Pay is commensurate with experience beginning at $130,000 annually. Full time, exempt, benefits eligible. Bert Nash offers excellent benefits which include medical, dental, vision, KPERS retirement, life insurance, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) providing free counseling and resources, and generous PTO.

Caring. Hope. Giving back. Our mission at the Bert Nash Center as the Community Mental Health Center (CMHC) of Douglas County is to advance the health of the community through comprehensive behavioral health services responsive to evolving needs and changing environments. We accomplish this by believing in our team. Each person that works for the Bert Nash Center contributes directly to the success of our clients, organization, and community. Our values of compassion, integrity, equity and hope reflect in everything we do.

The General Counsel serves as the chief legal advisor to the Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center. This role is responsible for managing and advising on a wide range of legal matters with a primary focus on employment law, labor relations, contracts, and regulatory compliance. The General Counsel works closely with the Executive Team, Human Resources, and program leadership to ensure legal integrity in all aspects of the organization's operations and mitigate legal risks.

Key Responsibilities:

• Employment Law & Labor Relations
• Provide legal advice on personnel and employment matters including the full cycle employee experience.
• Interpret and ensure compliance with federal, state, and local employment laws (e.g., ADA, FMLA, FLSA, Title VII, NLRA).
• Support and address union-related legal matters.
• Respond to and manage complaints and investigations from regulatory bodies (e.g., EEOC, DOL, NLRB).
• Policy Development & Risk Management
• Review and advise on personnel policies, employee handbooks, and internal protocols to ensure compliance and alignment with best practices.
• Identify and assess legal risks; recommend mitigation strategies.
• Advise on internal investigations involving complex personnel or compliance issues.
• Litigation & Dispute Resolution
• Manage and coordinate responses to employment-related claims, lawsuits, and administrative charges.
• Oversee outside counsel as needed, ensuring alignment with agency priorities and cost-effective legal services.
• Contract Review & Compliance
• Review, draft, and negotiate employment-related agreements (e.g., separation agreements, consulting agreements, confidentiality agreements).
• Collaborate with leadership on contracts that involve personnel obligations or compliance risk.
• Training & Education
• Provide training and education to leadership and supervisors on legal topics related to employment law, labor law, and compliance.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school.
• Licensed and in good standing to practice law in Kansas.
• Minimum of 5 years of legal practice, with at least 3 years focused on employment law or labor relations.
• Demonstrated experience advising senior leaders and navigating complex employment matters in a highly regulated setting; healthcare or public sector experience strongly preferred.
• Familiarity with unionized environments and collective bargaining strongly preferred.
• Excellent judgment, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Work Environment:

• Primarily office-based with potential for hybrid work arrangements.
• May require evening or weekend work in response to urgent legal matters.

Mission Alignment:

The General Counsel must support the mission of Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center by promoting legal and ethical practices that enable the organization to restore lives, respond to needs, and build a healthier community.