Senior Counsel/Assistant Vice President of Legal Affairs Business Immigration Attorney Healthcare

Job Title: Senior Counsel

Location: SBC Corporation

Department Name: General Counsel Office

Req #: 0000225179

Status: Salaried

Shift: Day

Pay Range: $175,000.00 - $275,000.00 per year

Location: West Orange, New Jersey - Hybrid Work Schedule Available

Pay Transparency:

The above reflects the anticipated annual salary range for this position if hired to work in New Jersey.

The compensation offered to the candidate selected for the position will depend on several factors, including the candidate's educational background, skills and professional experience.

Senior Counsel/Assistant Vice President of Legal Affairs Business Immigration Attorney Healthcare

Job Overview:

RWJBarnabas Health, New Jersey's largest integrated academic healthcare system, seeks a highly skilled and experienced Business Immigration Attorney to join our legal team to provide comprehensive legal counsel and strategic guidance on all immigration-related matters affecting our large, complex healthcare system.

The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring compliance with constantly evolving immigration laws and regulations, completing and filing sponsorship applications, facilitating the smooth integration of international healthcare talent, educating clients on the latest changes in immigration law and the I-9 verification process, and supporting our mission to provide high-quality patient care.

This attorney will serve as a strategic legal advisor to departments across the enterprise including HR, Nursing, Research, Finance, Compliance, Business Development and our Medical Group ensuring full legal and regulatory compliance in connection with our recruitment and retention efforts.

A minimum of 7-10 years of relevant and direct legal experience is required, ideally within an academic medical center, government agency, or law firm with experience advising all aspects of business immigration with a heavy focus on physician groups and hospital systems.

Reports To:

• Assistant General Counsel / Vice President of Legal Affairs

Qualifications:

• License to practice law in the State of New Jersey or eligibility for in-house counsel licensure in NJ, with a very strong understanding of federal immigration law.
• Minimum of 7-10 years of legal experience, with a strong background in business immigration and healthcare systems.
• Extensive experience in completing and filings visa and J1 waiver applications, including CONRAD30 waivers.
• Comprehensive understanding of the Uniform Guidance 2 CFR Part 200, FAR, and sponsor-specific funding regulations.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate complex legal issues involving regulatory compliance and institutional risk management.
• Exceptional communication skills and organizational rigor.
• Impeccable attention to detail and ability to manage large volumes of complex arrangements and regulatory obligations.
• Proven ability to work autonomously and manage multiple priorities within a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior in-house counsel experience at an academic medical center or healthcare system,

Essential Functions:

• Provide expert advice on immigration law and policy, particularly as it relates to physicians, nurses, medical researchers, and other healthcare professionals.
• Manage a high volume of employment-based immigrant and non-immigrant visa petitions e, g , J1 waivers, H-1B, O-1, EB-1, EB-2, EB-3 for a diverse range of healthcare staff.
• Complete and file all visa petitions, appeals, and J1 waiver applications.
• Develop and implement immigration strategies aligned with the needs of the healthcare system, including workforce planning, recruitment, and retention of foreign-born medical professionals.
• Conduct internal audits and ensure compliance with I-9 regulations, PERM labor certification requirements, and other federal and state laws relevant to the employment of foreign nationals.
• Represent the healthcare system before government agencies such as U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the Department of Labor, and the Department of State.
• Offer counsel on complex immigration matters, including issues related to mergers and acquisitions involving healthcare entities, change of status requests, and appeals.
• Develop and deliver training to stakeholders on immigration law and compliance.
• Monitor changes in immigration laws, regulations, and policies, providing timely updates and recommendations to the legal and leadership teams.
• Collaborate effectively with internal stakeholders, including HR, recruitment, and department leaders, to ensure a seamless immigration process for our healthcare employees.
• Institutional Policy and Internal Advisory
  • Assist in developing internal policies and procedures to promote compliance with immigration laws.
  • Partner with institutional stakeholders to facilitate compliant and strategic growth.
  • Counsel leadership on risk exposure, legal constraints, and strategies to strengthen regulatory posture.
• Education, Documentation, and Systems Support
  • Maintain accurate legal documentation and regulatory tracking systems for all immigration matters and relevant funding programs.
  • Deliver training and education to HR, medical group, nursing, legal on immigration regulatory obligations and best practices.
  • Collaborate with HR, Medical Group, Nursing, Compliance, Finance, on cross-functional initiatives relating to immigration.

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Additional Information:

Benefits and Perks:

At RWJBarnabas Health, our employees are at the heart of everything we do. Driven by our Total Wellbeing promise, our market-competitive offerings include comprehensive benefits and resources to support our employees’ physical, emotional, financial, personal, career, and community wellbeing. These benefits and resources include, but are not limited to:

• Paid Time Off including Vacation, Holidays, and Sick Time
• Retirement Plans
• Medical and Prescription Drug Insurance
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Disability and Life Insurance
• Paid Parental Leave
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Student Loan Planning Support
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Wellness Programs
• Voluntary Benefits (e.g., Pet Insurance)
• Community and Volunteer Opportunities
• Discounts Through our Partners such as NJ Devils, NJ PAC, and Verizon
• ….and more!

Choosing RWJBarnabas Health!

RWJBarnabas Health is the premier health care destination providing patient-centered, high-quality academic medicine in a compassionate and equitable manner, while delivering a best-in-class work experience to every member of the team. We honor and appreciate the privilege of creating and sustaining healthier communities, one person and one community at a time. As the leading academic health system in New Jersey, we advance innovative strategies in high-quality patient care, education, and research to address both the clinical and social determinants of health.

RWJBarnabas Health aims to truly make a unique impact in local communities throughout New Jersey. From vastly improving the health of local residents to creating educational and career opportunities, this combination greatly benefits the state. We understand the growing and evolving needs of residents in New Jersey—whether that be enhancing the coordination for treating complex health conditions or improving community health through local programs and education.

At RWJBarnabas Health, our market-competitive Total Rewards package provides comprehensive benefits and resources to support our employees physical, emotional, social, and financial health.

• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Medical and Prescription Drug Insurance
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Retirement Plans
• Short & Long Term Disability
• Life & Accidental Death Insurance
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Health Care/Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• Wellness Programs
• Voluntary Benefits (e.g., Pet Insurance)
• Discounts Through our Partners such as NJ Devils, NJ PAC, Verizon, and more!

RWJBarnabas Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer