Associate Counsel

Overview

A national third-party administrator (TPA) with a local market presence is seeking an Associate Attorney to focus on the review, assessment, and negotiation of customer-facing and vendor contracts. This role involves providing legal guidance on contractual risk, regulatory compliance, and fiduciary considerations within a highly regulated healthcare and ERISA environment. The position requires close collaboration with executive leadership, Compliance, Sales, Vendor Management, and Operations teams to ensure contracts align with regulatory requirements, operational realities, and risk tolerance.

Responsibilities

• Review, assess, and negotiate customer-facing contracts, including Administrative Services Agreements (ASAs), Business Associate Agreements (BAAs), amendments, and addenda
• Review and negotiate vendor and subcontractor agreements such as network, pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), stop-loss, analytics, and cost-containment service agreements
• Identify legal, regulatory, and business risks in contract terms and provide practical recommendations
• Draft and revise contract provisions related to:
  • ERISA fiduciary and non-fiduciary status
  • HIPAA privacy, security, and breach notification
  • Indemnification and limitation of liability
  • Audit rights, correction rights, termination, and dispute resolution
• Ensure consistency across contract documents, proposals, and operational practices
• Support complex or non-standard negotiations and escalate material risks to leadership as appropriate
• Monitor regulatory developments impacting contracts and recommend updates to templates and playbooks
• Provide guidance on acceptable contract positions and negotiation strategies
• Collaborate with Compliance to align contractual obligations with policies and procedures
• Partner with Finance on fee structures, reimbursement terms, and risk allocation
• Support leadership with summaries of key contract risks and recommended mitigation strategies
• Develop, review, and maintain standard contract templates, fallback language, and negotiation playbooks
• Support contract governance, approval frameworks, and escalation protocols

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school
• Licensed and in good standing with at least one U.S. state bar
• 3–6 years of legal experience focusing on contracts, healthcare, insurance, or regulated services
• Experience reviewing and negotiating complex commercial contracts
• Strong working knowledge of healthcare regulatory frameworks, including HIPAA, ERISA, and Worker’s Compensation
• Ability to translate legal risk into practical business guidance
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Highly organized with strong attention to detail and sound legal judgment
• Ability to manage multiple matters and deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Experience in a TPA, health plan, cost-containment, insurance, or healthcare services organization preferred
• Familiarity with administrative services models and self-funded health plans preferred
• Experience with vendor agreements involving protected health information (PHI) and downstream compliance obligations preferred
• Exposure to Department of Labor (DOL) audits, regulatory inquiries, or healthcare compliance programs preferred

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range: $120,000—$135,000 USD, commensurate with experience and qualifications
• Eligibility for additional compensation including bonuses, merit increases, and sales commissions depending on role
• Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, and life insurance coverage
• 401(k) retirement plan with employer match
• Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Paid time off (PTO) and disability leave
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Location

Information about the specific location is not provided in the job description.