinic and staff Bassett Medical Center in Cooperstown. In the region, the Bassett Medical Group also staffs over two dozen community-based primary care centers throughout eight counties. Bassett’s school‑based health centers across four counties provide medical, mental health, and preventive dental care to children who might otherwise never have the chance to receive this care.

In addition to Bassett Medical Center, Bassett Healthcare Network has four area community hospitals:
Cobleskill Regional Hospital, O’Connor Hospital in Delhi, Little Falls Hospital, and A.O. Fox Hospital in Oneonta providing acute inpatient care and 24‑7 emergency care. A fifth hospital, A.O. Fox Hospital - Tri‑Town Campus in Sidney, provides emergency care as well as laboratory and radiology services.

• Juris Doctor Degree and ten (10) or more years of experience working as in‑house counsel for a law firm or healthcare organization.
• Admission (or eligibility for admission) to the New York Bar.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of trends in health care, especially related to legal, regulatory, compliance, risk and employment matters.
• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship building skills required in order to initiate and develop productive working partnerships with all levels of the organization, including the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Leadership Team, Board of Directors, management/leadership and staff.
• Ability to influence results, garner support and tactfully manage complex relationships and influences within and across the organization.
• Exceptional oral and written communication, persuasion, consulting, team building and negotiation skills.