[Hiring] Litigation Lead, Regulatory Healthcare Consulting @Ascendient Healthcare Advisors

Role Description

Ascendient is hiring a Litigation Lead to own the challenge of serving as the firm’s expert witness in contested Certificate of Need (CON) hearings. This role involves:

• Leading CON litigation engagements as the firm’s expert witness.
• Working directly with client attorneys to build case strategy and develop evidence.
• Testifying in contested case proceedings before administrative law judges.
• Serving as Ascendient’s primary expert witness in contested CON hearings across multiple states, particularly in North Carolina.
• Developing and executing litigation strategy in partnership with client attorneys.
• Authoring expert reports and pre-filed written testimony that are analytically rigorous and defensible under cross-examination.
• Preparing hearing exhibits and supporting analytical work tied to CON review criteria.
• Attending and participating in all phases of hearings, including those that may span multiple weeks.
• Preparing for and giving deposition testimony as required.
• Mentoring and developing the firm’s Opposition Lead.
• Helping shape the firm’s litigation methodology and analytical capability over time.

Qualifications

• Formally qualified and accepted as an expert witness in CON, healthcare regulatory, or other administrative law hearings.
• Testified in a minimum of 3–5 administrative law hearings (7 or more preferred).
• Direct experience with Certificate of Need processes and state health planning frameworks.
• Demonstrated ability to survive rigorous cross-examination and defend analytical methodology.
• Experience authoring expert reports or pre-filed written testimony for administrative proceedings.
• Hospital financial modeling and feasibility analysis experience.
• Deep understanding of hospital and health system operations, service line dynamics, and utilization data.
• Familiarity with healthcare data sources such as CMS datasets and state health planning databases.

Requirements

• CON hearing experience in North Carolina (strongly preferred); multi-state experience a plus.
• Background in a healthcare consulting firm.
• Experience with CON opposition work — comments, responses, counter-arguments.
• Ability to be qualified as an expert in both need analysis and financial feasibility.
• Experience mentoring or developing staff on litigation-related analytical work.

Benefits

• Base salary: $155,000 – $196,000.
• Short-term incentive compensation: opportunity to earn an additional 15% of base salary annually.
• Remote work (USA-based; must be available during Eastern core hours 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM ET).
• Travel required for hearings, depositions, and client meetings.
• Full benefits including health, dental, life, and disability insurance, 401(k), and paid time off.