Chief Legal Officer

Organization: Scripps Health
Location: San Diego, California
Reports to: President & Chief Executive Officer
Position Type: Full-time, Executive Leadership Team

About Scripps Health

Founded in 1924, Scripps Health is a $5 billion, private nonprofit health system based in San Diego, founded in 1924 by philanthropist Ellen Browning Scripps. Serving over 600,000 patients annually, it operates five acute-care hospitals, 30 outpatient centers, home health services, and a wide physician network of 3,000 affiliated doctors and 17,800 employees. Recognized nationally for excellence, Scripps has earned top rankings from U.S. News & World Report, Fortune, Newsweek, and Becker's Healthcare, and maintains an AA rating with a stable outlook from S&P Global Ratings due to its strong leadership and financial performance.

The Opportunity

Scripps Health seeks a seasoned, strategic, and mission-driven Chief Legal Officer (CLO) to provide executive leadership and oversight for all legal matters across the organization. As a key member of the Corporate Executive Leadership Team, the CLO will advise the Board of Trustees and senior executives on a wide range of legal issues including regulatory compliance, governance, litigation, transactions, employment, privacy, risk management, and healthcare law.

The CLO will lead a high-performing legal team and collaborate closely with internal stakeholders, external counsel, and regulatory bodies. The ideal candidate will combine deep legal expertise with strong business acumen, sound judgment, and a values-driven approach consistent with Scripps Health's mission of compassionate, patient-centered care.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the chief legal advisor to the CEO, executive leadership, and the Board.
• Direct and manage all legal affairs, including litigation, contracts, risk, compliance, and employment law.
• Provide counsel on strategic transactions, mergers, acquisitions, and affiliations.
• Lead and mentor the in-house legal team and coordinate with outside counsel.
• Ensure organizational compliance with federal and state regulations affecting health systems.
• Maintain and promote ethical standards, risk mitigation strategies, and a culture of accountability.

Qualifications:

• Juris Doctor (JD) from an accredited law school and active membership in good standing with the State Bar of California (or eligibility for in-house counsel registration).
• Minimum 15 years of legal experience, with at least 10 years in healthcare law or a related regulatory environment.
• Proven leadership experience in a complex, multi-entity organization, preferably within a healthcare system.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate at the executive level and manage complex legal challenges across diverse functional areas.

Competencies:

• Strategic thinker with a proactive, problem-solving orientation.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Unquestionable integrity and discretion.
• Strong understanding of the legal landscape governing nonprofit, integrated healthcare systems.