Senior Healthcare Counsel – Hospital & Physician Operations

Legal Above average in Physician rolesFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not disclosed

Listing transparency1 of 6 stated

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Employment & setting
Full-Time
Call expectations
Not specified
Weekends
Not specified
Posted 1mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

Department

Legal Affairs

Job Summary

The Senior Healthcare Counsel – Hospital & Physician Operations serves as the senior legal advisor on healthcare regulatory matters impacting hospital and physician operations.

Provides strategic legal guidance for certain Acute Care Hospital Divisions, Ambulatory Division, and SMH First Physician's Group, advising on regulatory compliance, practice acquisitions, and operational strategy.

Exercises independent legal judgment to mitigate regulatory, financial, and reputational exposure across the healthcare system. Assists other health system leaders on complex matters facing the healthcare system.

Required Qualifications

  • Require Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
  • Require a minimum of ten (10) years of experience in regulatory law with a strong focus on healthcare, specifically including physician practice and hospital representation, working for a Healthcare Provider. - Require experience in managing regulatory compliance and responding to regulatory inquiries, particularly in the context of physician practices and hospital settings.
  • Require admission to the Florida State Bar or eligibility for admission.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Prefer ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
  • Prefer advanced certifications or additional training in healthcare compliance or regulatory affairs.
  • Prefer familiarity with healthcare compliance management systems and tools.
  • Prefer in-depth knowledge of healthcare regulatory requirements.
  • Prefer strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.

Mandatory Education

JD: Juris Doctor

Sarasota Memorial Hospital was recently recognized again by ranking #1 Hospital in the Region by the U.S. News's Best Hospital report by scoring a Perfect 10!

Not only that, but SMH was also designated at a national "standout" hospital for earning top ratings in all evaluated conditions and procedures - an accomplishment achieved by less than 1% of the 4000+ hospitals.

Our system has also earned Magnet® recognition from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), as well as these additional accolades: Gallup Great Workplace 2018; recipient of an "A" grade for Patient Safety.

Sarasota Memorial Hospital is Magnet designated and the only provider of Level II trauma services, obstetrical services, and Level III neonatal intensive care in Sarasota County.

Reputation. Community. Impact. Growth.

Every day, our patients at Sarasota Memorial Health Care System receive a first-class experience in care from a team on a mission to deliver the highest level of care in America. In the process of rising to that challenge, one by one, our people are finding their purpose and feeling their impact. Now it is your turn to see yourself here.

Recognition

  • 5- Star Quality Rating- SMH- Sarasota is the only hospital in Florida to earn the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' highest rating every year since its inception.
  • 50 Best Hospitals- SMH ranked among U.S. News & World Report's 50 Best Hospitals in two specialties, Rehabilitation and Obstetrics/Gynecology in 2023-2024, and among the nation's top 10% high performers in 18 other medical specialties, procedures and conditions.
  • World's Best Hospitals- SMH- Sarasota has made Newsweek's prestigious list six years in a row, since the global rankings began in 2019.
  • "A" for Patient Safety- SMH- Sarasota has earned straight A's since it began participating in the Leapfrog Group's hospital safety survey in 2016.
  • Magnet Hospital- SMH has been recognized as a Magnet hospital for the past 20 years by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, a continuous achievement for nursing excellence shared by less than 1% of hospitals nationwide.
  • America's Best Employer/Workplace- SMH topped Forbe's list of America's Best Employers, ranking among the top 20% of large employers across all industries in 2024, and #1 healthcare employer in Florida in 2023. The health system also earned a 5-star rating in Newsweek's 2024 list of "America's Greatest Workplaces for Women."

The Benefits of Being the Best

Our commitment to becoming the best community hospital and health care system means providing the best possible benefits to our people. Some highlights:

  • Total Rewards Package
  • Paid Time Off (start earning PTO on day one of employment)
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Discounted Medical, Prescription, Dental, Vision Benefit Plans for Full & Part-Time Employees
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (Health Care and Dependent Care) - Pre-Tax Dollars
  • Life Insurance
  • Competitive rates
  • Bonuses offered
  • Disability Insurance
  • Retirement Savings Plan: 403b
  • Sarasota Campus for now - Discounted Child Care & Before and After School Program and Summer Camp!
  • Bereavement Leave
  • Free Parking
  • On Campus Dining w/ a 10% discount
  • Credit Union w/ teller machines on campus
  • Direct Deposit
  • Free Wellness Screening
  • Free confidential counseling services
  • Employee Discount Programs
  • Recognition Programs
  • Referral Programs
  • Tremendous growth opportunities for hard workers!

Employment Screening Requirements

As part of Sarasota Memorial Health Care System’s commitment to keeping people safe, all individuals providing care to vulnerable populations are required to undergo background screening through The Florida Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse. https://info.flclearinghouse.com/

Key Responsibilities

The Senior Healthcare Counsel serves as the primary legal advisor for hospital and physician operations, focusing on regulatory compliance and operational strategy. They exercise independent legal judgment to mitigate regulatory, financial, and reputational risks across the health system.

Requirements

Candidates must hold a Juris Doctor (JD) degree and possess at least ten years of experience in healthcare regulatory law. Admission to the Florida State Bar or eligibility for admission is mandatory.

Qualifications

Experience
10+ years of experience

Key Skills

Physician Practice RepresentationHospital OperationsLegal AdvisoryStrategic GuidanceRisk MitigationHealthcare Compliance SystemsAnalytical SkillsOrganizational Skills

Work-Life Balance Analysis

WeekdayDoc's proprietary algorithm rates Senior Healthcare Counsel – Hospital & Physician Operations at Sarasota Memorial Health Care System a 6.6 out of 10 for work-life balance — classified as good. This places the position in the Above average in Physician roles — ranked against 19,778 active Physician roles listings on WeekdayDoc.

Legal — Physician Career Context

Physician pay on WeekdayDoc is up 8.3% vs. the prior quarter (through Aug 2026).

The cost-of-living index for Florida is 103.4 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 58.1% of Florida clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Location & Logistics

Florida has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states.

Work-life snapshot

6.6/ 10
Listing-based score

Above average in Physician roles

Living in Sarasota

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$438k
Typical market rent
$2,175/mo
Residents’ average commute
21 min
State income tax
None
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System logo

About Sarasota Memorial Health Care System

Hospitals and Health Care
Sarasota, Florida
5,001-10,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Paid Time Off (start earning PTO on day one)
Tuition Reimbursement
Discounted Medical, Prescription, Dental, Vision Benefit Plans
Flexible Spending Accounts
Life Insurance
Competitive rates
Bonuses offered
Disability Insurance