Counsel 2 – ERISA/Retirement Recordkeeping and Plan Administration Counsel (Hybrid)

Transamerica•Denver, CO

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

Transamerica is seeking an attorney to support its retirement plan businesses as part of a team providing strategic legal guidance to business partners in retirement recordkeeping and plan administration. The role supports the development, maintenance, and offering of retirement products and services, including defined contribution and defined benefit plans, nonqualified plans, pooled employer and other multiple employer plans, stable value products, and collective investment trust investments. The attorney will help prepare, review, and negotiate contracts and other documents; build expertise in retirement-plan documents, disclosures, communications, and administration issues; monitor regulatory developments; and assist with responses to government examinations and inquiries. The role collaborates with internal partners across compliance, risk, operations, product, sales and distribution, and other functions. With guidance from senior attorneys, the attorney exercises judgment, communicates legal advice to varied audiences, and develops practical, business-oriented solutions. The position is based in a hybrid office environment, with three in-office days per week (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday) in Denver, Cedar Rapids, or Philadelphia. Occasional travel may be required.

Requirements

JD from an ABA-accredited law school.
Member of the Bar in good standing in any U.S. jurisdiction.
Two or more years of relevant legal experience focused on ERISA or retirement plans at a sophisticated law firm, consulting firm, or in-house legal department.
Effective written and oral communication skills, sound judgment, and the ability to adapt legal advice to business needs in a rapidly changing corporate environment.
Proficiency using MS Office.

Nice To Haves

Strong knowledge of ERISA Title I, DOL regulations and advisory opinions, Internal Revenue Code provisions applicable to retirement plans, and ERISA fee disclosure regimes (408(b)(2) and 404(a)(5)).
Familiarity with SECURE 2.0 and related guidance.
Working knowledge of nonqualified plans.
Experience negotiating retirement services agreements, including recordkeeping, trust/custody, advisory 3(21)/3(38), and 3(16) agreements; investment management arrangements; collective investment trust participation; and data/privacy provisions.
Experience with pooled plan structures, plan administration, or defined benefit plans.
Strong organizational and project management skills, initiative, ownership, and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, work autonomously, and deliver high-quality results in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

Responsibilities

Provide legal support for the development, maintenance, and offering of retirement plan recordkeeping and plan administration products and services.
Assist with preparing, reviewing, and negotiating recordkeeping, trust and custodial, TPA, 3(16) administrative services, investment advisory and management (3(21)/3(38)), vendor, and TPA agreements and documents.
Develop expertise and provide guidance on plan documents, notices and communications, ERISA disclosures and considerations, QDROs, beneficiary designations, claims and appeals, discrimination testing and corrections, and related topics.
Monitor and review regulatory developments and brief stakeholders on potential business impacts, as directed.
Assist in drafting responses to DOL, IRS, and PBGC examinations and inquiries, including document production and remediation plans.
Advise, commensurate with experience, on plan sponsor and participant issues, operational issues, and complaints.
Collaborate with regulatory support, compliance, risk, operations, product, sales and distribution, and other internal stakeholders to develop and implement policies and procedures.
Analyze complex legal issues involving multiple factors and deliver practical, business-oriented solutions in a fast-paced environment.
Partner with senior attorneys to keep senior business management and operations personnel informed of relevant legal and regulatory developments affecting retirement products and services.
Exercise judgment in providing legal advice with senior-attorney guidance and communicate clearly with technical and non-technical audiences.
Help the business implement creative, cost-effective, realistic solutions and foster an inclusive, collaborative culture.
Occasionally travel to meet with leaders, team members, and business partners.

Benefits

Competitive pay.
Annual bonus eligibility based on the Company Bonus Plan and individual performance, at the Company’s discretion.
Benefits package.
Pension plan.
401(k) match.
Employee stock purchase plan.
Tuition reimbursement.
Disability insurance.
Medical insurance.
Dental insurance.
Vision insurance.
Employee discounts.
Career training and development opportunities.
Paid time off starting at 160 hours annually for employees in their first year of service.
Ten paid holidays per year.
Be Well Company holistic wellness program, including Wellness Coaching and Reward Dollars.
Fifteen days of paid parental leave per calendar year for eligible employees with at least one year of service at the time of birth or placement of an adopted or foster child.
Adoption assistance.
Employee Assistance Program.
Back-Up Care Program.
PTO for volunteer hours.
Employee Matching Gifts Program.
Employee Resource Groups.
Inclusion and diversity programs.
Employee Recognition Program.
Referral bonus programs.