Counsel - Employee Benefits

United Airlines•Chicago, IL

10d•Hybrid

About The Position

From airports to boardrooms, our Legal team provides advice and counsel on all aspects of the business, assessing legal risks and compliance, while our Ethics and Compliance team ensures that we run an ethically sound operation. Together, these teams help us make the best possible decisions for our airline, to run our business with integrity, ensuring our airline operates lawfully and ethically, creating a company we are all proud to work for. Job overview and responsibilities The Counsel – Employee Benefits position will serve as an employee benefits attorney for United's in-house legal department. This position reports to the Senior Managing Counsel – Employee Benefits and will focus on supporting all aspects of United's employee benefits and compensation programs (other than executive compensation), including design, implementation, plan administration, participant communications, regulatory compliance, fiduciary compliance, vendor contracting, collective bargaining agreement administration, litigation, and other matters.

Requirements

Juris Doctorate degree
5+ years recent law firm experience counseling large employers on all aspects of retirement and health & welfare law
Extensive knowledge of ERISA and corresponding regulatory requirements (including fiduciary obligations) and other statutes and regulations applicable to retirement plans, health & welfare plans, broad-based compensation plans, severance plans, and other types of benefit plans
Must be a results-oriented self-starter able to work both independently and on a team in a fast pace, high demand environment
Ability to work on many projects concurrently and be committed to providing exemplary customer service to leadership of all levels
Excellent analytical skills and the ability to render persuasive, diplomatic, practical, creative and legally compliant advice in a timely fashion
Excellent written and oral communication skills, especially of complex issues
Excellent interpersonal skills and strong planning/organization abilities
Effective problem-solving and decision-making skills, including ability to identify and evaluate risks and assist leadership in managing those risks
Proven ability to interact effectively with all levels of corporate management, including Senior Executive Leadership
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States for any employer without sponsorship
Successful completion of interview required to meet job qualification
Reliable, punctual attendance is an essential function of the position
This role is located in Chicago and follows a hybrid work schedule

Nice To Haves

Experience with pensions, cash balance plans, multiemployer pension plans, and plan investments preferred
Experience with broad based compensation plans and severance plans a plus (409A, non-qual, exec comp expertise not required)
Experience with collective bargaining issues (particularly under the Railway Labor Act) a plus
Knowledge of Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.
Ability to leverage AI to boost quality and productivity

Responsibilities

Assist in design, implementation, and administration of all company retirement plans (numerous 401(k) and pension plans), including advising plan fiduciaries, HR, LR, and Finance
Assist in design, implementation, and administration of all company health & welfare plans (often subject to collective bargaining agreements), including advising plan fiduciaries, HR, LR, and Finance
Ensure retirement and health & welfare plans comply with collective bargaining agreements, advise HR and LR regarding same, attend benefits meetings with union retirement & insurance committees, and assist with collective bargaining and benefits grievances
Assist in design, implementation, and administration of broad-based compensation plans and management severance plans (excluding executive compensation)
Assist with benefits litigation, including overseeing cases, directing outside counsel, and helping to develop strategy and tactics
Assist with tax-related matters, such as United employee pass travel privileges, federal payroll tax issues, not-for-profit foundation issues, and similar issues; and assist with international benefits issues