Executive Manager Attorney

Posting Details

This posting will be used for ongoing recruitment and may close at any time. Applicant lists may be screened more than once.

The New Mexico Health Care Authority (HCA) is a state agency that provides comprehensive, accessible, and high-quality health care services to New Mexico residents. The agency is responsible for managing key services such as Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, and LIHEAP, ensuring uninterrupted support and care for New Mexicans.

Our Vision

Every New Mexican has access to affordable health care coverage through a coordinated and seamless health care system.

Our Mission

We ensure that New Mexicans attain their highest level of health by providing whole-person, cost-effective, accessible, and high-quality health care and safety-net services.

Our Goals

Leverage purchasing power and partnerships to create innovative policies and models of comprehensive health care coverage that improve the health and well-being of New Mexicans and the workforce.

Achieve health equity by addressing poverty, discrimination, and lack of resources, building a New Mexico where everyone thrives.

Implement innovative technology and data-driven decision-making to provide unparalleled, convenient access to services and information.

Build the best team in state government by supporting employees' continuous growth and wellness.

Why does the job exist?

The Executive Manager Attorney / Deputy General Counsel for the HCA will collaborate directly with the Chief General Counsel, agency leadership, and attorneys within the Office of General Counsel to navigate unprecedented federal changes affecting the programs we administer while supporting HCA's on-going work to strengthen and improve access to New Mexico's social safety net services.

Attorneys in the HCA Office of General Counsel support work that touches nearly half of our citizens lives. The divisions of HCA provide programs critical to the health and well-being of our state including Medicaid, SNAP, TANF, behavioral health programs and services, a comprehensive system of support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and the licensing and oversight of healthcare facilities and state employee health benefits. The range of work performed by the HCA means that OGC attorneys have an opportunity to work in a wide variety of areas of healthcare and public health law including providing legal guidance for historic innovations and reforms.

How does it get done?

The Executive Manager Attorney / Deputy General Counsel (Deputy) serves under the general oversight of the Chief General Counsel. The Deputy's specific responsibilities will depend on their past experience and areas of interest but they will generally be expected to:

Collaborate with the Chief General Counsel and act with her authority in her absence;

Share responsibility with Chief General Counsel for the supervision, review, hiring, and termination of assigned staff and help maintain systems critical to succession planning to create consistency across executive administrations;

Oversee compliance with federal and state laws for assigned HCA programs, improve existing compliance programs, and initiate new compliance programs, policies, and procedures as needed;

Regularly advise senior leadership and division directors on the most complex and difficult legal and management issues involving their programs, budgets, and legislation, including working with leaders as needed to develop and implement strategic plans to meet the divisions' goals and agency missions

Conduct negotiations and mediations, including alternative dispute resolutions, and/or arbitration of the most complex and sensitive cases and legal issues with judicial officials, federal/state agencies, opposing counsel, and other parties to resolve or avoid disputes, including monitoring and assisting with the agency meeting its existing commitments from past settlements;

Coordinate with outside counsel retained to provide legal representation in litigation involving monetary damages and so assigned to Risk Management Counsel;

Additional, specific divisional responsibilities will depend on the attorney's past experience and the needs of the HCA.

The work within OGC can span the entire range of attorney skills and functions including litigation in state and federal court, appearing at administrative hearings, contract review, licensing and regulatory enforcement, rule-making, strategy and planning, appellate work, creating procedures to implement new legislative mandates, and public records responses. All attorneys within OGC are responsible for tracking their deadlines, managing a variety of matters, and prioritizing their time based on internal client needs.

Who are the customers?

The Deputy General Counsel will work directly and collaboratively with internal division clients;

The clients include the Office of the Secretary (OOS) and the various divisions within HCA:

Medical Assistance Division (MAD);

Income Support Division (ISD);

Child Support Services Division (CSSD);

Department of Health Improvement (DHI);

Developmental Disabilities Supports Division (DDSD);

Behavioral Health Services Division (BHSD);

Healthcare Coverage Innovations;

Administrative Services Division (ASD);

Information Technology Division (ITD);

Office of Human Resources (OHR).

Ideal Candidate

The Deputy General Counsel will work directly and collaboratively with internal division clients;

The clients include the Office of the Secretary (OOS) and the various divisions within HCA:

Medical Assistance Division (MAD);

Income Support Division (ISD);

Child Support Services Division (CSSD);

Department of Health Improvement (DHI);

Developmental Disabilities Supports Division (DDSD);

Behavioral Health Services Division (BHSD);

Healthcare Coverage Innovations;

Administrative Services Division (ASD);

Information Technology Division (ITD);

Office of Human Resources (OHR).

Minimum Qualification

Juris Doctorate degree from an accredited school of law and six (6) years of experience in the practice of law, to include four (4) years of supervisory experience. Must be licensed as an attorney by the Supreme Court of New Mexico or qualified to apply for limited practice license (Rules and NMRA). For more information on limited practice licenses, please visit

Employment Requirements

All Attorney classifications must be and remain licensed as an attorney, in good standing, by the Supreme Court of New Mexico, or licensed as an attorney and in good standing by the highest court of another state and eligible pursuant to the limited license provisions (See Rules and NMRA).

Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License.

Must obtain a Defensive Driving Certificate.

Employment is subject to a pre-employment criminal history background investigation and is conditional pending results.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in an office setting: late hours, weekends, on-call and callback work may be required. Will be exposed to regular periods of video display terminal and keyboard usage and stressful situations. Travel is required. Possible exposure to irate clientele. Incumbent will work under stress and frequent time constraints.

Supplemental Information

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Agency Contact Information: Alex Rodriguez, Email

For information on Statutory Requirements for this position, click the Classification Description link on the job advertisement.

Bargaining Unit Position

This position is not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.