Health Benefits Trust Attorney

Health Benefits Trust Attorney

The Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) and the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association (MIIA) are seeking a MIIA Health Benefits Trust Attorney to join the MIIA Health Benefits Trust Team. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who has experience in health benefits administration, labor negotiations, and municipal employment law.

About MMA: The nonpartisan Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) provides an array of services to its member cities and towns statewide, including advocacy, education and training, research and analysis, and publications and information programs. As the voice of local government in Massachusetts, MMA works to advance the interests of all cities and towns.

About MIIA: The Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association (MIIA) provides property, liability, workers compensation, and group health insurance to cities and towns in Massachusetts. MIIA is a non-profit organization and a membership service of Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA).

About the position: You will serve as a subject matter counsel on public sector labor relations, employee health benefits administration under MGL Chapter 32B, labor negotiations and municipal employment law. This role provides strategic counsel to the Health Benefits Trust Director, the MIIA Executive Vice President, and the MMA Executive Director as well as key vendors, and MIIA key departments. This position specializes in public sector labor relations, municipal health insurance reform, public procurement compliance, employment law, and municipal tort liability under Massachusetts General Laws (MGL).

Key Responsibilities:

Municipal Health Insurance & Benefits (MGL c. 32B)

• Advise MIIA leadership on municipal health purchasing under MGL c. 32B, including plan design, premium contribution ratios, and benefit structures.
• Advise MIIA leadership on health insurance reform procedures pursuant to MGL c. 32B, §§ 21–23, guiding the team through plan modifications, co-pay adjustments.
• Familiarity with Public Employee Committee (PEC); PEC agreements, mitigation plans, and trust documents for self-insured plans or joint purchase groups.
• Advise MIIA leadership on post-employment benefits (OPEB), retiree health coverage mandates under Chapter 32B, and compliance with federal ACA, COBRA, and ERISA rules where applicable to governmental plans.

Labor Relations & Union Collective Bargaining (MGL c. 150E)

• Provide MIIA with insights and suggestions for understanding member collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) across municipal units (e.g., Police, Fire, DPW, Public Library, Clerical).

Employment Law

• Advise MIIA on member personnel practices and be a knowledge resource on state and federal employment compliance, including the Massachusetts Wage Act (MGL c. 149, §§ 148/150), Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML), FMLA, and Civil Service laws (MGL c. 31).
• Provide recommendations involving Members with claims before Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) and EEOC, including defense of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation claims.
• Be a resource on fitness-for-duty evaluations, line-of-duty injury claims (MGL c. 41, § 111F), and reasonable accommodation requests under the ADA and state disability laws.

Procurement & Municipal Tort Risk Management

• Be expert in MGL c. 30B (Uniform Procurement Act) and advise MIIA leadership on how to comply with those requirements when responding to RFP’s and developing new programs.
• Work with MIIA and provide recommendations on municipal liability exposure under the Massachusetts Tort Claims Act (MGL c. 258) regarding employment-related torts or personnel claims.
• Advise MIIA on municipal Open Meeting Law (MGL c. 30A) and Public Records Law (MGL c. 66) requirements as applied to personnel records, health data, and executive session labor discussions.

Qualifications:

Education & Licensure: Juris Doctor (J.D.) from an accredited law school. Active license in good standing to practice law in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

• Experience: Minimum of 3–5 years of primary experience in Massachusetts public sector labor law, municipal employment law, or municipal legal representation.
• Technical Knowledge: Deep working knowledge of MGL c. 150E, MGL c. 32B, MGL c. 30B, and MGL c. 258. MCPPO (Massachusetts Certified Public Purchasing Official) designation is a plus.

Legal Qualifications:

• Labor & Union Relations: MGL c. 150E, DLR proceedings, grievance arbitration, interest arbitration, collective bargaining execution
• Health Purchasing & Benefits: MGL c. 32B (Municipal Health Reform), PEC coalition negotiations, GIC transfers
• Procurement & Contracting: MGL c. 30B (Uniform Procurement Act), sound business practices, RFP/IFB development
• Liability & Risk Management: MGL c. 258 (Tort Claims Act), presentment review, statutory immunities, municipal defense
• Workplace Compliance: MGL c. 149 (Wage & Hour), MGL c. 151B (MCAD), MGL c. 31 (Civil Service), FMLA, ADA

Work environment: Our offices are located in Boston’s Government Center neighborhood. The position offers a salary range of $168,300 to $249,900, terrific benefits, and a great collaborative work culture. Our office utilizes a hybrid-work schedule. If you are ready to devote yourself to work on behalf of our member cities and towns, then this position may be for you.

How to Apply: Please send a PDF of your cover letter and resume to: hr@mma.org

We are committed to diversity in the workplace and we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Diverse candidates are encouraged to apply. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, genetics information, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, disability, age, or military or veteran status.

Health, dental, vision, life insurances; paid time off; EAP; retirement plans