Assistant General Counsel, SRP

State Treasurer • Wake County, NC

36d • $99,000 - $149,000

About The Position

This position independently provides a comprehensive range of legal services concerning the Supplemental Retirement Plans (the “Plans”) to the Supplemental Retirement Board of Trustees (the “Board”) and staff at the Department of State Treasurer. The individual holding this position is responsible for providing ongoing advice and counsel to the Board and staff regarding the Plans; serving as counsel to the Board during meetings of the Board and its subcommittees; assisting the Board and staff concerning interpretation of, and compliance with, federal and state laws and regulations governing the Plans; drafting legal documents concerning the operation of the Plans; and performing complex transactional work concerning the Plans’ structure and investments. In addition, the individual holding this position assists the Board and its committees and staff in drafting legislation, administrative rules, policies and operating criteria for the programs they administer and oversees or performs any litigation involving aspects of those programs. The individual holding this position also provides support to the Assistant General Counsel for the Retirement Systems Division (RSD) and assists RSD staff with operational and transactional matters including beneficiary issues dealing with estates, guardianships and powers of attorney. The attorney in this role should possess substantial knowledge of defined contribution plans and ERISA best practices; IRS regulations; the North Carolina Administrative Procedure Act; state laws applicable to public records and open meetings; and contract law. The attorney in this role will work with not only Department of State Treasurer staff, but several service providers in the administration of the Plans, including the investment consultant, third party record-keeper, custodian, independent investment managers, and external auditor. The attorney will also work, when necessary, with counsel at the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office and with outside private counsel. The attorney in this position must exercise substantial discretion and make quick, independent, responsible decisions, and will be expected, in most instances, to carry out their job functions with minimal assistance from others. The attorney in this position also must be able to work effectively with others, including the State Treasurer, other high-level state officials, the General Counsel for the Department of State Treasurer, and the staff and attorneys of other state agencies with which the Department of State Treasurer and its affiliated boards and committees frequently must work. The position is exciting and challenging and requires a willingness to use a variety of approaches to problem solving in a complex, constantly evolving environment.

Requirements

• License to practice law in North Carolina and 2 years’ experience working as an attorney.
• Comprehensive knowledge of governmental defined benefit/defined contribution plans, primarily governmental 401(k) and 457(b) plans.
• Understanding of fiduciary responsibilities, prohibited transactions, conflicts of interest.
• Ability to comprehend complex legal documents, proficiency in drafting and amending plan documents, Summary Plan Descriptions (SPDs), and other agreements.
• Proficiency in using legal research platforms like Westlaw to interpret state and federal statutes and regulations.

Nice To Haves

• Strong written and verbal skills to explain complex issues to constituents, vendor partners, staff, and others.
• Creative, proactive approach to solving complex benefits issues and navigating disputes.
• Experience with transactional work concerning benefit plan structure and investments.

Responsibilities

• Provides Legal Advice to Executive Director of the Retirement Systems Division, Director of the Supplemental Retirement Plans, and Board of Trustees (35%)
• Manages Transaction-, Plan Document-, and Policy-Related Matters (35%)
• Supports the Assistant General Counsel for RSD (10%)
• Provides Statutory and Regulatory Interpretation, Drafting and Review (5%)
• Supports the NC ABLE Program (5%)

Benefits

• Employees can participate in health insurance options, standard and supplemental retirement plans, and the NC Flex program (numerous high-quality, low-cost benefits on a pre-tax basis).
• Employees also receive paid vacation, sick, and community service leave.
• In addition, paid parental leave is available to eligible employees.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed