Executive Director, Attorney

USAA•San Antonio, TX

7d•Hybrid

About The Position

USAA is seeking an Executive Director, Attorney to lead a team of attorneys and legal support professionals. This role is responsible for delivering strategic legal advice, counsel, and services to business partners across the organization. The position ensures the highest level of client service while providing guidance on products, services, operations, and business processes to support organizational objectives and maintain compliance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements. The role oversees the identification, assessment, monitoring, and mitigation of legal risks, while implementing processes and best practices that enhance team productivity, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance. Additionally, the Executive Director will drive effective resource management and foster the professional growth and development of attorneys and support staff, ensuring a high-performing and collaborative legal team. This position offers a flexible work environment requiring an individual to be in the office 4 days per week and can be based in San Antonio, TX, Plano, TX, Phoenix, AZ, Colorado Springs, CO, Charlotte, NC, or Tampa, FL (Chesapeake, VA – Property and Casualty roles ONLY). Relocation assistance is available.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree; OR 4 years of relevant education and/or experience.
Licensed and in good standing to practice law in one state or a territory of the USA.
8 years of experience practicing law.
10 years of progressive related experience developing legal strategies, managing major initiatives and delivering results within a complex matrix environment.
4 years of direct team lead or management experience.
Experience collaborating with key resources and stakeholders, providing legal counsel to effectively influence decisions and managing legal advice and guidance efforts to achieve strategic goals.
Executive-level business acumen in the areas of business operations, industry practices and emerging trends for in-house legal counsel.

Nice To Haves

Deep in-house legal experience supporting Property & Casualty and/or Life Insurance businesses, coupled with a demonstrated ability to serve as a trusted thought partner to executive leadership on business strategy, growth, and transformation.
Proven ability to identify emerging legal, regulatory, and market trends and translate them into actionable guidance for the business, particularly in areas such as AI adoption, product modernization, evolving distribution models, and innovation.
Strategic and creative problem-solving skills, with a track record of helping business leaders navigate ambiguity, unlock opportunities, and achieve objectives through practical, risk-informed solutions.
Experience influencing enterprise-wide initiatives that span multiple business lines and stakeholders, bringing together legal, operational, and strategic considerations to drive successful outcomes.
A forward-looking leadership approach with demonstrated success building and developing high-performing legal teams while fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and business partnership.
US military experience through military service or a military spouse/domestic partner.

Responsibilities

Provides counsel to enable the client to implement strategic initiatives, influencing decisions and managing risks to achieve strategic goals.
Collaborates with clients and other enterprise stakeholders and leads the execution of legal strategy, considering USAA's business strategy and regulatory requirements.
Proactively identifies strategic and tactical opportunities to improve operational effectiveness and optimal productivity, including developing and implementing best practices, ensuring quality of the work performed by members of the team and by supporting change efforts.
Ensures timely, accurate and cost-effective legal advice is provided to senior management regarding legal and regulatory matters.
Leads broad, enterprise and functional area projects.
Leads, builds and oversees a high performing team of lawyers and legal professionals through ongoing execution of recruiting, development, retention, coaching and support, performance management, and managerial activities.
Ensures risks associated with business activities are effectively identified, measured, monitored, and controlled in accordance with risk and compliance policies and procedures.