VP, Associate General Counsel, First Command Bank

First Command Financial Services, Inc.•Fort Worth, TX

19d•Onsite

About The Position

The VP, Associate General Counsel – Banking is First Command Bank’s legal leader and advisor on complex operational banking, regulatory, and litigation matters. The role safeguards the legal and regulatory interests of a $1 billion subsidiary of First Command Financial Services and enables responsible growth through practical, solutions-oriented counsel aligned with the Bank’s strategy, risk appetite, and regulator expectations. As a strategic partner to Bank leadership, the Chief Legal Officer, and the Board, the Associate General Counsel supports compliance, strengthens risk management, and advances the Bank’s strategic objectives in alignment with the broader objectives of First Command Financial Services. The role leads legal strategy for banking regulatory matters, oversees significant disputes and investigations, advises on contracts and operational banking matters, and represents the Company in industry and regulatory forums. It works collaboratively with Legal, Compliance, Risk, business partners, external counsel, and regulators, without formal supervisory responsibility. The position is based at the Home Office in Fort Worth and requires working there four to five days per week.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university.
Juris Doctorate from an ABA-accredited law school.
At least 10 years of progressively responsible legal experience, with significant focus on banking law, regulatory matters, litigation, and general corporate practice.
Experience serving as a senior legal advisor and collaborative partner on highly complex, high-risk matters.
A track record handling highly complex, sensitive, and high-risk matters within a regulated financial institution or comparable environment.
Experience working as a senior individual contributor with substantial autonomy and accountability.
Active license and good standing with a U.S. state bar.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to translate complex legal issues into clear business guidance.
Thorough understanding of banking regulatory frameworks and compliance requirements for national banks.
Advanced legal research, analytical, and judgment capabilities.
Executive presence and the ability to influence, advise, and constructively challenge senior leaders.
Leadership, mentoring, and people-management skills.
Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, highly regulated environment with minimal supervision.
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to adapt communication style to diverse internal and external stakeholders.
Ability to work at the Fort Worth Home Office four to five days per week.

Nice To Haves

Active license and good standing with the State Bar of Texas.

Responsibilities

Serve as the Bank’s primary legal advisor on complex banking, regulatory, and enforcement matters.
Provide proactive, business-forward legal guidance aligned with business strategy, risk appetite, and regulatory expectations.
Partner with the Chief Legal Officer to align banking legal advice with enterprise risk appetite and governance expectations.
Support board and committee matters related to banking and regulatory issues, as requested.
Develop and execute legal strategy for banking regulatory examinations, inquiries, supervisory issues, and potential enforcement actions involving federal and state regulators.
Remain directly involved in regulatory strategy, written submissions, and regulator-facing and board-facing communications.
Interpret and apply federal and state banking laws and regulations, including consumer protection and commercial requirements.
Monitor regulatory developments, assess their potential impact on the Bank, and advise leadership on required changes and strategic implications.
Maintain productive relationships with regulators, external counsel, and industry peers.
Own significant banking-related disputes, regulatory proceedings, investigations, and pre-litigation strategy.
Direct outside counsel strategy, budgets, fee structures, and quality of work.
Lead early dispute resolution and risk mitigation to minimize legal exposure and business disruption.
Issue and oversee legal opinions, escalation frameworks, and risk assessments for material transactions and initiatives.
Negotiate, draft, and approve complex, high-impact contracts, disclosures, policies, and procedures supporting banking operations and strategic initiatives.
Advise on legal aspects of product development, key vendor relationships, information security, privacy, and other matters directly affecting regulated banking activities.
Ensure legal frameworks support scalable growth while maintaining compliance and sound risk controls.
Provide informal mentorship and subject-matter guidance to attorneys and compliance professionals on banking-related issues.
Act as a thought leader and escalation point for complex legal questions.
Collaborate with Legal, Compliance, Risk, and business partners without formal supervisory responsibility.
Represent the Company in industry associations, working groups, and regulatory forums, and provide insight into legal and regulatory trends affecting the Bank.
Benchmark practices against peer institutions and recommend enhancements to policies, controls, and governance structures.
Provide project-based direction to internal teams and outside counsel as needed.
Foster a culture of ethical conduct, sound judgment, and risk awareness across the organization.