VP, Assistant GC EE Benefits

Reporting to the SVP, Employment Law, the VP, Assistant General Counsel - Employee Benefits is responsible for ensuring the Company's compliance with governance-related laws pertaining to employee benefits programs, including ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, MHPAEA, ACA, and other state and federal laws. Provides legal guidance and advice to Human Resources and business leaders regarding the Company's retirement, health, and welfare benefits plans, and manages outside legal counsel, litigation and government inquiries relating to such plans. Partners with Human Resources leaders to develop strategies relating to the creation or revision of employee benefits plans. Performs legal tasks relating to the drafting, review and amendment of policies, summary plan descriptions, plan documents, and plan participant communications.

MAJOR DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide legal counsel on all aspects of the Company's benefits plans, including: (i) remaining informed of industry-specific statutes and regulations, (ii) researching, interpreting, and analyzing relevant law, regulations, rules, and court decisions, (iii) drafting summaries of legal issues, and (iv) preparing and presenting compliance and legal briefings to senior leaders.
• Advise and collaborate with Human Resources leaders, business leaders, and other internal clients - including attorneys in other practice areas - on benefits-related legal matters, assessing legal risks, creating legal solutions to business issues, and promoting compliance with applicable employee benefits laws, regulations, and rules.
• Oversee all legal elements of administering the Company's benefits plans, including: (i) the negotiation of vendor agreements, (ii) audits of plans, vendors, and providers to ensure contractual adherence, legal compliance, and satisfaction of fiduciary responsibilities, and (iii) managing employee benefits lawsuits and benefits claims involving the company.
• In collaboration with the Benefits and HR Communications team, draft and review all correspondence, policies, training materials, and benefits plan documents; evaluate and update existing policies, procedures, and applicable training modules to ensure legal compliance.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Required Skills/Abilities and Knowledge

• Proficient in laws and regulations governing employee 401(K) pensions, and health and welfare benefits plans, including ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, FMLA, MHPAEA, and the ACA.
• Proficient in drafting legal documentation and handling litigation and claims issues relating to benefits plans
• Competent in the accounting, budgeting and financial planning concepts relating to benefits plans
• Ability to effectively communicate and translate complex legal concepts to varied audiences up to the senior executive level
• Ability to develop effective working relationships, collaborate with others, and lead and mentor more junior legal personnel
• Ability to think strategically about business issues and problem-solving complex business issues related to benefits plans

Novice
Beginning stages of learning the knowledge area with little to no experience

* Textbook / academic knowledge without experience connecting it to practice / practical application

* Requires close supervision or guidance

* Little or no idea how to deal with complexity

* Tends to look at actions in isolation
Intermediate
Has experience in the knowledge area and can perform associated tasks, but has more to learn and generally needs guidance or supervision, especially when working on more complex tasks

* Basic knowledge of key aspects of practice area

* Straightforward tasks are likely to be done to an acceptable standard

* Achieves some steps using own judgment but requires supervision for overall task

* Appreciates complex situations, but is only able to achieve partial resolution

* Sees actions as a series of steps
Competent
Has the knowledge and experience to carry out associated tasks confidently and consistently without supervision, but likely to need advice before carrying out more complex or non-standard tasks

* Has good working background knowledge of area of practice

* Fully acceptable standards are achieved routinely, and results are also achieved for open tasks

* Able to take full responsibility for own work (and that of others where applicable)

* Copes with complex situations through deliberate analysis and planning

* Sees actions at least partly in terms of longer-term goals
Proficient
Can work independently on tasks and projects within the knowledge area, completing them efficiently and to a high standard

* Depth of understanding of discipline and area of practice

* Fully acceptable standards are achieved routinely, and results are also achieved for open tasks

* Able to take full responsibility for own work (and that of others where applicable)

* Deals with complex situations holistically, confident decision-making

* Sees the overall picture and how individual actions fit within it
Expert
The highest level of knowledge / ability in a specific field, with a mature and comprehensive understanding of the area, ability to perform tasks with accuracy and speed, and ability to anticipate and respond to errors or issues before they happen

* Authoritative knowledge of the discipline and deep tacit understanding across areas of practice

* Excellence achieved with relative ease

* Able to take responsibility for going beyond existing standards and creating own interpretations

* Holistic grasp of complex situations. Moves between intuitive and analytical approaches with ease

* Sees overall picture and alternative approaches, has a vision of what may be possible

Required Education

Juris Doctor from an accredited law school

Admission to State Bar in which attorney practices

Required Related Work Experience and Number of Years

10+ years of experience practicing law

5+ years of experience in practice area

WORKING CONDITIONS

Office environment