Regulatory and Legal Affairs Attorney

The CDC Foundation helps the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) save and improve lives by unleashing the power of collaboration between CDC, philanthropies, corporations, organizations and individuals to protect the health, safety and security of America and the world. The CDC Foundation is the go-to nonprofit authorized by Congress to mobilize philanthropic partners and private-sector resources to support CDC’s critical health protection mission. Since 1995, the CDC Foundation has raised over $1.9 billion and launched more than 1,300 programs impacting a variety of health threats from chronic disease conditions including cardiovascular disease and cancer, to infectious diseases like rotavirus and HIV, to emergency responses, including COVID-19 and Ebola. The CDC Foundation managed hundreds of programs in the United States and in more than 90 countries last year. Visit www.cdcfoundation.org for more information.  

Position Highlights:

POSITION TITLE: Regulatory and Legal Affairs Attorney

LOCATION: Hybrid – Massachusetts (Boston)

POSITION END DATE: 06/30/2025

SALARY:  up to $97,000 (plus benefits)

OVERVIEW

The CDC Foundation seeks a Regulatory and Legal Affairs Attorney to be assigned to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS), Department of Public Health (DPH), Office of the General Counsel (OGC). The role includes negotiating, drafting, and reviewing legal agreements, drafting administrative regulations, and supporting the regulation promulgation process, legal research and consultation on state and federal privacy requirements and a wide variety of public health legal issues, presenting information to internal and external stakeholders, and reviewing and responding to external requests, including data requests, public records requests, and other requests for records or information. This role requires strong legal, communication, and cognitive abilities.

The successful candidate must be well-grounded in such practice areas, detail-oriented, and have exceptional abilities in drafting and negotiating agreements, drafting administrative regulations, and navigating the regulation promulgation process, and general problem solving or clearly demonstrated aptitude to learn and develop such expertise. Excellent verbal and written communication skills are a must.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

•Membership of the Massachusetts Bar. 

•Knowledge of theory, principles and practices of law including methods and ability to conduct legal research and technical report writing. 

•Ability to present arguments clearly and logically in oral and written forms. 

•Strong interpersonal and communication skills, the ability to effectively manage multiple projects simultaneously, and ability to effectively work with diverse groups of people and cross-functional project teams. 

•Capacity to exercise discretion in safeguarding information through compliance with rules of disclosure and privacy. 

•Strong advocacy oral and written advocacy skills. 

•Law Degree (J.D.) from an accredited law school. 

•2 or more years related progressively responsible professional legal experience. 

•Ability to work effectively with outside attorneys, senior management, and staff. 

•Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities. Must be detail and process oriented. 

•Ability to work under pressure, manage high volume workload, prioritize, manage simultaneous tasks, and meet deadlines within a changing fast paced environment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

•At least five (5) years of legal experience, including experience in government and/or health law, with thorough knowledge of the procedures followed in a courtroom and/or administrative proceedings, including the State Administrative Procedure Act (G.L. c.30A) and Standard Adjudicatory Rules of Practice and Procedure (801 CMR 1.01).

•Demonstrated understanding and experience in counseling clients, legal research and analysis, oral and written advocacy, and creative problem solving, preferably as in-house or outside counsel to public agencies.

•A solid desire to work in a fast-paced and collaborative legal department and to work independently.

•Aptitude in analyzing, interpreting, and applying statutes, regulations, policies, and decisions. 

•Ability to analyze legal problems, offer legal opinions, and propose solutions.

•Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

•Ability to manage relationships both internally and externally.

•Proficient with Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Word, Teams, and Outlook.

RESPONSIBILITIES 

•Assists board members and agency staff including investigators in assessing consumer complaints and determining those amounting to professional misconduct requiring further action and/or disciplinary proceedings.

•Provides legal advice to agency staff when resolving problems and determining appropriate actions.

•Provides information to the public by answering inquiries regarding agency functions, services, rules, and procedures to fully represent the agency and its interests.

•Manages and/or monitors individual cases, assignments, and projects to ensure timely resolution of cases and to contribute to the achievement of overall agency goals.

•Recommends appropriate courses of action for specific cases, including disposition recommendations (including settlement, mediation, or negotiation).

•Provides legal guidance to other DPH staff on questions/issues regarding applicability of privacy rules and handling/disclosure of confidential information. 

•Advise and educate agency staff on legal matters by interpreting laws, rules, regulations, judicial decisions, and opinions related to agency operations.

•Review contracts to ensure that all agency activities comply with applicable laws.

•Obtain information needed to represent the agency in dispute resolution by conducting research and analysis of applicable laws, statutes, and regulations, and by reviewing case files, case history and evidence submitted by opposing parties to understand the facts and issues and to determine the best course of action.

•Collaborate with external teams and stakeholders to share information, resolve issues, and develop or implement new programs and goals.

•Draft new policies and regulations, or amendments to existing policies and regulations, based on legal research and agency needs, to streamline agency practices, support operational efficiencies and ensure agency compliance with laws.

•Present memoranda supporting or opposing legislation affecting agency operations.

•Identify potential privacy concerns and confidentiality obligations and safeguard confidential information.

•Identify instances of professional misconduct from consumer complaints, assisting board members, the Office of General Counsel, and the Investigations Unit.

•Drafts administrative proceeding documents (e.g., consent agreements, memos, proposed decisions, and notices) to communicate information to interested parties and to record outcomes and decisions, ensuring that such documents are complete, accurate and available for future review and in compliance with law.

•Recommends appropriate courses of action for specific cases, including whether a case could be resolved through settlement, mediation, or negotiation.

•Supply additional legal guidance and administrative assistance as required.

Special Notes: 

This role is involved in a dynamic public health program. As such, roles and responsibilities are subject to change as situations evolve. Roles and responsibilities listed above may be expanded upon or updated to match priorities and needs, once written approval is received by both the CDC Foundation and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health in order to best support the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in their public health programming.

This position is currently a hybrid position. CDC Foundation retains the right to make adjustments to this as required. 

The CDC Foundation is a smoke-free environment. 

Relocation expenses are not included. 

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, mental or physical disabilities, veteran status, and all other characteristics protected by law.

We comply with all applicable laws including E.O. 11246 and the Vietnam Era Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974 governing employment practices and do not discriminate on the basis of any unlawful criteria in accordance with 41 C.F.R. §§ 60-300.5(a)(12) and 60-741.5(a)(7). As a federal government contractor, we take affirmative action on behalf of protected veterans.

The CDC Foundation is a smoke-free environment.

Relocation expenses are not included.