Legal - VP - Deputy General Counsel

Golden 1 Credit Union•Sacramento, CA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The VP-Deputy General Counsel is a key member of the Legal team, responsible for day-to-day oversight of the in-house legal functions of the Credit Union. The Deputy General Counsel is responsible for assisting the General Counsel in implementing strategic corporate initiatives throughout the Credit Union. This role requires deep expertise in financial services law, strong leadership capabilities, sound judgment, and the ability to navigate complex legal/regulatory, commercial, and governance matters. Reporting to the Senior Vice President-General Counsel and Head of Compliance, this role advises, consults, and educates corporate and compliance business partners on legal issues to proactively reduce all potential legal, governance and compliance exposure to the Credit Union in collaboration with the General Counsel. Golden 1 Credit Union is among the top credit unions in the country. As a member-owned, not-for-profit cooperative, Golden 1 is guided by the credit union philosophy of “people helping people.” We are committed to empowering our members and uplifting our communities as we create a more equitable and financially inclusive California. We welcome all who embrace our Core Values. You bring deep experience advising complex, highly regulated organizations and are comfortable operating as a trusted counselor to executive leadership and senior business stakeholders.You combine excellent legal judgment with pragmatic business sense, translating regulatory and legal risk into clear, actionable guidance that enables the Credit Union to achieve its mission while maintaining the highest standards of compliance, ethics, and member trust. You are an effective manager and mentor who builds strong, collaborative legal teams and leads with clarity, integrity, and respect.

Requirements

Juris Doctorate degree from a law school accredited by the State Bar of California or the American Bar Association required
Minimum of 10 years of experience practicing law either in- house or with a law firm, preferably with a national or large regional law firm.
At least three (3) years of prior financial services experience and/or experience counseling a financial institution subject to examination and oversight by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Overall comprehensive legal knowledge (litigation, employment law, commercial contracting, consumer compliance).
Excellent judgment and analytical skills.
Ability to anticipate legal issues or risks.
High integrity, discretion, and sound decision‑making under pressure.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and to adapt to changing priorities.
Exceptional communication skills with the ability to translate complex legal issues into practical business guidance.
Experience managing other attorneys, externs, and support staff.
Strong knowledge of leadership development, talent management, and adult learning principles.
Strong understanding of coaching methodologies, leadership assessments, and high impact development program design.
Skilled in executive coaching, facilitation, and delivering development experiences for senior audiences.
Proven ability to lead cultural and organizational change with agility, collaboration, and strategic thinking.
Exceptional communication, consultation, and stakeholder influence skills across all organizational levels
Ability to communicate complex ideas clearly and effectively to diverse audiences, including senior leadership and cross functional partners.
Strong interpersonal, presentation, and coaching skills with the ability to build trust and credibility quickly.
Ability to manage budgets, vendor partnerships, and learning resources to achieve high value, cost effective outcomes.
Understanding of employment laws, compliance considerations, and organizational policies relevant to leadership development.

Responsibilities

Partner with the General Counsel to set legal strategy aligned with the institution’s business objectives and risk appetite
Provide day-to-day oversight of all legal matters and functions pertaining to the organization.
Provide timely, accurate, and practical legal counsel tailored to the specific needs of internal clients across the Credit Union, including support for corporate compliance, human resources, corporate governance, third party risk management, retail, lending, operations, business services, IT/information security, facilities, marketing, and finance.
Maintain a thorough understanding of state and federal laws and regulations applicable to the operation of a state-chartered and federally insured credit union, including laws and regulations related to corporate governance, enterprise risk management, consumer compliance, data privacy, the Bank Secrecy Act, employment, vendor and business partner contracting and third-party risk management, payments and operations, business services, and information and physical security.
Supervise Associate General Counsel and such other legal department staff as may be employed.
Foster a high-performing, collaborative, and engaging work environment by promoting skill development, coaching for improvement and growth, inspiring others through your words and actions, ensuring positive employee morale throughout Golden 1, and embracing our mission, vision, and core values.
Keep appraised of changes in law and regulations and advise on adaptations to business practices as needed.
Supervise and monitor work performed by outside counsel, including providing strategic oversight of significant litigation matters.
Support corporate governance activities, including Board and committee matters and policies.
Prepare and present regular written reports for the Board of Directors, committees, and senior management advising on status of significant matters and risks.
Participate in Board. Audit, and Management committees and meetings as appropriate.
Perform other duties as assigned by relevant executive leadership and management.
Establish and implement programs that support the Credit Union’s mission, vision, Core Values, and strategic business objectives.
Build and mentor high-performing teams.
Champion Golden 1’s culture by creating an environment that prioritizes collaboration, high-performance, inclusivity, innovation, service excellence, and the well-being of our employees.
Establish strong partnerships, act as a trusted advisor, and provide leadership, counsel and a strong voice to achieve Golden 1’s business strategy, operating plan, and performance goals through strategies.
Foster a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and collaboration.
Drive employee engagement and culture, and retention strategies to position Golden 1 as an employer of choice.
Develop and execute short and long-term strategies aligned with the company’s mission, vision, and growth objectives.
Serve as a key liaison with internal and external stakeholders, including board members, partners, and clients.
Lead and manage departmental operations, ensuring efficiency, scalability, and performance.
Monitor KPIs and implement data-driven improvements across functions.
Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and ethical standards.
Identify and mitigate strategic and operational risks.
Stay informed on trends, laws, and practices, and represent Golden 1 at industry-related events.