AVP Legal Counsel

Athene • Washington, DC

6d

About The Position

Athene is seeking an AVP, Legal Counsel to support Vitera, an Athene- and Apollo-backed platform transforming retirement income through innovative defined contribution solutions. This role provides strategic and practical legal counsel across Vitera’s commercial, product, and technology initiatives—operating at the intersection of insurance, asset management, and retirement innovation. You will play a critical role in enabling business growth while managing legal and regulatory risk, partnering closely with Vitera leadership and Athene stakeholders. This is a unique opportunity to influence a category-defining platform with direct exposure to senior leadership and enterprise-wide strategy.

Requirements

• 8+ years of relevant experience in a law firm and/or in-house legal environment
• Juris Doctor (JD) with active bar membership in good standing
• Strong experience in commercial contracting, including technology, data-sharing, and strategic partnership agreements
• Working knowledge of the defined contribution/retirement ecosystem and/or insurance/annuity products
• Demonstrated ability to operate with strong judgment, agility, and a bias for action in ambiguous, fast-paced environments
• Bachelor’s degree required (in addition to JD)

Nice To Haves

• ERISA familiarity preferred

Responsibilities

• Serve as a trusted legal advisor to Vitera leadership and cross-functional teams, providing guidance on corporate, commercial, operational, and regulatory-adjacent matters
• Draft, review, and negotiate complex commercial agreements, including strategic partnerships, technology (SaaS), data-sharing, and vendor contracts
• Structure and support partnerships across the defined contribution ecosystem (recordkeepers, asset managers, insurers, consultants, and platform providers)
• Identify and mitigate legal, regulatory, operational, and reputational risks while enabling pragmatic, business-aligned solutions
• Partner with product, technology, and operations teams to support scalable implementation across retirement plan infrastructure and platforms
• Advise on antitrust, conflicts, ethics, and governance matters, ensuring alignment with Athene and Vitera risk frameworks
• Support marketing and communications review, including claims substantiation, disclosures, and partner alignment
• Coordinate with outside counsel (including ERISA specialists), translating complex legal advice into actionable business guidance
• Contribute to corporate governance, policy development, and operational processes in a fast-paced, evolving environment

Benefits

• discretionary bonus plan or variable sales incentive may be included

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level